Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is an authorization document that an employer in Canada may need to get from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) before hiring a foreign worker. A positive LMIA indicates that there is no Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill a position, therefore enabling an employer to hire a foreign national.

If the employer needs an LMIA, they must apply for one. Once an employer gets the LMIA, the worker can apply for a work permit.