LMIA is developed to ensure that foreign workers will impact the labor force in Canada positively or neutrally. The work permits falling under the TFWP category generally require an LMIA.
Foreign workers under the International Mobility Program (IMP) are allowed to work in Canada without requiring an LMIA. IMP is built specifically to enhance cultural, economic, and social interests. Several streams devoid of LMIA are classified under the IMP, these include Significant Benefit, Reciprocal Employment, and Charitable and Religious Workers.
Significant Benefit
Whatever work the foreign national proposes to do must be substantial and must provide some benefit to Canadian society. Canadian visa officers issue work permits and are flexible when selecting candidates to issue work permits. A few measures determining the selection include the following:
- Foreign nationals with evidence of work experience from former employers in the claimed occupation or area of their potential.
- A Foreign worker with an academic record displaying a diploma, degree, certificate, or award from an existing learning institute associated with their area of potential.
- Demonstrating proof of substantial achievements and contributions to their profession.
- Foreign nationals with awards on a national or international level or having patents.
- Leadership position in a reputed organization.
- Demonstrating proof of the scientific or scholarly contributions to their profession or occupation field.
- Any authorship by a foreign national concerning academic or industry publication.
The following are the work permits devoid of an LMIA under the category of Significant Benefit:
Self-employed or Entrepreneurship
Those individuals planning to start their own business, either self-employed or Entrepreneurs, can get the option of being exempt from LMIA. They must be able to demonstrate that whatever contribution they make through their business will prove beneficial to Canada. If only your Canadian work turns out temporary you can attain this type of work permit.
Intra-Company Transferees (ICT)
Businesses outside Canada can opt for Intra-Company Transferees and bring several important individuals to Canada, provided they have a branch, parent company, affiliate, or subsidiary in the country. The applicant must belong to the positions of functional managers, senior managers, or any employee with expertise in the products, services, or processes.
CUSMA
U.S. and Mexico citizens can attain a work permit without the requirement of an LMIA through the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
Temporary work under CUSMA consists of the following four categories:
CUSMA Professionals
There are about 60 targeted professions available; this category is for those qualifying for any of the targeted professions.
CUSMA Intra-Company Transfers
This category applies to those workers who transfer to Canada on a work basis for their U.S. or Mexican employer’s branch, subsidiary, or affiliate, after fulfilling the ICT requirements.
CUSMA Traders
This category applies to those moving to Canada for the execution of trade for goods and services between their citizenship country (U.S. or Mexico) and Canada.
CUSMA Investors
This category applies to investors who have invested substantially in an already existing business or an entirely new business setup and are moving to Canada to develop the business.
CETA- Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
It is apt for business investors, business visitors, ICTs, and Service Providers to move to Canada exempt from LMIA.
Workers from television and film production
Workers from the television and film industry can be brought to Canada based on the foreign worker’s contribution to Canada and their ability to prove that their work will be significant to the production.
Reciprocal Employment Agreements
These are applicable to foreign workers who want to work in Canada when Canadians have similar opportunities to work in other countries. These opportunities can be gauged in the following form of agreements:
- International Agreements in which the foreign workers must prove immensely beneficial for Canada.
- International Exchange Programs apply to international youth with the opportunity to gain Canadian work experience.
Work related to charity and religion
Work related to charity and religion consists of two categories of workers: Charitable and Religious Workers
Charitable Workers
Charity is associated with poverty relief, modernized education, and other objectives that benefit Canadian society or community.
If an organization is aligned and registered under the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as a charity then it will strongly imply its charitable nature. However, foreign workers don’t have to be associated compulsorily through registration with the CRA.
Religious Workers
Foreign nationals must be in complete sync with the religious beliefs of their workplace and community. The foreign worker by default will have to dutifully carry out the promotion of religious beliefs and faith.
