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CanadaWork permitsLast checked October 16, 2026

Employer-specific work permit supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment

LMIA

A Canadian employer first gets a positive LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC/Service Canada), showing that hiring a foreign worker will not harm the Canadian labour market. The worker then applies to IRCC for an employer-specific work permit tied to that employer, job and location. Positions are split into high-wage and low-wage streams by comparing the offered wage with a provincial or territorial threshold.

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Life in Canada

Money

3

Currency

Canadian Dollar

CAD

Canadian Dollar

Cost of living

90

Price level · US = 100

World Bank price levels, 2025

Tax

14–33%

Income tax (national)

Federal top rate applies above CAD 258,482 (2026); provinces/territories add their own income tax (roughly 4% to 21% at the top), giving combined top rates of about 44% to 54%.

Official rates, 2026 · headline only

Living

1

Happiness

6.7

#24 of 145 countries

World Happiness Report 2025

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Who it’s for

Foreign workers with a genuine job offer from a Canadian employer that has a positive LMIA for the position.

Eligibility

  • Positive LMIA

    The employer needs a positive LMIA, and you must apply for the work permit before it expires.

    For applications received from May 1, 2024
    • LMIAs are valid for up to 6 months
    Official wording

    The employer must get a positive LMIA for the position. LMIAs for applications received from May 1, 2024 are valid for up to 6 months, and the worker must apply for the work permit before the LMIA expires.

  • Genuine job offer and contract

    You need a written job offer and employment contract from the employer named on the LMIA.

    30 hours

    Minimum work hours · full-time, at least

    Official wording

    You need a written job offer and employment contract from the employer named on the LMIA. The work must be full-time, at least 30 hours per week.

  • Prevailing wage

    • The wage must be at least the prevailing wage.
    • This is the higher of the Job Bank median wage for the job and location, or the wage paid to current employees in the same job.
    • Only guaranteed wages count.

A sneak peek at what's inside

  • Next requirementHigh-wage stream threshold
  • Document checklistCopy of the positive LMIA decision letter
  • FeesLMIA processing fee (paid by employer)

The full requirements are for members

Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.

  • 6 more requirements
  • 10 documents
  • 5 fees
  • 8 steps
  • Processing times and conditions
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