Employer-Specific Work Permit

IRCC states: "An employer-specific work permit lets you work in Canada under the conditions of the permit until the expiry date." (IRCC, Employer-specific work permits)

For employers, IRCC states: "If you determine that you need an LMIA, you’ll need to hire through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program." "You can hire without an LMIA through the International Mobility Program." (IRCC, Find out if you need a labour market impact assessment)

LMIA-Based Employer-Specific Permit

TFWP

The employer needs a positive LMIA from ESDC

What a Positive LMIA Confirms

IRCC states: "A positive LMIA confirms that" "no Canadians or permanent residents are available to do the job" and "there is a need for a temporary foreign worker" (IRCC, Find out if you need a labour market impact assessment)

Before You Apply

1IRCC states: "Before you apply for a work permit, your employer needs to" "give you documents, like an LMIA letter and Annex A from their positive LMIA, which you’ll need to include in your application." (IRCC, Employer-specific work permits)
2IRCC states: "To apply for an employer-specific work permit, you need" "to have a job offer from an employer who’s not on the list of non-compliant employers" (IRCC, Employer-specific work permits)

Processing:Processing times are published by ESDC and updated regularly. Processing times are published by IRCC and updated regularly.

LMIA-Exempt Employer-Specific Permit

IMP

Hiring through the International Mobility Program

Workers IRCC Lists for an LMIA-Exempt Employer-Specific Permit

"French-speaking workers outside Quebec"
"Global Skills Strategy applicants (if the job is LMIA-exempt)"
"applicants in these categories of IEC:" "Young Professionals", "International Co-op (Internship)"
"workers under a free trade agreement"

(IRCC, Who you can hire)

Offer of Employment

IRCC states: "In most cases, to hire a temporary worker through the International Mobility Program, you must" "create and submit an offer of employment form through the Employer Portal". "After you submit an offer of employment through the Employer Portal, you’ll get an offer of employment number." (IRCC, Hire through the IMP)

Processing:Processing times are published by IRCC and updated regularly.

Eligibility Points to Check

The conditions on your permit

IRCC states: "You must comply with all the information listed on your work permit." (IRCC, Employer-specific work permits)

Your employer is not on the non-compliant list

IRCC states that you need "to have a job offer from an employer who’s not on the list of non-compliant employers" (IRCC, Employer-specific work permits). ESDC lists consequences of non-compliance including "publication of your business name and address on IRCC’s Employers who have been found non-compliant page" (ESDC, Employer compliance).

Changing jobs or employers

IRCC states: "If you have an employer-specific work permit and you want to change jobs or employers in Canada, you must apply for a new work permit, if you’re eligible." (IRCC, Changing jobs or employers)

The Employer Compliance Fee

IRCC states: "The employer compliance fee is a fee that employers must pay to hire a temporary worker through the International Mobility Program (IMP)."

IRCC lists these exceptions:

• "You don’t need to pay the employer compliance fee if you hire a worker:" "with a valid open work permit or" "through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program."
• "Some employers don’t need to pay the employer compliance fee when they are LMIA-exempt."

(IRCC Help Centre, What is the employer compliance fee?; IRCC, Employer compliance exemptions) Fees are published by IRCC and updated regularly.

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Amer Rehman, RCIC #R515343 | Member, CICC