Find a LMIA Employer

If you're a skilled worker who has applied to immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry program, you need a written job offer before you'll be allowed to enter the country. For most people, your employer must also get a labor market impact assessment (LMIA) to support the job offer. This document confirms that the employer needs to hire a foreign worker for the job because no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available.

Steps

Getting a Job Offer

1. Network with people in your industry who work in Canada. Often companies have openings that aren't necessarily posted on job boards. If you have any industry connections in Canada, start there. If you don't, ask the connections you do have if they know anyone in Canada — you can broaden your network from there.
   • Focus on companies who have hired recent immigrants in the past, as they'll be more likely to hire recent immigrants again. Larger companies may even have programs specifically designed to attract newcomers to Canada.
   • Setting up a page on LinkedIn can help you keep track of your contacts and connections as well as network with people in Canada. Stay active on the site and ask people familiar with your work to add endorsements.Template:Greenbox:'''Tip:''' If you have friends or family members in Canada, they might also be able to help you find a job. Ask if they know anyone in your industry who's looking for someone with your skills and experience.
2. Try an internship or mentorship if you're just starting your career. Many Canadian companies have internships and mentorship programs that are designed specifically for immigrants and foreign workers. Immigrant services societies in Canada often have information about these programs and how to apply.
   • If you're still in college or recently graduated, your college's career services office might also have information about these programs.
   • While these programs might not be as beneficial if you already have several years of experience in your field, they can be helpful if you're just starting out.
3. Create a Job Match account with Job Bank. Go to https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home and click on "Job Match" to get started. Provide details about your education and experience and the site will match you with job listings that are suitable.
   • You can also use the site to keep track of the jobs you've applied to and get notifications when new listings are posted that would be a match for your education, experience, and skillset.
   • Employers who list openings in the Job Bank are specifically looking for new immigrants to fill those posts.
4. Connect with immigrant settlement services. Go to https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/services/index.asp and search for services available in each province. While these organizations are primarily designed to help people who have recently immigrated to Canada, they also have pre-arrival services available.
   • These services are most beneficial if you already have an idea which province you want to live in. However, even if you don't have a strong preference for a particular part of the country, you can still get help from these organizations.
   • These organizations also have job search services that you can use to find a position. They may have information about openings that aren't posted on the national Job Bank.

Updating Your Express Entry Profile

1. Log in to your account. When you applied for the Express Entry program, you created an account online with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Go to https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/account.html to log in to your account so you can update your profile.
   • Immigration officials evaluate your profile and assign a score in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) that determines when you might be invited to apply for permanent residency.
2. Scan your employment offer and LMIA document. You'll need digital copies of your written employment offer and your LMIA document to apply for permanent residency. Scan them as soon as possible so you don't run the risk of losing them. Make sure your employment offer has all necessary information, including:
   • Your pay and deductions
   • Your job duties
   • Your hours of work and other conditions of employment
   • Your potential start date
   • Your employer's name and address
3. Add information about your job offer to your profile. Copy information from your employment offer and your LMIA document onto your profile. Immigration officials will assess this information and adjust your CRS score accordingly. Provide the following information:
   • Your LMIA number (on your LMIA document)
   • The name and address of the employer who extended the offer
   • Your proposed start date
   • The National Occupational Classification (NOC) code related to the job{{greenbox:Tip: The NOC code will typically be listed on your LMIA document. If it's not, go to https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/eligibility/find-national-occupation-code.html and search for it.}}
4. Find out if you need any licenses or certifications. The employer who extended you the job offer likely told you of any licenses or certifications you'd need to have before you could start work. Make sure you meet the qualifications or would be able to pass any necessary tests once you arrive in Canada.
   • Go to http://www.red-seal.ca/contact/c.4nt.1ct-eng.html to find contact information and standard requirements for the regulatory authority in the province where you plan to live and work.
   • Immigration officials who review your profile will determine if you'd be likely to be granted any license or certification necessary for you to do the work you've been offered.
   • You won't be able to complete the licensing or certification process until you arrive in Canada, but you may be able to get the process started before you arrive.Template:Greenbox:'''Warning:''' You must meet the same standards as any Canadian doing the same work. Some licenses and certifications may require near-fluency in English or French.

Applying for Permanent Residency

1. Wait for your invitation to apply for permanent residency. After you create an Express Entry profile, you'll sit in the Express Entry pool. Invitations are extended throughout the year during announced rounds based on your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
   • If you're extended an invitation, you'll get a notification in the online account you set up when you created your Express Entry profile. The notification includes instructions on how to respond to the invitation.
   • You have 60 days from the date you receive your invitation to either apply for permanent residency or decline the invitation. If you decline the invitation, you'll return to the pool and be eligible for selection in future rounds.
2. Make sure your language test results are still valid. Proficiency in either English or French is required to qualify for permanent residency in Canada. Test results are valid for 2 years after the date you took the test. If your test results expire before your application is submitted, your application will be rejected.
   • If you haven't already taken a language test, or if your results are about to expire, make plans to take a test again. Go to https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-requirements/language-testing.html for a list of tests approved for Express Entry permanent residency applications.
3. Get a police certificate. The police certificate provides information about your criminal background to immigration officials. You need one for yourself and any family member over the age of 18 who is moving to Canada with you.
   • To find out how to get a police certificate in your country, go to https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/police-certificates/how.html and select the name of your home country from the drop-down menu. If your country isn't listed, contact your national police agency.Template:Greenbox:'''Tip:''' Contact the appropriate police agency and find out how long it will take to get your certificate. Make sure you'll be able to turn it in within 60 days of the date you received your invitation.
4. Submit your application for permanent residency. Once you receive your invitation, you have 60 days to submit your application and all supporting documents. The application is available through your Express Entry profile on the IRCC website — simply click the link to submit your application.
   • Fill out the application completely. You won't be able to submit your application if any of the fields marked "mandatory" are left blank.
   • You don't have to complete the application all at once. If you only get part of the way through and need to stop, you can save your progress and return later.
5. Upload the documents you need to support your application. When you complete your application, the website generates a list of documents you need. Scan any of the documents you don't already have digital copies of so you can upload them to the system. At a minimum, you'll need the following:
   • Your written employment offer
   • The LMIA document for your job
   • Your police certificate
   • Your language test results
6. Pay the processing fees through your online account. You can pay your fees through your online account with any major debit or credit card. Keep your receipt for fee payment. When you get your biometrics done, you'll need this receipt to prove that you've already paid the fee.
   • As of 2020, the processing fees for a permanent residency application are $1,325. If you're also including your spouse, pay an additional $1,325. If you're including a dependent child, pay an additional $225. These amounts include the processing fees plus the right of permanent residence fee.
   • If you're between the ages of 14 and 79, you must also submit your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) with your application, even if you've submitted them before. As of 2020, the fee for biometrics is $85 for a single application or $170 for families applying at the same time. You must pay your biometrics fee at the same time you pay your application processing fees.Template:Greenbox:'''Tip:''' If you can't pay the full fees, you can pay the $825 application processing fee and pay the $500 right of permanent residence fee after your application is approved.
7. Get your photo and fingerprints taken for your application. You must get your biometrics done in person in your home country before you travel to Canada. When you pay your fees and submit your completed application, you'll get an email with a letter that lists locations near you where you can complete this step.
   • You can also find locations near you by going to https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/where-to-give-biometrics.asp. Remember to make an appointment at the facility — you may not be seen if you just show up.
   • You must complete your biometrics within the 60-day period following the date your invitation to apply for permanent residency was issued.
8. Check your account regularly for messages about your application. If immigration officials need any additional information to process your application, you'll get a message in your Express Entry account. The 60-day deadline still applies after you've submitted your application, so make sure you get this information as quickly as possible. If it's going to take you some time to get the information or documents requested, contact the immigration official and tell them about your situation.
   • It can take up to 6 months to process an application. You'll also receive a notice through your account when your application is approved. If you haven't yet paid your right of residence fee, you'll have to pay it when your application is approved.
   • If your application is rejected, you can fill out and submit a new Express Entry profile. Essentially, you have to start over and be accepted to the pool again, then wait for another invitation before you can apply for permanent residency again.

Warnings

• This article assumes that you've already begun the application process to immigrate to Canada under the Express Entry program. Complete your Express Entry application and get approved for entry to the country before you start looking for a job.

References

See also

• Negotiate Pay
• Make a Job Offer to Prospective Candidates
• Respond to a Job Offer
• Negotiate Locum Pay
• Evaluate Employee Benefits of a Potential Job
• Confirm a Job Offer from Another City
• Write an Acceptance Letter
• Advertise Job Openings
• Negotiate a Job Offer That Involves Relocation
• Turn Down a Job Offer After Acceptance

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