📋Issued ByESDCEmployment & Social Development
⏱️Processing1 – 5 MonthsStream-dependent
💰ESDC FeeCAD $1,000Per position approved
✅ResultPositive LMIAEnables work permit filing
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Get Your LMIA Right — It's the Key That Unlocks the Work Permit
An LMIA demonstrates the employer was unable to find a qualified Canadian worker — justifying hiring a foreign national. The process involves mandatory job advertising, wage compliance, and ESDC submission. A poorly prepared LMIA leads to rejection and wasted resources. We manage every step — advertising strategy, evidence compilation, form preparation, and ESDC communication.
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Eligibility & Key Information
Requirements and what you need to know
Eligibility Requirements
You are a Canadian employer needing to hire a foreign worker
No qualified Canadian citizen or PR is available for the position
You are willing to meet prevailing wage requirements
You can demonstrate recruitment efforts through mandatory advertising
The position is not excluded from LMIA requirements
You are registered or willing to register with the IRCC employer portal
LMIA Streams We Handle
High-Wage Worker LMIA — wages at or above provincial median
Low-Wage Worker LMIA — wages below provincial median
Global Talent Stream (GTS) — tech roles, 2-week processing
Agricultural LMIA — farm and seasonal agricultural workers
Caregiver LMIA — in-home caregivers and care aides
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP)
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What You're Getting
End-to-end support from assessment to resolution
Advertising Strategy
We design and implement the mandatory job advertising campaign — job boards, duration, media, and documentation of recruitment results.
LMIA Application Preparation
We prepare the complete LMIA package — all ESDC forms, job description, wage justification, and advertising evidence.
Wage Compliance Review
We verify the offered wage meets ESDC's prevailing wage requirements for the position and region.
ESDC Submission & Representation
We submit the LMIA to ESDC and manage all communications — responding to requests and following up.
NOC Code Alignment
We ensure the job description and NOC code are properly aligned — mismatch is a common refusal reason.
Work Permit Coordination
Once positive LMIA is received, we immediately prepare and file the employee's work permit application.
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How We Work With You
A clear step-by-step process
01
Position Assessment
We review the job, wage, and NOC to determine the correct LMIA stream and advertising requirements.
02
Advertising Campaign
We design and implement the mandatory recruitment advertising.
03
Application Preparation
We prepare the complete LMIA package — ESDC forms, advertising evidence, and wage documentation.
04
ESDC Submission
We submit to ESDC and manage all correspondence.
05
Positive LMIA Receipt
Upon positive LMIA, we immediately initiate the employee's work permit application.
06
Work Permit Filing
We prepare and file the employee's closed work permit.
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Transparent Pricing
No hidden fees
Professional Service Fee
USD1,500base fee / applicant
LMIA Application — Complete Handling (Employer)
Employee work permit (per person)+ USD 800
Multiple positionsDiscounted bundle
Global Talent Stream priorityIncluded
ESDC employer fee of CAD $1,000 per approved position paid by employer directly to ESDC. Employee work permit government fee of CAD $155 is separate. Fees vary by stream complexity.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this service
High-wage LMIA applies when the wage equals or exceeds the provincial median. Low-wage LMIA applies when below the median — additional requirements including housing and transportation apply.
For most positions, advertising must run at least 4 weeks including ESDC's Job Bank plus 2 additional recruitment methods.
GTS is a fast-track stream for tech and highly-skilled roles — processing in as little as 2 weeks. Requires a labour market benefits plan. We assess GTS eligibility.
No — an LMIA is for a specific employer and occupation. A new work permit application (using the same LMIA, if valid) must be filed for a different person.
LMIAs are generally valid for 18 months. The work permit application must be filed within this period.