LMIA for Permanent Residency in Canada

An LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) for Permanent Residency (PR) helps foreign workers obtain a PR visa by confirming a Canadian employer’s commitment to hire them once their visa is approved. This LMIA can increase the foreign worker’s Express Entry profile by 50 to 200 points, improving their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for PR.

• What are the options for supporting a PR application through LMIA?
• What criteria must a business meet to support a foreign worker for PR via LMIA?
• When is an employer required to hire a TFW under LMIA for PR?
• What about hiring under a Dual Intent LMIA?
• What is the maximum employment duration under a Dual Intent LMIA?
• What is a validated job offer in Quebec, and how does it impact immigration?
• How can one apply for a validated job offer in Quebec?
• What Happens After the Quebec Job Offer Is Validated?
• FAQ

Dual Intent LMIA

For foreign nationals outside Canada or those whose current work permit is expiring, allowing them to work while awaiting PR approval.

LMIA for PR

Ideal for employers intending to hire a foreign national only upon PR approval. This option does not incur a processing fee and is exempt from the transition plan requirement.

An employer must hire a foreign worker once they obtain permanent residency, provided the LMIA remains valid. The LMIA is valid for 18 months, during which the foreign national must apply for PR. If the PR application is unsuccessful, the employer is not obligated to hire the worker.

For a Dual Intent LMIA, the employer may hire the foreign worker upon work permit approval, even before PR approval. The employment terms will follow the current work permit until PR status is granted.

The maximum duration is 3 years for high-wage jobs and 2 years for low-wage jobs.

A validated job offer in Quebec is an employment offer from a Quebec-based employer who has had the offer approved by the Quebec Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI). This offer is significant in the Quebec immigration process, as it can add up to 14 points to your selection score under the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program.

Step 1: Job Offer Requirements

To apply for a validated job offer in Quebec, the offered position must meet the following criteria:

• It should be permanent and full-time.
• It must be classified under National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Levels 0, A, B, or C.
• If the occupation is regulated in Quebec, the candidate must have the necessary licensing.
• The job should positively or neutrally impact the local labor market and not affect any ongoing labor disputes.
• The employer must be established in Quebec for at least 12 months and provide a written job offer. Additionally, the candidate must submit a letter committing to the job upon their arrival in Canada.

Step 2: Application and Supporting Documents

Employers must submit an application for job offer validation along with supporting documents. Similar to the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process, they must demonstrate that they attempted to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident unless the candidate is already employed by the company on a valid temporary work permit.

Recruitment Efforts

If the candidate is not currently employed by the employer, the following recruitment efforts are required:

• Advertise the position for four weeks within the six months prior to application.
• Post the job offer on Placement en ligne, a job search platform managed by the Quebec Employment Ministry.
• Utilize at least one additional recruitment method.

The job advertisement must include:

• Business name and address.
• Job location.
• Contact information for hiring.
• Job title, responsibilities, and requirements.
• Salary details.

If the candidate is already working for the employer under a valid work permit, recruitment requirements are not necessary.

Applying for a CSQ

After obtaining a validated job offer, candidates can submit an expression of interest for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) via the Arrima portal under the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker (QSW) program. Invitations to apply for permanent selection are issued through regular Arrima draws.

Securing a validated job offer significantly enhances the chances of receiving a CSQ and progressing toward permanent residency in Quebec and Canada.

Applying for Permanent Residence

With a CSQ, candidates must apply for permanent residence as a skilled worker through Quebec’s program rather than the federal Express Entry system. The federal government will conduct medical and background checks for the main applicant and their family members. Upon successful checks, Canadian permanent residence will be granted.

FAQ