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How do I hire a temporary foreign worker?

There are 3 basic steps to hire a temporary foreign worker:

Get an LMIA or submit an offer of employment
Have the worker apply for a work permit
Tell the worker what to expect from their application

Get an LMIA or submit an offer of employment

First, find out if you need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This assessment verifies that there is a need for the job you are offering and that there is no Canadian worker available to do it. Read about the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to find out more about LMIAs and where to apply.

If you don’t need an LMIA, submit an offer of employment and pay the employer compliance fee using the Employer Portal. Provide the offer of employment number you receive to the worker you want to hire so they can apply for their work permit.

Some employers don’t need to submit an offer of employment in the Employer Portal or pay the employer compliance fee. Find out if you are exempt.

Have the worker apply for a work permit

Once you have an LMIA number or offer of employment number, send those details to the worker with the job offer. They need to use this information to apply for a work permit.

If you are exempt from the employer compliance process, send the worker the employment contract. They can use it to apply.

Tell the worker what to expect from their application

Tell the worker that they will receive a letter of introduction when their work permit has been approved. The actual work permit is issued by a border services officer at the port of entry when the worker arrives in Canada. If the worker is already in Canada and eligible to apply, we will mail the work permit to them.

Find out more about hiring temporary workers.