How to Hire Foreign Workers in Canada: A Step-by-Step LMIA Guide

Canadian businesses across construction, hospitality, agriculture, and caregiving are facing persistent labour shortages. When you cannot fill a role from the local market, hiring a foreign worker is a legitimate and well-established path. This guide walks through how the process actually works, what to expect at each stage, and where a recruitment partner saves you time.

1. Confirm the role qualifies

Most foreign hires in Canada run through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). An LMIA is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) confirming that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect the Canadian labour market. Before you begin, you generally need to show a genuine job offer, a wage at or above the prevailing rate for the occupation and region, and evidence you tried to recruit locally first.

2. Advertise and recruit locally

ESDC expects employers to make real efforts to hire Canadians and permanent residents before turning abroad. That usually means posting the role on the national Job Bank and other channels for a minimum period and documenting the results. Keeping clean records here is critical — it is the backbone of your LMIA application.

3. Apply for the LMIA

Once recruitment efforts are documented, you submit the LMIA application to ESDC with the required supporting documents and the processing fee (currently CAD $1,000 per position, subject to change — always confirm the current fee with ESDC). Processing times vary by stream and season. A positive LMIA lets the worker apply for a work permit tied to your business.

4. The worker applies for a work permit

With a positive LMIA and your job offer, the worker applies to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for an employer-specific work permit. Depending on their country and role, biometrics, medical exams, and a temporary resident visa may also be required.

5. Onboard and stay compliant

After the worker arrives, your obligations continue. You must provide the wages and conditions stated in the offer and LMIA, keep records, and be ready for potential inspections. Compliance failures can result in penalties and bans from the program, so this stage matters as much as the application.

What a recruitment agency handles for you

Global Work Solutions manages the parts that consume the most employer time and carry the most risk:

• Sourcing and pre-screening verified candidates matched to your role
• Guiding and preparing LMIA documentation and recruitment records
• Coordinating work permit and visa applications with the worker
• Handling relocation logistics and pre-departure orientation
• Keeping the process compliant and ethical — with zero fees charged to workers

The result is a faster, lower-risk hire and a workforce that arrives ready to contribute. If you are planning to hire internationally this year, the earliest step is simply telling us the roles you need to fill.