Follow the four steps that are usually required when hiring a temporary foreign worker:
1. Determine if you need to apply for a Labour Market Opinion (LMO).
2. Apply for a LMO from Service Canada (if required).
3. Tell the foreign worker(s) to complete the work permit application.
4. A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer will issue the work permit at the point of entry when the foreign worker arrives in Canada.
Canadian employers wanting to hire foreign workers.
In most cases, there are four steps to hire a temporary foreign worker from outside Canada, although you may not need to do every step, depending on the job offer and the foreign worker’s country of citizenship and last permanent residence.
You should also read the information in the How to Hire a Temporary Foreign Worker: Guidebook for Employers. The guidebook offers details on the steps of the application process, provides the information and documents required to complete the application, and offers contact information if you need help during the application process.
1. Determine if you need to apply for a Labour Market Opinion (LMO).
2. Apply for a LMO from Service Canada (if required).
If you get a confirmation letter of a positive Labour Market Opinion, you will need to send key documents to the foreign worker you wish to hire. The foreign worker will use these documents to apply for a work permit.
Send the following documents to the foreign worker you wish to hire:
The foreign worker will include the confirmation letter of the positive LMO and your written job offer in his or her application for a work permit.
3. Tell the foreign worker(s) to complete the work permit application.
In most cases, foreign workers must apply for a work permit at a Canadian Visa Office abroad.
4. A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer will issue the work permit at the point of entry when the foreign worker arrives in Canada.
If you are a Quebec employer, the person you wish to hire may also need to get a Quebec certificate of acceptance from the Quebec government before a work permit can be issued. Information about the certificate can be obtained from the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles (Immigration - Québec).
*To download publications in PDF format, Adobe Reader is required (available free of charge).
**Note: Employers and foreign workers must provide accurate and complete information or the application process may be delayed.
New Brunswick Contact(s):
See National Contact.