Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

What is LMIA and how does it work?

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that an employer in Canada needs to get before hiring a foreign worker.

An LMIA document from Employment and Social Development Canada gives the employer permission to hire a temporary worker. A positive LMIA will show that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job. It will also show that no Canadian worker or permanent resident is available to do the job. A positive LMIA is sometimes called a confirmation letter.

To apply for a work permit, a worker needs:

  • A job offer letter
  • A contract
  • A copy of the LMIA
  • The LMIA number