LMIA processing for some foreign workers to be done within 10 days

Highlights: LMIA for some foreign workers in Canada may be processed within 10 days

• Canada Temporary Foreign Worker Program needs LMIA assessment to prove that the hired employee is efficient for the job
• Employers can get LMIA within 10 days for infrastructural development and natural resource extraction occupations
• Employers who provide wages at or more than 10 percent of earnings of Canadian citizens or PRs
• Employers hiring a foreign worker for 120 days or less can get LMIA processed within 10 days

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LMIA can be processed within 10 days for some foreign workers

IRCC uses Temporary Foreign Worker Program to help Canadian employers to hire foreign workers if they are unable to find any Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill job positions. Employers need Labour Market Impact Assessment to prove that the hired worker will have a positive effect on the Canadian labour market.

Processing time of LMIA

In December 2022, the processing time for the LMIA was 21 business days for the following 7 streams:

• Global Talent Stream
• Agricultural stream
• Permanent Residence stream
• High-wage stream
• Low-wage stream
• In-home caregivers stream
• Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program

There are three circumstances for which LMIA processing can be done within 10 business days.

LMIA for workers having skilled trade occupations with high wage

The LMIA for the following business trades can be processed within 10 days:

• Infrastructural development
• Natural resource extraction

The list of the eligible skilled trade occupations in this category is given in the table below:

NOC 2021 Code	Occupation
72011	Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
72013	Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
72014	Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
72310	Carpenters
72020	Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
72021	Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
82010	Supervisors, logging and forestry
82020	Supervisors, mining and quarrying
82021	Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling services
83110	Logging machinery operators
82030	Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
92010	Supervisors, mineral and metal processing
92011	Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
92013	Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing
93100	Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing
92100	Power engineers and power systems operators
92101	Water and waste treatment plant operators
72100	Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
72102	Sheet metal workers
72104	Structural metal and plate work fabricators and fitters
72105	Ironworkers
72106	Welders and related machine operators
72200	Electricians (except industrial and power systems)
72201	Industrial electricians
72202	Power system electricians
72203	Electrical power line and cable workers
72204	Telecommunications line and cable workers
72205	Telecommunications installation and repair workers
72300	Plumbers
72301	Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
72302	Gas fitters
72400	Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
72401	Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
72402	Heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning mechanics
72403	Railway carmen/women
72404	Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
72406	Elevator constructors and mechanics
72500	Crane operators
73402	Drillers and blasters – surface, mining, quarrying and construction
73402	Water well drillers
83100	Underground production and development miners
83101	Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
93101	Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators

LMIA for workers who earn above the top 10 percent

Employers who offer wages to foreign workers that equal or cross the top 10 percent earnings of Canadian citizens or PRs can have LMIA processed within 10 days. The median hourly wages are given in the table below for each province:

Province	Median hourly wages in CAD
Alberta (AB)	$28.85
British Columbia (BC)	$26.44
Manitoba (MB)	$23.00
Ontario (ON)	$26.06
Quebec (QC)	$25.00
Saskatchewan (SK)	$25.96
Prince Edward Island (PEI)	$21.63
New Brunswick (NB	$21.79
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)	$24.29
Nova Scotia (NS)	$22.00
Northwest Territories (NT)	$37.30
Nunavut (NU)	$36.00
Yukon (YT)	$32.00

LMIA for workers with short-duration occupation

Employers who hire foreign workers for not more than 120 days can get their LMIA processed within 10 days. The wages should be equal or above the provincial or territorial median salary.

Willing to migrate to Canada? Talk to Y-Axis, the world’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

4 ways to work in Canada without LMIA

Also Read: No LMIA required for Canadian Significant Benefit Work Permit
Web Story: Skilled foreign workers can get Canada LMIA processed in 10 business days.