In Canada, foreign workers can get work permits in two main ways: some require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), and some do not. An LMIA is a document that some employers need to show that hiring a temporary foreign worker won’t negatively impact the Canadian job market.

However, thanks to various international agreements, some temporary foreign workers (TFWs) can work in Canada without needing an LMIA.

‍

International Agreements Allowing LMIA Exemptions
Canada has several international agreements that allow employers to hire TFWs from certain countries without an LMIA. These agreements include the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

‍

Who Can Work Without an LMIA?
Here’s a look at the types of jobs and the countries where workers can come from without needing an LMIA:

‍

1. Traders
Traders from these countries can work in Canada without an LMIA:

- United States
- Mexico
- Colombia
- Chile
- South Korea
- Peru

Under these agreements, a trader is someone involved in significant trade of goods or services between Canada and their home country.

‍

2. Investors
Investors from these countries/regions can work in Canada without an LMIA:

- United States
- Mexico
- Colombia
- Chile
- South Korea
- Peru
- European Union (through CETA)
- United Kingdom
- Some Trans-Pacific countries (like Australia, Japan, and Singapore through CPTPP)

An investor is someone who has invested substantially in a Canadian business and comes to Canada to help run that business.

‍

3. Professionals
Professionals from these countries can work without an LMIA:

- United States
- Mexico
- Colombia
- Chile
- Panama
- Peru
- GATS Member Nations
- Some Trans-Pacific countries (through CPTPP)

A professional typically has a pre-arranged job or service contract in Canada in their field of expertise.

‍

Intra-Company Transfers (ICTs)
ICTs allow employees of multinational companies to work temporarily in Canada at a branch or affiliate of their employer. These transfers can happen without an LMIA and are available to workers from many countries, especially those with specific international agreements.

‍

Other Exemptions
There are additional situations where foreign workers can be hired without an LMIA, such as:

- Airline and government personnel from the United States
- Technicians from Colombia, Panama, and Peru
- Spouses of certain workers from countries like South Korea and EU member states
‍

These exceptions are part of Canada’s efforts to support trade and business relations with other countries while maintaining its labor market needs.

‍