Work permits without an LMIA
An LMIA-exempt work permit lets a foreign national work in Canada without the employer first obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment. These work permits are usually processed under the International Mobility Program, where the exemption is based on broader Canadian interests, reciprocal agreements, international trade obligations, significant benefit, or other public policy reasons.
LMIA-exempt does not mean document-light. The employer, worker, job duties, exemption code, wage, location, and supporting evidence must still match the legal basis for the exemption.
Common LMIA-exempt pathways
Intra-Company Transfer
The Intra-Company Transfer route can allow multinational companies to move executives, senior managers, or specialized knowledge workers to a Canadian entity.
Francophone Mobility
The Francophone Mobility Work Permit supports French-speaking workers destined to work outside Quebec and can be valuable for employers trying to recruit bilingual talent.
C11 Entrepreneur or self-employed significant benefit
The C11 Entrepreneur Work Permit may fit entrepreneurs who will operate a business that provides significant benefit to Canada.
International agreements and other exemptions
Some professionals, traders, investors, academics, researchers, charitable or religious workers, and reciprocal employment situations may qualify under specific exemption categories.
Employer steps
In most employer-specific LMIA-exempt cases, the Canadian employer must submit the offer of employment through the Employer Portal and pay the employer compliance fee before the worker applies. Open work permits are different because the worker is not tied to one employer.
Worker application strategy
A strong application explains:
- why the LMIA exemption applies
- how the job duties match the exemption code
- the worker's qualifications and experience
- how the employer can support the role
- why the worker will leave Canada or maintain legal status if temporary residence is requested
- whether the work experience can later support Express Entry or PNP
LMIA-exempt vs LMIA-based
If no exemption fits, the employer may need an LMIA first. Compare this with our LMIA-Based Work Permit page.
Official reference
For employer portal rules, see IRCC's International Mobility Program employer portal guidance.
