Canada has skills, and labour shortages in many industries across the country due to an aging population. The current worker-to-retiree ratio is 4 to 1. The solution? Temporary foreign workers help Canadian employers to meet labour needs when qualified Canadians or permanent residents aren’t available. Even more importantly, temporary workers support the success and growth of many industries, such as agriculture, healthcare, and technology. This is exactly why the Temporary Foreign Worker Program was formed.
Planning to recruit from abroad? Want to work in Canada? The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is designed for Canadian employers to hire foreign workers within a wide range of job positions. The most important part of the TFWP hiring process is applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). An LMIA proves that no Canadian or permanent resident was available to fill the job position. The temporary worker you wish to hire must submit a copy of the LMIA or the LMIA number along with their work permit application.
If you want to hire a foreign worker that is exempt from an LMIA you can do so through the International Mobility Program (IMP).
The Temporary Foreign Work Program is divided into sub-categories or streams. Canadian employers who wish to hire temporary foreign workers must apply through a TFWP stream that supports their hiring needs. Each stream has a list of requirements that must be met to compile a winning LMIA application for Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
The TWFP streams vary based on the wages offered to workers (above or below the Canadian average) and the worker’s skills level according to the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system (high-skilled or low-skilled workers). Learn more about the seven different TFWP streams below.
Employers who plan to hire a temporary foreign worker who will be paid at or above the median hourly wage of their province or territory must apply for an LMIA through the TFWP stream for high-wage workers, demonstrating that they were unable to find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the position.
Once an employer is issued a positive LMIA for a high-wage skilled position, they must send a copy of the LMIA to the worker which enables them to apply for a Canadian work permit through a work permit application or a permanent residency application, depending on eligibility. LMIA documents are valid for six months only, so ideally, foreign workers must apply for their work permits as soon as possible.
Employers who plan to hire a temporary foreign worker who will be paid less than the median hourly wage of their province or territory must apply for an LMIA through the TFWP stream for low-wage workers, demonstrating that they were unable to find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the position.
Hiring low-wage workers requires employers to meet additional requirements to ensure the workplace rights and safety of low-wage non-resident workers. Once an employer is issued a positive LMIA for a low-wage skilled position, they must send a copy of the LMIA to the worker which enables them to apply for a Canadian work permit through a work permit application or a permanent residency application, depending on eligibility. The LMIA is valid for six months after being issued.
Due to Canada’s ongoing demand for agricultural workers, especially in peak seasons, employers who need to hire workers to fill specific job positions related to agricultural production may be able to use one of two agricultural streams to accelerate the hiring process. In order to qualify for either stream, employers must ensure that their production is in a sector on Canada’s national commodity list and the activity must be related to on-farm primary agriculture in one of these National Occupational Classification codes: 0821, 0822, 8252, 8255, 8431, 8432, and 8611.
Canada has bilateral agreements with specific countries that allow employers to hire agricultural workers to work in Canada for up to eight months during peak farming periods. The foreign workers must be citizens of Mexico or one of the following Caribbean countries; Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. If an employer meets the requirements for the SAWP, they can apply for an LMIA and easily hire qualified workers with experience and who can meet the additional requirements of working in Canada.
The Global Talent Stream (GTS) assists eligible Canadian employers to hire highly-skilled workers under one of two categories. Category A = is for employers who have been referred to by one of the GTS designated partners and want to hire highly-specialized workers. Category B is for employers who want to hire highly-skilled workers on the GTS Occupations List. The Global Talent Stream expedites the hiring process for employers by doing away with the LMIA requirement to prove they first tried recruiting Canadians and permanent residents of Canada. Also, work permit applications for the GTS are processed in about 10 business days.
Families who need to hire a foreign caregiver to provide care, in a private residence, to seniors or individuals with medical needs, or children, may be able to do so through the Home Care Provider Stream of the TFWP. This stream enables families to hire temporary foreign workers, provided that the positions to be filled meet one of the following criteria: Caregivers for children: Nannies, au-pairs and babysitters are just some of the positions that fall under this category, and provide care to children under the age of 18 years old. The position must meet the requirements for National Occupation Classification (NOC) Code 4411. Caregivers for persons with high medical needs: Family caregivers, housekeepers, and personal aides are just some of the positions that fall under this category, and provide care to seniors or to persons with disabilities. The position must meet the requirements for one of NOC 3012, 3233, or 4412. Families must follow the same application procedure as employers hiring through the high-wage and low-wage streams. Additionally, families must provide evidence that they have a dependent family member who requires in-home care; and show proof that they have the financial means to pay the wages of the in-home caregiver. Note:Families hiring in-home caregivers for seniors and people living with disabilities are exempt from the LMIA application fee. Also, families hiring in-home caregivers for children will be exempt from the LMIA application fee if their gross annual income is less than CAD $150,000.
It is in the best interest of universities, degree-granting colleges, and unions representing Canadian education to hire foreign academics. They fill in-demand positions and bring new knowledge and expertise to Canadian campuses. Employers must follow the same application procedure as employers hiring through the high-wage stream. In most cases, foreign nationals hired in research positions at post-secondary institutions may be exempt from requiring an LMIA, a work permit, or both.
Employer-specific work permits or closed work permits are issued to temporary workers under the TFWP. They allow you to work in Canada according to the specific conditions on your work permit, which include:
You need to submit a work permit application with all the required documents to the IRCC. You may have to include the following documents:
Typically, processing times for Canadian work permit applications under the TFWP can run for many months with a few exceptions. Temporary workers with LMIAs through the Global Talent Stream and their family members may be eligible for two week processing.
Working in Canada as a temporary foreign worker allows you to gain significant Canadian work experience. Not only will this make your resume stand-out from the rest but it can increase your chances of becoming a permanent resident. The majority of Canadian immigration programs favor applicants with work experience gained in the country as opposed to foreign work experience. For example, Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs) require most applicants to have 6-12 months of local work experience. What’s the next step? Both foreign workers and Canadian employers benefit from the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Workers get to make the most of the incredible economic opportunities in Canada and pave the way to a permanent future in the country. At the same time, employers gain the much needed skills and labour for their businesses to get to the next level and remain competitive in the Canadian market. Get professional help and guidance with your work permit application or hire a RCIC to take care of your LMIA application so that you can easily hire a temporary worker through the TFWP.
Your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is based on the following factors:
Provincial Nomination (600 Points)
600 points are awarded for an enhanced Nominee certificate from a province in Canada through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Job Offers (50-600 Points)
A Canadian job offer will also earn you points; the number of points is based on the NOC level of the particular job.
Core Human Capital Factors (600 Points)
These take into account your level of education, for example:
If you intend to gain higher qualifications, your score will increase. This same point system applies to your legal partner or spouse if you applied together.
Language (150 Points)
Improving your language skills in either English or French through a recognized Canadian institution can also raise your CRS score.
Work Experience
The more experience you have, the more points you earn. This also applies to your legal partner or spouse.
You must:
You must register with the Canadian Job Bank within 30 days unless:
You must have a Labour Market Impact Assessment in order to earn Comprehensive Ranking System points, unless you:
If you qualify for any of the Federal Programs, you have 30 days from when you submit your profile to complete the rest of the requirements like registering with the Job Bank. If you do not, your Express Entry profile cannot be activated.
There are three programs to apply for under Express Entry:
The following factors affect your eligibility:
Work Experience
You must:
Language Ability
You must:
Education
You must:
Proof of Funds
You must prove you can support yourself and your family financially, unless:
Additional Factors to Be Considered
This program is aimed at people who wish to become permanent residents (PR) of Canada. This only applies to people who qualify in a skilled trade.
Minimum Requirements
You must:
Skilled Work Experience
These skilled trades are involved in the Federal Skilled Trades Program as ranked by the National Occupational Classification.
Group Number | Job Description |
---|---|
72 | Industrial, construction or electrical trades |
73 | Equipment operation and maintenance |
82 | Technical and supervisors in:
|
92 | Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisor Central control operators |
632 | Cooks and chefs |
633 | Bakers and butchers |
Education
You do not need a specific qualification for this program, but you can earn more CRS points if you have:
Language Ability
Be assessed by the province or territory
Each of the provinces or territories have different requirements for the skilled trade industry.
Minimum Requirements
You must:
Skilled Work Experience
Work experience must be gained in the following job levels based on the National Occupational Classifications.
Job Description | Skill Type |
---|---|
Technical jobs | B |
Skilled trades | B |
Professional jobs | A |
Managerial jobs | 0 |
Education
You do not need an education to apply for this program, but you can score higher if you:
Language Ability
To qualify you must score well in the various language tests determined by the CEC.
Canadian Language Benchmark Score Needed | Job Level (NOC) |
---|---|
7 | 0 |
7 | A |
5 | B |
The language test must be approved by IRCC and must not be older than two years when you apply.
Note:work experience gained as a student or a self-employed individual does not count.
Work experience must be within three years of applying for the Canadian Experience Class. Work experience must be gained in the following job levels as based on National Occupational Classifications.
Job description | Skill Type |
---|---|
Technical jobs | B |
Skilled trades | B |
Professional jobs | A |
Managerial jobs | 0 |
You do not need an education to apply for this program, but you can score higher if:
Note: Only apply for an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if your foreign education is either equal to, or higher than the Canadian education standard.
To qualify you must score well in:
Canadian Language Benchmark score needed | Job level (NOC) |
---|---|
7 | 0 |
7 | A |
5 | B |
The Language Test must be approved by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada .These tests are based off your French and English ability to:
Your test results must be included if you are applying for this program through the Express Entry program. Note: these tests must not be older than two years when you apply.
When you apply for the Express Entry, and want to immigrate with your common law partner, you must choose who will be the principal applicant.
Note: a common law partner is a person who has been married to you for one year. This applies for same sex and opposite sex partners.
Choose the principal applicant by looking at who will score the highest points under the Express Entry program.
You may be inadmissible if you are:
Note:under the Express Entry you can apply to live in other provinces/territories in Canada, except Quebec. This province has its own set of requirements needed for you to enter.
These are the factors that are used to calculate CRS Points
A legal agent is an authorized representative that must be:
Note: An unauthorized agent will not be able to help you with your application.
If you want to ensure that your Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) is an authorized consultant, you can check with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC).
The ICCRC’s website has a register of all the persons that are qualified to be Canadian Immigration Consultants. Any individual who claims to be a legal consultant will have a RCIC code. If there are no results for a person’s RCIC code, then they are not a legal Canadian Immigration Consultant.
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If you are married provide following documents for your spouse and dependent child whether they are
accompanying or not:
Please note that CIC provide us 60 days to submit 2nd stage documentation from the date of Invitation
and we may take up to 7 business day to submit from the date of receipt of all documents from you.
So kindly start collecting all documents beforehand.
Your all education documents after 12th class. If your diploma, certificate or degree
was not issued in Canada, you must also provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
You must show that you have at least 12 months of full-time work experience within the 36
months before your application.
You must provide the following documents of you and your spouse:
Submit bank statement or balance certificate to prove you have enough funds to settle in
Canada.
**All documents in a language other than English or French must be translated. Provide both a
photocopy of the document and the translation in English or French. **