Canada Opens the Door for LMIA-exempt Work Permits to Tech Professionals. Eligibility & key details
The world’s technology hotspots are about to find another competitor, which is Canada, as the government brings a new LMIA-exempt work permit for tech professionals working in its targeted tech companies. The work permit will form part of an overarching strategy by Canada to bring skilled tech players to prop up its fast-emerging innovation industry, which it launched way back in 2023. This new permit, under the Innovation Stream of the International Mobility Program (IMP), is granted to foreign workers with talent to contribute towards industries deemed ‘cutting-edge’ in Canada.
What is the new LMIA-exempt work permit ?
The new LMIA-exempt work permit will be specifically available to skilled foreign workers whose companies receive job offers from participating companies in the Global Hypergrowth Project, or GHP, of Canada. Participating companies are the industry leaders identified by the Canadian government for their potential to deliver growth in the high-tech sector of Canada. Such a worker will benefit from fringe advantages that allow an employer-specific work permit not to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA); Hence, it is somewhat of an advantage for the employee as well as a disadvantage to the employer, respectively.
What is an LMIA?
An LMIA is an ESDC document issued to evaluate the impact of hiring a foreign worker for the Canadian labour market. To most employer-specific work permits, there needs to be an LMIA result that is “positive” or “neutral” in regard to the effect that hiring a foreign worker cannot depress the work of Canadian workers. However, through this new program, qualifying tech firms are exempted from this procedure to allow the ease of entry into Canada for global talent.
Eligibility Requirements for the Innovation Stream
In order to qualify for the new LMIA-exempt work permit under the Innovation Stream, applicants are required to meet the following criteria:
GHP Employer provides you with an employment offer: The applicant has been provided with an employment by one of the eight eligible tech companies selected to participate in the Global Hypergrowth Project.
The job offer must be classified as a high-skilled occupation that falls under NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3.
An applicant must have qualifications relevant to the occupation for which they intend to work, established by NOC.
The application eligibility is open both to people within and outside Canada. Thus, it is really flexible in attracting international talent. Even applications submitted for work permits in NOC TEER 0 or 1 are quickly processed.
Companies Involved in the Global Hypergrowth Project
The Government of Canada has chosen the following to include them in the list of major industry leaders in this project:
- Ada Support Inc.
- AlayaCare
- CellCarta
- Clarius Mobile Health
- Clio
- Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG)
- Lightspeed Commerce
- Vive Crop Protection
Procedure to Apply for the LMIA Exemption of the Work Permit
The employer, before even applying, has to take care of these procedures;
- Make an employment offer using the official Canadian government portal.
- Pay employer compliance fee of CAD $230.
- Give the applicant an identification number to attach to the work permit application while making the application.
After these steps are done, an eligible worker can apply for a work permit exempt from LMIA through the Innovation Stream. Streamlined, it enables high-growth companies to get the best talents without waiting for the LMIA.
Conclusion
This will thus bring a revolution for foreign tech professionals and for Canadian companies with the introduction of this new LMIA-exempt work permit under the Innovation Stream. It is going to be allowed for LMIA-exempted programs under this program, as well as ensuring it would have a fast and speedy process in order to be able to invite the best talent in the world to fuel the growth of Canada to become the global leader in the tech industry.
If you are an efficient worker with employment that one of the GHP companies offered, then this is your time and chance to be part of Canada’s very active technology ecosystem.
