Foreign Worker Program

The Foreign Worker Program helps employers meet their human resource needs by facilitating the entry of seasonal foreign workers and permanent skilled workers while ensuring the development of a strong domestic labour market. 

Eligibility Criteria

This program is directed to Canadian employers who want to hire foreign workers to help address skill and labour shortages.

Summary

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 HRSDC Foreign Worker office 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 dispute or the employment of any Canadian worker involved in such a dispute.
     
     Note: 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.

If you are an employer looking to hire a foreign worker, you may qualify to participate in the Expedited Labour Market Opinion (E-LMO) Pilot Project. For additional information on the requirements of the E-LMO Pilot Project, please refer to the Expedited Labour Market Opinions(E-LMO) Pilot Project on the HRSDC Web site.

Hiring Temporary Foreign Workers for Occupations under Pressure

In some regions, and depending on the circumstances/time, labour market information may indicate that the demand for labour in certain specific occupations is greater than the available supply. To meet the pressing human resource needs of employers, Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) and Service Canada (SC) have developed Regional Lists of Occupations under Pressure. For occupations found on these lists, employers will not be required to undertake lengthy or comprehensive advertising efforts before being eligible to apply to hire a foreign worker.

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.

The following occupations and industry sectors have specific processes for employers planning to hire foreign workers in Canada:

• academics;
• seasonal agriculture;
• film and entertainment;
• information technology;
• live-in caregivers; and
• pilot project for occupations requiring at most a high school diploma or job-specific training.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
EDMUNDSTON, GRAND FALLS / CAMPBELLTON AND RESTIGOUCHE / BATHURST AND CHALEURS
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Federal Building
22 Emmerson Street
Edmundston, New Brunswick  E3V 1R7
Telephone: 506-739-0213
Fax: 506-739-0228
Web site: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/home.shtml

FREDERICTON AND WOODSTOCK
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
633 Queen Street
P.O. Box 12000
Fredericton, New Brunswick  E3B 5G4
Telephone: 506-452-2036
Fax: 506-465-2047
Web site: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/home.shtml

Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Suite 310
95 Foundry Street
Moncton, New Brunswick  E1C 8R5
Telephone: 506-851-6718
Fax: 506-851-6941
Web site: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/home.shtml

SAINT JOHN AND ST. STEPHEN
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
1 Agar Place
P.O. Box 7000
Saint John, New Brunswick  E1C 8R5
Telephone: 506-851-6718
Fax: 506-851-6941
Web site: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/home.shtml

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National Contact(s):
Foreign Workers Program
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Phase IV
140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0J9
Toll-free (information): 1-800-O-CANADA (1-800-622-6232)
E-mail: epb-dgpe@hrdc-drhc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/home.shtml