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Looking for an LMIA-approved job in Canada? Use this tool to search which employers in Canada have successfully used Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) to hire workers in your occupation.
How to Find an LMIA-Approved Job in Canada
Use the LMIA tool below to search by job title, NOC code, or company. You can also filter results based on province and stream. Once you identify an employer hiring in your occupation, check the employer’s website or contact them directly to determine if they have any open positions.
Disclaimer: These companies may not be actively hiring new employees. This tool displays a list of Canadian employers who have previously received positive LMIAs in the last 6 months. Additionally, not all companies listed may still be eligible to hire workers due to issues like the cap on hiring for low-wage workers, a company’s compliance violations or unemployment rates.
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LMIA Employer Search FAQs
What is an LMIA?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. An LMIA determines whether a Canadian company is justified in hiring a foreign worker to fill a position instead of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. An LMIA application outlines the company’s needs & commitments, the labour market conditions, and proves that they advertised the position and were unable to find someone in Canada to fill the job.
If an LMIA is determined to be ‘positive,’ this enables the company to hire foreign workers. These workers are then eligible to apply for employer-specific work permits (also called a closed work permit).
LMIAs are issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
Is an LMIA the same as a work permit?
No, an LMIA is not the same as a work permit. An LMIA is a document obtained by a Canadian employer to demonstrate they were unable to find a Canadian to fill an open position and therefore need to hire a foreign worker.
A work permit is a document obtained by a foreign worker granting them the authorization to work in Canada.
If a foreign worker can get a Canadian job offer for a position supported by a positive LMIA, then the foreign worker can use the company’s LMIA to apply for a closed work permit, tied to that company and position.
LMIA-based work permits are only one among many types of work permits available in Canada. Others include work permits for recent graduates, for youth of certain countries, and for those benefitting from free trade agreements such as the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).
How do I get an LMIA in Canada?
If you are a foreign worker looking for a job in Canada, you cannot apply for an LMIA directly. It is the Canadian employer’s responsibility to apply for an LMIA, not the foreign worker’s. You can, however, use the tool above to search for Canadian employers who have previously hired foreign workers for LMIA approved jobs.
If you are a Canadian employer looking to hire foreign workers, you can apply for an LMIA online. You will have to complete an application attesting to labour market conditions and proving that you advertised the position but were unable to find a Canadian to fill the job. In most cases, you also have to pay a fee of CAD $1,000 for each position requested. You may need to produce a transition plan, showing that you will take steps to reduce reliance on temporary foreign workers over time.
To learn more about the LMIA application process under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, visit our LMIA page.
How do I get a work permit in Canada?
There are many different types of work permits in Canada, so the first step is determining which type of work permit is best for you. Some work permits are tied to specific employers (closed work permits) while other work permits allow you to change employers freely during your time in Canada (open work permits).
Popular types of closed work permits include:
- USMCA work permits for U.S. & Mexican citizens
Popular types of open work permits include:
- Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP)
- Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWP)
To explore other work permit options, check out our complete guide to work permits in Canada.
How do I get an LMIA-approved job in Canada?
The best way to find an LMIA-approved job in Canada is by using the tool above to search for employers who have previously hired foreign workers.
Other employers may be willing to apply for an LMIA, but the process is complex, lengthy, and expensive, so typically Canadian employers must have a real need for foreign talent. Sometimes employers are willing to go through the LMIA process for foreign workers with specialized skills. Many LMIAs are issued to companies with high labour needs in regions where they truly struggle to find Canadians to fill those needs.
To give yourself the best chance of getting hired, you also need to ensure you submit a strong application. Use our guide to finding work in Canada to be sure you submit a quality job application.
Which Canadian companies are hiring foreign workers in 2026?
To determine which companies are hiring foreign workers in 2026, use the tool above to check which employers have previously been approved for LMIAs.
Please note: While the tool provides a historical breakdown of LMIA-approved jobs, these companies may not be hiring foreign workers at this moment. You need to check the company website or get in touch directly to ask about open positions.
How do I get a Global Talent Stream work permit?
The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is a fast-track option for Canadian employers seeking to hire foreign talent with specialized skilled in highly skilled rolls. To be eligible, employers must either be referred by a designated referral partner or be seeking to fill an in-demand, highly skilled position on the global talent occupations list.
Canadian employers hiring foreign talent through the GTS must develop a Labour Markets Benefits Plan (LMBP) that demonstrates their commitment to activities that will have lasting, positive impacts on the Canadian labour market.
If accept through the GTS, LMIAs will be processed in approximately 10 business days (80 percent of the time). As well, work permits for foreign workers will also have accelerated processing times (10 business days, 80 percent of the time).
What’s the difference between the high-wage and low-wage LMIA streams?
Job positions where the wage is at or above the provincial wage threshold (median wage + 20 percent) are considered high-wage positions. Jobs below that threshold are considered low-wage positions. There is a different LMIA application process for high-wage and low-wage positions.
High-wage positions have easier requirements regarding job advertisement, but they also require employers to complete a detailed transition plan.
Meanwhile, low-wage positions have stricter job advertisement requirements. Employers hiring through the low-wage stream are also subject to a cap on temporary foreign workers. Typically, employers hiring through the low-wage stream may hire up to 10 percent of their employees through this stream. If the employer is hiring for a sector with a demonstrated labour shortage, they may hire up to 20 percent of their employees through this stream.
To get full details on the different LMIA streams and application processes refer to our complete LMIA guide.
