Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
Are you planning to apply for an LMIA? Whether you're a foreign worker seeking employment in Canada on a temporary work permit, or a Canadian employer looking to hire skilled professionals from abroad, understanding the LMIA process is crucial.
Canada utilizes the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to address labour shortages when qualified workers are unavailable within the country. To hire foreign workers, Canadian employers must submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). This application helps determine if hiring a foreign worker is necessary and beneficial for the Canadian labour market.
Once the application is submitted, an ESDC officer reviews it to evaluate its impact on the local job market. The officer ensures that no qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents have been overlooked for the position and that the foreign worker will be fairly compensated following federal and provincial regulations.
If the LMIA result is positive or neutral, it indicates that no Canadian is available for the position and hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect the job market. A negative result suggests the employer has not met specific requirements outlined by ESDC. At Waymark Immigration, while we do not provide recruitment services, we can guide and represent you as your legal consultants to strengthen your LMIA application and help you achieve a favourable outcome.
Benefits of the LMIA Program
For Canadian Employers
- • Access to a global talent pool to fill critical roles across industries.
- • Hiring international workers fosters innovation and global competitiveness.
- • Resolves labour shortages in key sectors like healthcare, technology, and manufacturing.
For Foreign Workers
- • Opportunity to work in Canada and gain valuable international experience.
- • Develop new skills, adapt to diverse environments, explore industries.
- • Work legally in Canada with financial stability in a welcoming country.
LMIA Pathways Available
We support all major LMIA streams. Each has its own eligibility, wage rules, and recruitment requirements.
How to Apply for LMIA
For Employers
- Submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application to ESDC.
- ESDC will review your application against required standards and criteria.
- If approved, you will receive a copy of the positive LMIA.
- You can include the foreign worker's name on the LMIA, enabling them to apply for a work permit.
For Foreign Workers
- Submit a work permit application following IRCC guidelines.
- IRCC will evaluate your application against necessary requirements.
- Once approved, IRCC will issue a work visa for entry into Canada.
- Upon arrival you will be granted a work permit specific to the LMIA employer.
Common Reasons for LMIA Refusal
Avoid these common pitfalls that often lead to LMIA refusals.
- ⚠ Failure to demonstrate sufficient efforts to hire Canadians (advertising, job fairs, online platforms).
- ⚠ A history of LMIA revocation within the past two years.
- ⚠ Ongoing labour disputes or non-compliance with employment standards.
- ⚠ Business deemed illegitimate or does not meet regulatory requirements.
- ⚠ Insufficient documentation supporting the foreign worker's work permit application.
- ⚠ For workers: Lacking relevant work experience or qualifications for the role.
- ⚠ For workers: Inability to meet the required language proficiency levels.
- ⚠ For workers: A criminal record (particularly for serious offenses) may disqualify you.
- ⚠ For workers: Failure to meet specific qualifications detailed in the job description.
Not Sure How to Proceed?
If your LMIA application has been refused for any of the reasons listed above, don't lose hope. With over a decade of experience, we specialize in handling cases with prior refusals. While we don't provide job placements for LMIA, we can assist you if you already have a valid job offer.
Our team has successfully secured approvals for clients who faced multiple previous refusals. By taking a personalized approach, we address every concern raised in your past refusals. We leverage case law and reference similar situations where approvals were granted, using them as precedents to strengthen your application.
Why Choose Us?
Personalized Assessment
- Understanding your Canadian immigration needs and goals.
- Assessing eligibility across multiple programs.
- Recommending the best pathway for your situation.
- Answering all questions and addressing concerns.
Tailored Approach
- Custom Canadian immigration plan suited to you.
- Clear proposal outlining services and payment structure: 50% before processing, 50% before submission.
- Comprehensive checklist after initial payment.
Application Fulfillment
- Dedicated case manager assigned to your file.
- Strong application prepared within 7–10 business days.
- Review and final approval before submission.
Trusted Partnership
- Kept informed at every stage from submission to decision.
- Ongoing support and guidance until you reach your goals.
- Available for status updates at any time.
Ready to take the next step?
Book a free assessment with our licensed RCIC team. We'll review your case, identify your best pathway, and outline the next steps.
Our Technology Ecosystem
The platform behind Waymark — built in Abbotsford, BC by RCICs, for the way modern immigration practices actually work.
Nova System Inc.
Canadian legal-tech company building modern software for immigration consultants. The team behind Meridian, Polaris, and Aurora.
- ▸Founded in Abbotsford, BC by a practicing RCIC
- ▸Three products serving the full RCIC workflow
- ▸Built on the global edge network
- ▸Encrypted at rest with AES-256-GCM
- ▸CICC-aware trust accounting and RCIC compliance baked in
Meridian
The all-in-one operating system for RCIC firms. Cases, clients, documents, trust accounting, AI, and intake — one connected platform.
- ▸AI-powered CRM for cases, clients, leads, deadlines
- ▸Document automation plus smart checklists per IRCC pathway
- ▸CICC-aware trust accounting and annual report generator
- ▸Per-case AI chat plus global firm AI assistant
- ▸Branded intake forms, client portal, e-signatures
- ▸Real-time IRCC policy and Express Entry draw monitoring
Polaris
The desktop cockpit. A native app that puts your day, your cases, and your AI assistant one click away — built for staff who live in the practice.
- ▸Daily bench view — your day at a glance
- ▸Voice notes and camera capture into cases
- ▸Owner cockpit with firm-wide metrics and approvals
- ▸Compass with in-app help and onboarding
- ▸RCIC approvals queue for L1 staff submissions
- ▸Lock and unlock workstation via mobile passkey
Aurora
The mobile client experience. Clients track their case, upload documents, sign forms, and message their RCIC — from the palm of their hand.
- ▸Live case tracking and processing-time radar
- ▸Multi-page document scan and camera upload
- ▸Secure document viewer and watermarked downloads
- ▸In-house e-signatures and payment receipts
- ▸Eligibility checks, CRS, NOC, travel calculators
- ▸Push notifications and PIPEDA data export and delete
Waymark Immigration runs on the Nova System ecosystem.