Not every foreign worker in Canada needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Under the International Mobility Program (IMP), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issues LMIA-exempt work permits where the broader benefits to Canada are clear or where an agreement or public policy applies. Below are the main categories of LMIA exemptions and typical examples.
On This Page You Will Find
- The main LMIA-exempt categories under the IMP
- How international agreements and significant-benefit cases work
- When spouses, students and researchers qualify without an LMIA
- Humanitarian and vulnerable-worker options
- Practical tips to check your eligibility
International Agreements And Treaties
Work permits issued under trade or cooperation agreements between Canada and partner countries.
Typical examples: professionals in listed occupations, intra-company transferees, investors, traders, and eligible spouses under agreements such as CUSMA, CETA, CPTPP, the UK–Canada agreement and CUFTA.
Provincial And Atlantic Pathways
Work permits tied to provincial or regional initiatives that do not require an LMIA.
Typical examples: provincial nominees approved for work-permit support, workers on significant investment projects, exceptional or unforeseen-event responses, and the Atlantic Immigration Program.
Youth Mobility (International Experience Canada)
LMIA-exempt work permits for young people from partner countries under working holiday, young professionals and international co-op categories.
Significant Benefit To Canada
LMIA-exempt where the worker’s presence delivers a clear social, cultural or economic benefit.
Typical examples:
- Entrepreneurs and self-employed owners actively operating a Canadian business
- Intra-company transferees – executives, senior managers and specialised-knowledge staff (including start-ups opening a Canadian branch)
- Emergency repair technicians for out-of-warranty equipment
- Key workers in the production stage of film and television
Reciprocal Employment
Arrangements that let foreign workers take roles in Canada when Canadians get similar opportunities abroad.
Typical examples: coaches and athletes, performing artists and crews, academic exchanges for professors and visiting lecturers, and residential summer camp counsellors.
Research And Co-Op Placements
LMIA-exempt permits for researchers and for secondary or post-secondary co-op students placed with Canadian employers or institutions.
Competitiveness And Public Policy
LMIA-exempt permits that support Canada’s economic, linguistic or public-interest goals.
Typical examples:
- Francophone Mobility outside Quebec
- Post-Graduation Work Permit holders
- Spouses or common-law partners of qualifying high-skilled workers (subject to current policy limits)
- Spouses of full-time students
- Post-doctoral fellows, medical or dental residents and research fellows
- Family members of some in-process economic-class applicants
- Academic award recipients
- Innovation-focused pilot streams, where in effect
Charitable Or Religious Work
LMIA-exempt permits for genuine charitable workers and for religious occupations serving a faith-based community.
No Other Means Of Support
LMIA-exempt permits for people who must work to support themselves while their status is resolved.
Typical examples: refugee claimants and persons under an unenforceable removal order.
Permanent Residence Applicants In Canada
LMIA-exempt permits linked to specific in-Canada permanent residence classes.
Typical examples: spouse or common-law partner in Canada class (after meeting eligibility), live-in caregivers under legacy pathways, protected persons and certain humanitarian applicants – including eligible family members.
Vulnerable Workers
LMIA-exempt open work permits for workers facing abuse or at risk of abuse, and in some cases their family members, to let them leave an unsafe employer.
Humanitarian Reasons
LMIA-exempt permits for special hardship situations.
Typical examples: destitute students and holders of temporary resident permits valid for at least six months.
PR Facilitation And Bridging
LMIA-exempt permits designed to bridge or facilitate permanent residence processing.
Typical examples: Bridging Open Work Permits, Start-Up Visa applicants, certain Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) holders in or outside Quebec, and select community pilots where specified.
Quebec-Specific Paths
LMIA-exempt permits that reflect Quebec’s distinct selection system.
Typical examples: foreign physicians coming to work in Quebec, some CSQ-based categories, and Quebec investor or self-employed pathways where work-permit support is provided.
Special Public Policies
Time-limited or group-specific measures issued by the Minister that create LMIA-exempt eligibility.
Typical examples: open work permits for Hong Kong graduates, certain H-1B holders and families, and foreign nationals with a provincial or territorial support letter – plus other crisis-response measures when announced.
FAQ
What is an LMIA and why are some jobs exempt?
An LMIA is a labour test that usually proves no Canadian worker is available. Under the International Mobility Program, IRCC can issue LMIA-exempt permits when an agreement, public policy or a clear benefit to Canada exists, so the labour test is not required.
How do I know if my situation fits an LMIA-exempt category?
Match your case to one of the categories above – for example, a trade-agreement professional, an intra-company transferee, a spouse of a qualifying worker or student, a researcher or a charitable worker. Then confirm the specific eligibility rules in IRCC’s current instructions.
Do LMIA-exempt permits still have requirements for employers?
Often yes. Many IMP categories require the employer to submit an offer of employment through IRCC’s Employer Portal and pay a compliance fee. Some categories are open work permits and do not need an employer submission. Always check the exact rules for your category.
Can my spouse or dependants get work or study authorization?
In many cases, yes. Spouses of certain high-skilled workers and full-time students can qualify for open work permits, subject to current policy limits. Some categories also allow permits for dependants. Each family member must meet their own eligibility and admissibility criteria.
How long are LMIA-exempt work permits valid and can they be extended?
Validity depends on the category, your job offer and, in some cases, the underlying agreement or your permanent residence timeline. Extensions are possible if you continue to meet the category’s requirements and remain compliant with status and employment conditions. Always keep proof of ongoing eligibility.
