For Employers
Overview of hiring a foreign national
When Canadian employers are having difficulty filling job positions with Canadian permanent residents or citizens, Canadian employers may seek to attract temporary skilled workers from abroad to fill those positions.An employer-specific work permit can only be obtained if the candidate has a qualifying offer of employment from a Canadian employer. Of course, the employer needs to first of all try and secure candidates who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
An employer-specific work permit is issued on a temporary basis on the condition that the foreign national works for the specific employer who is named on the permit. For most employer specific work permits, the employer must make an application for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to Service Canada to ensure that employing a foreign worker will not have a negative effect on Canada’s labour market.
Once the LMIA has been obtained, an application can be made for a work permit. A work permit will confirm the terms and conditions of the foreign national's stay and work in Canada. These will include job title, name of employer, and the length of time that the foreign national can work in Canada.
