Can You Hire Foreign Workers Without an LMIA?
Often, yes. The International Mobility Program (IMP) lets Canadian employers hire foreign workers without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) runs it.
The catch: the job and the worker must fit a specific exemption category. This guide explains the main categories, the employer steps, the costs and the timelines.
IMP at a glance
Key takeaway
Before you start an LMIA, check whether the job fits an IMP exemption. If it does, you skip the job ads and the $1,000 LMIA fee, and your worker can usually start sooner.
What is the International Mobility Program (IMP)?
The IMP is Canada’s work permit program for jobs that don’t need an LMIA. It covers workers whose hiring brings broader economic, social or cultural benefits to Canada, or who come under an international agreement.
The other route, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), exists to fill labour shortages. It usually requires an LMIA to show that no Canadian is available for the job.
The IMP has three main goals:
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Canada’s economic and cultural interests
Jobs that bring broader benefits to Canada.
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International agreements
Trade deals such as CUSMA, CETA and CPTPP, and youth mobility arrangements.
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Global competitiveness
Helping Canadian businesses bring in key talent quickly.
Who is Eligible for the International Mobility Program?
Eligibility depends on the category the worker fits. Each category has its own rules. These are the most common.
For details, see our guides to CUSMA work permits, CETA work permits, intra-company transfers and the C11 work permit.
Trade agreement professionals
Who it covers
Citizens of partner countries under deals such as CUSMA, CETA and CPTPP, in listed occupations.
Key rule
The job and the worker's citizenship must match the agreement's terms.
Intra-company transferees
Who it covers
Executives, senior managers and specialized knowledge workers moving to a related Canadian company.
Key rule
The worker usually needs at least 1 year of full-time work with the foreign company in the last 3 years.
International Experience Canada (IEC)
Who it covers
Young people from countries with a youth mobility arrangement with Canada.
Key rule
Age limits (usually 18 to 30 or 35) and country quotas apply.
Significant benefit to Canada
Who it covers
Workers whose job brings a significant economic, social or cultural benefit, such as entrepreneurs, entertainers and researchers.
Key rule
Officers decide case by case. Strong evidence of the benefit is essential.
Post-graduation work permit (PGWP)
Who it covers
Graduates of eligible programs at Canadian designated learning institutions.
Key rule
Since November 1, 2024, applicants need a language test result (CLB/NCLC 7 for university degrees, 5 for college). Non-degree college graduates must also have studied in an eligible field.
Spouses of workers and students
Who it covers
Spouses and common-law partners of certain work permit holders and students.
Key rule
Since January 21, 2025, the worker generally needs a TEER 0 or 1 job (or a listed TEER 2 or 3 job) with at least 16 months left on their permit.
What Are the IMP Exemption Codes?
Every IMP work permit is issued under an exemption code. The code tells the officer which rule the hire relies on, and the employer selects it when submitting the offer in the Employer Portal. Choosing the wrong code can lead to a refusal.
These are the codes employers use most:
- CUSMA (US, Mexico): T36 professionals, T37 intra-company executives and senior managers, T38 specialized knowledge workers, T34 traders, T35 investors
- CETA (EU): T43 independent professionals, T44 intra-company executives, T41 specialized knowledge workers, T47 contractual service suppliers, T46 investors
- CPTPP: T52 professionals and technicians, T51 intra-company executives, T55 specialized knowledge workers
- GATS: T33 professionals
Read our CUSMA guide and CETA guide.
- C61: intra-company transferee opening a new branch or affiliate in Canada
- C62: intra-company executives and senior or functional managers
- C63: intra-company specialized knowledge workers
- C11: entrepreneurs and self-employed business owners
- C60: provincial nominee business candidates
- C10: significant benefit (general)
See our intra-company transfer and C11 guides.
- C21: International Experience Canada (IEC)
- C20: reciprocal employment, where Canadians get similar jobs in the worker’s country
- C16: Francophone Mobility, for French-speaking workers outside Québec
- C43: post-graduation work permit (PGWP)
- C41: spouses and common-law partners of skilled workers
- C42: spouses of eligible full-time students
Open permits are not tied to one employer, so the employer does not submit an offer or pay the compliance fee.
How Do You Qualify for the International Mobility Program?
Whatever the category, IRCC checks the same core things:
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The right exemption category
The job and the worker must meet every condition of one specific IMP category.
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A job offer in the Employer Portal
For employer-specific permits, the employer submits the offer and pays the $230 compliance fee before the worker applies. The worker needs the offer number.
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Proof of qualifications
Degrees, licences, work history and any other evidence the category requires.
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General admissibility
A valid passport, no health or security concerns, and proof the worker will leave Canada when the permit ends.
Key Features of the IMP Work Permit
For eligible hires, the IMP is usually simpler, cheaper and faster than the LMIA route. For a full view of your hiring options, see our guide on hiring foreign workers in Canada.
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No LMIA required
No job ads, no $1,000 LMIA fee and no ESDC review.
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Flexible permit types
Depending on the category, the worker gets an employer-specific or an open work permit.
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Built on reciprocity
Many categories come from agreements that give Canadians similar rights abroad.
Key Differences Between LMIA and IMP
Here is how the two routes compare for employers.
| LMIA (TFWP) | IMP (LMIA-exempt) | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Fill labour shortages | Broader economic, cultural and trade goals |
| LMIA needed? | Yes | No |
| Job ads first? | Usually yes | No |
| Employer fee | $1,000 LMIA fee per position | $230 compliance fee (employer-specific permits) |
| Who reviews | ESDC reviews the LMIA; IRCC issues the permit | IRCC only |
| Examples | Agricultural workers, Global Talent Stream, high- and low-wage jobs | Intra-company transfers, trade agreement professionals, PGWP |
| Overall timeline | Longer: LMIA first, then the permit | Shorter: no LMIA step |
Government fees as of October 2026. Fees and processing times can change.
What is the Age Limit for the IMP in Canada?
The IMP has no general age limit. Some categories do. International Experience Canada (IEC), for example, is open only to young people, usually aged 18 to 30 or 18 to 35, depending on your country’s agreement with Canada.
How Much Does an IMP Work Permit Cost?
IRCC charges these government fees. Legal fees are separate.
Who pays what
The employer pays the $230 compliance fee when submitting the offer. The worker usually pays the work permit and biometrics fees, though many employers cover them.
How Long Does an IMP Work Permit Take?
There is no single processing time. It depends on three things:
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The category
Each one has its own documents and review.
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Where the worker applies
Each visa office has its own workload.
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Complete documents
Missing items cause delays or refusals.
Two-week processing
Under the Global Skills Strategy, IRCC aims to process eligible applications in 2 weeks when the job is in NOC TEER 0 or 1, the worker applies online from outside Canada, and the employer has submitted the offer and paid the compliance fee (unless exempt). IEC applicants are not eligible. For other cases, check IRCC’s processing-times tool.
Where Can the Worker Apply for an IMP Work Permit?
There are three possible routes. Which one is available depends on the worker’s citizenship and current status.
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Online from outside Canada
The standard route, and the only one eligible for 2-week Global Skills Strategy processing.
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At a port of entry
Workers who don’t need a visitor visa can usually apply on arrival with a complete application. Since December 23, 2024, people already in Canada can no longer “flagpole” (leave briefly and re-enter to get a permit), except US citizens and permanent residents, certain free trade professionals and a few others.
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From inside Canada
Only in limited cases, for example when the worker already holds a valid work or study permit.
Check before you travel
Applying at the border saves time only if the file is complete. An officer who isn’t satisfied can refuse on the spot, so get the category and documents right first.
How to Apply for the International Mobility Program?
Here is the usual sequence for an employer-specific IMP work permit.
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1
Confirm the category
Identify the IMP category that fits the job and the worker.
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2
Submit the job offer
The employer submits the offer in the Employer Portal and pays the $230 compliance fee, unless exempt.
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3
Gather documents
Passport, proof of qualifications, the offer number and any category-specific evidence.
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4
Apply online
The worker applies to IRCC online and gives biometrics if required.
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5
Wait for a decision
Timelines vary by category and visa office. Eligible jobs may get 2-week processing.
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6
Get the work permit
The worker gets an approval letter, then the permit on arrival. Check that its conditions match the job.
What Must Employers Do After the Worker Arrives?
LMIA-exempt does not mean inspection-exempt. When you submit an offer in the Employer Portal, you agree to conditions IRCC can check later.
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Keep the offer’s terms
Provide substantially the same job, wages and working conditions as in the offer.
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Follow employment laws
Comply with federal and provincial employment and recruitment laws.
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Keep a safe workplace
Make reasonable efforts to provide a workplace free of abuse and reprisal.
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Keep records for 6 years
Contracts, payroll and time records, starting from the worker’s first day.
If IRCC finds a problem
Penalties can reach $100,000 per violation and $1 million per year. Employers can also be banned from hiring foreign workers for 1, 2, 5 or 10 years, or permanently, and named on a public list.
What Mistakes Do Employers Make With the IMP?
Most IMP delays and refusals come from a few avoidable errors.
Assuming an LMIA is required
Why it hurts
You spend months on job ads and pay the $1,000 LMIA fee when an exemption may have been available.
What works instead
Check the IMP categories first: trade agreements, intra-company transfers and significant benefit.
Skipping the Employer Portal
Why it hurts
Without an offer number and a paid compliance fee, the worker's employer-specific application can't go forward.
What works instead
Submit the offer and pay the $230 fee before the worker applies.
Choosing the wrong category
Why it hurts
Each category has its own exemption code and conditions. A mismatch can lead to a refusal.
What works instead
Match the job, the worker's citizenship and your corporate structure to one category, and document every condition.
Forgetting compliance after arrival
Why it hurts
IRCC can inspect employers. Breaking the terms of the offer can lead to fines and bans.
What works instead
Provide the job, wages and conditions stated in the offer, and keep records.
Can the Worker Bring Their Family?
Often, yes, but the rules tightened on January 21, 2025.
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Spouse or common-law partner
Can get an open work permit if the worker has a TEER 0 or 1 job (or a listed TEER 2 or 3 job) with at least 16 months left on their permit. Some trade agreements, such as CETA and CPTPP, have their own spouse codes.
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Dependent children
Generally no longer get open work permits.
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School-age children
Minor children can usually attend school from kindergarten to grade 12 without a study permit while a parent is authorized to work in Canada.
Can IMP Work Experience Lead to Permanent Residence?
Often, yes. One year of full-time, paid, skilled work (TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3) in Canada within the last 3 years can qualify the worker for the Canadian Experience Class under Express Entry. Provincial nominee programs offer other routes.
Two cautions. Self-employed work, including C11 owner-operator time, does not count for the Canadian Experience Class. And since March 25, 2025, a job offer no longer earns extra Express Entry points.
FAQs About the International Mobility Program
The IMP lets Canadian employers hire foreign workers without an LMIA when the job fits a specific exemption category, such as a trade agreement, an intra-company transfer or a significant benefit to Canada.
It depends on the category. Common ones are trade agreement professionals, intra-company transferees, IEC participants, significant benefit workers, PGWP holders and some spouses. Each has its own rules.
The worker must meet every condition of one IMP category. For employer-specific permits, the employer must also submit the offer through the Employer Portal and pay the $230 compliance fee before the worker applies.
It varies by category and visa office, and it changes often. Check IRCC’s processing-times tool for current estimates. Eligible TEER 0 or 1 jobs applied for from outside Canada may get 2-week processing under the Global Skills Strategy.
IMP+ is an open work permit for Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ) holders living outside Québec who received an invitation letter from Québec. Québec is no longer sending these invitations. Only people invited before January 16, 2025 can still have applications processed under IMP+.
Yes. Under the Global Skills Strategy, eligible LMIA-exempt jobs in NOC TEER 0 or 1 are targeted for 2-week processing when the worker applies online from outside Canada and the employer has submitted the offer and paid the compliance fee. IEC applicants are not eligible. For high-skilled tech roles, see our Global Talent Stream guide.
Often. One year of full-time, paid, skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) in Canada within the last 3 years can qualify the worker for the Canadian Experience Class. Self-employed work, including C11 time, does not count.
Possibly. Since January 21, 2025, a spouse or common-law partner can get an open work permit only if the worker has a TEER 0 or 1 job (or a listed TEER 2 or 3 job) with at least 16 months left on their permit. Dependent children generally no longer qualify.
Final Thoughts
The IMP is often the quickest way to bring a foreign worker to Canada without an LMIA. But it only works when the job and the worker fit a category exactly. Choose the wrong one and you lose time you may not have.
If you’re not sure which route fits, start with the category. A senior immigration lawyer can confirm it before you file anything.
