Hiring Foreign Workers in Canada

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Employing foreign workers can be an essential part of a company's business strategy. Foreign workers can fill labour shortages in Canada and bring new skills and knowledge to help the country's economy grow.

HIRING STEPS :

In almost all cases, foreign workers must have a valid work permit to work in Canada. When hiring a foreign worker, you, the employer must generally :

1. Submit an HRSDC Foreign Worker Application for a labour market opinion (LMO) to the Service Canada Centre responsible for your area.

   Before confirming a job offer, HRSDC considers whether :

   • The job offer is genuine;
   • The wages and working conditions are comparable to those offered to Canadians working in the occupation;
   • Employers conducted reasonable efforts to hire or train Canadians for the job;
   • The foreign worker is filling a labour shortage;
   • The employment of the foreign worker will directly create new job opportunities or help retain jobs for Canadians;
   • The foreign worker will transfer new skills and knowledge to Canadians; and
   • The hiring of the foreign worker will not affect a labour disputes or the employment of any Canadian worker involved in such a dispute.
   
   Learn more about the HRSDC LMO assessment criteria, noting that a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) issued by the province is also required for jobs in Quebec.
   
   
2. Once HRSDC approves the job offer, send a copy of the HRSDC LMO confirmation letter to the foreign worker.
   
   
3. Inform the foreign worker to apply for a work permit  from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

Next, CIC decides whether the foreign worker will get a work permit according to the requirements to work and reside temporarily in Canada.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS : Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), there are special cases when employers do not need an HRSDC labour market opinion to hire a foreign worker, and/or the foreign worker may not need a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) work permit. Learn about occupations that are exempt from the HRSDC labour market opinion . Learn about occupations that are exempt from the CIC work permit . Also, please note that special criteria apply for employers hiring foreign workers in some industry sectors and occupations including : Academics Seasonal Agriculture Film and Entertainment Information Technology Live-in-caregivers Pilot Project for Occupations requiring a high school Diploma or Job-specific Training