Hakam Immigration Services · Vancouver, BC
LMIA
Services
You need the right person for the job. A Labour Market Impact Assessment may be the first step to hiring the international talent your business needs and we help you prepare it properly.
LMIA Overview
What is an
LMIA?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment is a document that many Canadian employers must obtain from Employment and Social Development Canada before hiring a foreign worker through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
A positive LMIA generally confirms that hiring a foreign worker will have a positive or neutral impact on Canada’s labour market. The foreign worker can then use it to apply for an employer-specific work permit.
The LMIA process involves strict recruitment requirements, wage compliance, business documentation, and a formal application to ESDC. Errors or omissions can cause delays, refusals, or compliance issues.
At Hakam Immigration Services, we guide Canadian employers through every stage from stream assessment and recruitment planning to application preparation and next-step work permit coordination.
LMIA Streams
The right stream depends
on the role.
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program includes several streams. The correct stream depends on wage level, occupation, industry, urgency, and the employer’s workforce needs.
High-Wage Stream
For positions where the offered wage is at or above the provincial or territorial median wage. This stream is commonly used for skilled professional, technical, managerial, and trades roles.
At or above the median hourly wage for the province or territory where the work will be performed.
Transition plan showing how the employer will reduce reliance on temporary foreign workers over time.
Engineers, IT professionals, managers, accountants, skilled trades, and other higher-wage roles.
Low-Wage Stream
For positions where the offered wage is below the provincial or territorial median wage. This stream has stricter conditions, including limits on the proportion of temporary foreign workers in the workplace.
Below the median hourly wage for the province or territory where the work will be performed.
Employer obligations may include return transportation, housing information, and workplace safety coverage.
Food service workers, retail staff, labourers, cleaners, and other support roles below median wage.
Global Talent Stream
A faster LMIA stream for employers hiring highly skilled workers in eligible in-demand occupations or through designated referral partners.
Two-week processing target for eligible applications, subject to program criteria and completeness.
Employer must fit Category A referral rules or Category B eligible Global Talent Occupations List requirements.
Tech companies, startups, and innovative firms hiring specialized digital or technical talent.
Agricultural Stream
For employers in the agriculture sector who need seasonal or year-round workers for qualifying farm, greenhouse, nursery, aquaculture, or food-related roles.
Primary agriculture employers and qualifying agricultural operations.
Employers may need to meet sector-specific housing and worker accommodation obligations.
Farms, orchards, greenhouses, nurseries, and agricultural operations requiring labour support.
What ESDC expects
Employers must prove
the need is genuine.
Before approving an LMIA, ESDC assesses whether the employer genuinely tried to fill the position with Canadian workers and whether the job offer meets program requirements.
Minimum Recruitment Efforts
Employers usually need to advertise the position and document genuine recruitment efforts. Requirements depend on the stream and occupation.
Wages at Prevailing Rate
The wage offered should meet the applicable prevailing wage for the occupation and region. Wage issues are a common refusal risk.
Genuine Business Need
The employer must show the business is legitimate, the position is genuine, and the role is necessary for operations.
No Labour Dispute
Hiring a foreign worker should not affect an existing labour dispute or lockout at the workplace.
Good Compliance History
Employers with prior non-compliance may face additional scrutiny or may be restricted from using the program.
How the process works
From recruitment
to LMIA decision.
The LMIA process follows a defined sequence. Timing, recruitment records, and documentation discipline matter at every step.
Confirm the Position and Stream
Determine the correct LMIA stream based on wage level, occupation, industry, and hiring need.
Advertise the Position
Post the job and complete the required recruitment activities for the applicable stream.
Document Recruitment Efforts
Keep detailed records of postings, applicants, interviews, and reasons why Canadian applicants were not hired.
Submit the LMIA Application
Prepare and submit the application with business records, job details, wage information, recruitment evidence, and fees.
Respond to ESDC Review
ESDC may request additional information or contact the employer. Responses should be clear, accurate, and consistent.
Receive the LMIA Decision
If approved, the positive LMIA can support the foreign worker’s employer-specific work permit application.
Once the LMIA is approved, the worker usually needs to apply for an employer-specific work permit using the LMIA support and job offer documents.
Learn about Employer-Specific Work Permits →How we help
LMIA applications need
evidence, timing, and compliance.
Hakam Immigration Services helps Canadian employers navigate the LMIA process from stream selection to recruitment records, application preparation, and worker-side permit coordination.
Stream Assessment
We confirm which LMIA stream applies to your position and advise on stream-specific requirements.
Recruitment Strategy
We help structure recruitment efforts to meet ESDC requirements and preserve the right evidence.
Application Preparation
We prepare the LMIA application package with business documents, job details, wage analysis, and recruitment records.
ESDC Interview Support
If ESDC requests information or contacts the employer, we help prepare clear and consistent responses.
Wage and NOC Review
We review wage, duties, and classification to reduce common LMIA compliance and refusal risks.
End-to-End Coordination
We coordinate LMIA strategy with the worker’s employer-specific work permit process and long-term immigration planning.
Common questions
LMIA Services
answered.
How long does an LMIA take to process?
How much does an LMIA cost?
Can the worker start before the LMIA is approved?
What happens if an LMIA is refused?
Do all positions require an LMIA?
Are employers inspected after hiring a temporary foreign worker?
Ready to hire international talent?
Book an employer-focused Work Permit Consultation with Hakam Immigration Services to assess your LMIA eligibility, recruitment obligations, documentation, and next steps.
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