An LMIA is a document every Canadian company that intends to hire a foreign worker requires. Without it, Canadian employers are forbidden from recruiting international candidates to work in Canada.

When an employer applies for an LMIA, it can be positive or negative. A positive one signifies a need that the position needs to be filled by a foreign worker. Similarly, it’s proof that there isn’t a qualified or available Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the vacant position.

So, to get a temporary work permit in Canada, your potential employer must have a positive LMIA.

Other requirements you MUST meet to qualify for a temporary work permit in Canada include:

• Have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer
• Prove that you’ll return to your home country once your work permit expires
• Prove that you have enough funds to live on, support your family (if you’re moving with them), and travel back to your home country
• Have a clean criminal record
• Prove you’re not a national security threat
• Be in good health
• Prove you’ll not be working for an employer offering adult services (escort, erotic massage, dances, striptease, etc)

If you meet the requirements above, then you’re eligible to apply for a work permit as a temporary foreign worker.

 Still, Canadian employers are sometimes allowed to hire foreign workers without an LMIA under the International Mobility Program.

Careers that qualify for IMP MUST have a competitive advantage for Canada and have symbiotic benefits for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

There are several categories of workers under which a foreign can immigrate to work in Canada on a temporary basis. These include: