How do I hire a temporary foreign worker?

There are 3 basic steps to hire a temporary foreign worker:

• Get a labour market impact assessment or submit an offer of employment
• Have the worker apply for a work permit
• Tell the worker what to expect from their application

Before you create an offer of employment in the Employer Portal

Make sure that

• you haven’t charged any recruitment fees to the foreign worker
• anyone acting on your behalf doesn’t charge recruitment fees to the foreign worker
• you give the foreign worker a copy of an employment agreement in their chosen official language (English or French) that
  • is signed by both you and the worker
  • includes information on their occupation, wages and working conditions that you’ll need to then enter into the Employer Portal under “offer of employment”
• you give the foreign worker information on their rights as a worker in Canada

Get an LMIA or submit an offer of employment

Find out if you need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA). The LMIA will verify that there’s a need for the job you are offering and that there is no Canadian worker available to do it. Read about the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to find out more about LMIAs and where to apply.

If you don’t need an LMIA, submit an offer of employment, complete the employer attestations and certifications, and pay the employer compliance fee using the Employer Portal. Give the offer of employment number to the worker you want to hire so they can apply for their work permit.

Have the worker apply for a work permit

Once you have an LMIA number or an offer of employment number, send those details to the worker, along with your job offer. They need to use this information to apply for a work permit.

If you are exempt from the employer compliance process, send the worker your job offer. They can use it to apply.

Tell the worker what to expect from their application

Tell the worker that they will receive a letter of introduction when their work permit has been approved. The actual work permit is issued by a border services officer at the port of entry when the worker arrives in Canada. If the worker is already in Canada and eligible to apply, we will mail the work permit to them.

Find out more about hiring temporary workers.