Hiring Foreign Workers in Canada

Information for Canadian employers seeking to hire foreign workers to fill skills and labour shortages for their business.

When the domestic labour supply in Canada is not sufficiently trained, experienced, or located appropriately to meet the labour demands of employers in certain industry segments or communities, Canadian employers must look to hire foreign talent to fill these vacancies. In some cases, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada can govern the entrance of a foreign worker to the Canadian labour market through the constrained International Mobility Program.

However, most employers and foreign workers do not meet the limited scope of the International Mobility Program and must utilize the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) if they are seeking to hire foreign talent for long-term positions. The TFWP is governed and administered by Service Canada, concurrently known as ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada).

In the CIVS employment division, we assist Canadian employers from all industries navigate the complexities of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to recruit and hire skilled foreign workers to fill labour shortages within their organization. We let you focus on your business while we find the talent and complete the paperwork. We have expansive international networks to recruit foreign talent and have eligible workers on standby, seeking the right employer, occupation, and opportunity.

What is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and do I need an LMIA?

The objectives of the program created by Service Canada in relation to Canada’s immigration policy with IRCC, are to enable employers to access foreign workers and foreign talent when they cannot find the labour domestically with Canadians/PRs.

An LMIA stands for Labour Market Impact Assessment. It is a review of an employer’s application to hire a foreign worker performed by Service Canada to ensure that the employer seeking to hire a foreign worker has made a genuine job offer and that the employment of the foreign worker will not negatively impact the Canadian labour market.

If a positive LMIA is issued by Service Canada for the employer, then the foreign worker may apply for a work permit.

Why is an LMIA Required?

Canada requires an LMIA to substantiate that the job offer by the employer is real and that hiring the foreign worker will not have a negative impact on the Canadian labour market. It is to protect Canadian jobs and to ensure that Canadians/PRs have the opportunity to fill vacant positions first.

In plain English, it is a system to prevent job fraud for immigration purposes while ensuring that foreign workers are not “stealing jobs” from Canadians/PRs.

The Process

We handle all aspects of the recruitment process and require very little time commitment from the employer. We pre-screen candidates for eligibility and set up interviews with you as the employer. We require less than 1 hour of your time for the entire process for some minor paperwork completion. The rest is left to CIVS.

The timeline is as follows:

• We have a video conversation to completely understand your recruitment needs
• We post advertisements on 4 different websites (28 days)
• We simultaneously start recruitment process
• We organize a video interviews for you and perform reference checks
• We assist with creating Employment Contracts and submitting an LMIA (2-10 weeks processing time)
• We prepare you for an interview with Service Canada
• Upon approval, we apply for applicant’s Work Permit applications (from 1 day – 2 months processing time)

We are here to plan your staffing needs well ahead your busy season so your employees arrive on time.

Fill out our Foreign Worker Request Form

Advantages for employers hiring foreign workers

International Skills: Foreign workers arrive in Canada armed with international skills to bring to the Canadian labour market. Whether it’s a chef who’s worked at 5 star hotel in Zurich, a skilled roofer from Eastern Europe, or a highly skilled accountant from India; only the best foreign workers from abroad make it to work in Canada.

Commitment to Employer (Low Turnover): Foreign workers are issued a location-specific, employer-specific, and occupation-specific work permit when obtained through an LMIA. Unlike Canadians/PR/s who have choice in occupation, location, and employer, temporary foreign workers will remain with their employer for several years and to achieve a smooth pathway to permanent residence in Canada.

Advantages for Canadians

Skills Transfer: Foreign workers with international experience transfer their skills to Canadian workers.

Job Creation: When employers can find the right talent, and skilled workers, their business can thrive and they can hire more. As the expression goes, “a rising tide lifts all boats.”

Revitalization of Rural: Foreign workers often are required in communities that face labour shortages such as remote communities. This fights the “brain-drain” experienced in these geographic areas.

Advantages for Foreign Workers

Work in Canada: The opportunity to work in Canada is a privilege and foreign workers are grateful to have the opportunity to work in one of the higher paying labour markets worldwide.

Opportunity to Immigrate: By working in Canada, and obtaining Canadian work experience, foreign workers are able to secure a pathway to permanent residence and ultimately citizenship after several years.