Hiring temporary foreign workers in the province of Quebec

On this page

• Temporary Foreign Worker Program
• Special instructions
• Temporary measures in Quebec
• National Occupational Classification
• Exemption from LMIA process
• Related links

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers to fill temporary jobs when qualified Canadians are not available.

Most employers need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before they can hire a temporary foreign worker (TFW). Before you start the hiring process, you must determine if you need an LMIA.

Learn about what is required to hire foreign workers through the TFWP.

Special instructions

As of December 11, 2023, employers can submit unnamed LMIA applications for positions in Quebec (with some exceptions). The Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI) has announced that TFWP applications can be submitted through their ARRIMA platform. One of the advantages of this is the ability to submit unnamed LMIA applications. Consult the Government of Quebec website for more details on the ARRIMA platform.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)/Service Canada will assess unnamed LMIA applications, and if employers meet the program requirements, they’ll receive an unnamed LMIA. For more details, visit Applying for unnamed LMIA.

When completing an LMIA application where the work location is in the province of Quebec and for an employment period of more than 30 consecutive days:

• LMIA applications must be submitted simultaneously to Service Canada and the MIFI
• failure to do so will prevent your application from being processed and will result in its closure. No refund of the processing fee will be made
• all applications must be submitted in French
• to print your application in French, select “French” in the LMIA Online Portal before filling out your online application
• all applications must be submitted to the MIFI in the format required by the provincial government

You can contact the MIFI at 1-877-864-9191 or visit their website for more information.

For more information on the LMIA Online Portal, contact the Employer Contact Centre or visit the LMIA Online Portal resources page.

Temporary measures in Quebec

The governments of Canada and Quebec have agreed to extend the measures available to Quebec employers under the TFWP since 2021. These measures will remain in place until the annual update on February 23, 2025.

Advertising and recruitment exemption

Certain occupations under TEER 5 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (formerly level D) are exempt from the requirement to provide proof of recruitment efforts. However, employers should continue to make best efforts to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents prior to making a job offer to a foreign national.

The list is valid until February 23, 2025. Because the occupations identified may vary from one list to another, a transition period of 30 calendar days will be granted.

• 45100 – Student monitors, crossing guards (this job title only)
• 65100 – Cashiers
• 65102 – Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers
• 65200 – Food and beverage servers
• 65201 – Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
• 65202 – Meat cutters and fishmongers – Retail and wholesale
• 65211 – Operators and attendants in amusement, recreation and sport
• 65310 – Light-duty cleaners
• 65311 – Specialized cleaners
• 65312 – Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners
• 75101 – Material handlers
• 75110 – Construction trades helpers and labourers
• 75200 – Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs
• 75201 – Delivery service drivers and door-to-door distributors
• 85100 – Livestock labourers
• 85101 – Harvesting labourers
• 85103 – Nursery and greenhouse labourers
• 85120 – Logging and forestry labourers
• 85121 – Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers
• 95100 – Labourers in mineral and metal processing
• 95101 – Labourers in metal fabrication
• 95102 – Labourers in chemical products processing and utilities
• 95103 – Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing
• 95104 – Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing
• 95105 – Labourers in textile processing and cutting
• 95106 – Labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing
• 95107 – Labourers in fish and seafood processing

Facilitated process

Eligibility for the facilitated process has been temporarily expanded to include TEER 4 (formerly level C) of the NOC 2021 to the list of occupations eligible to the facilitated process (French only) as identified by Quebec.

Also, applications received in the low-wage stream for applications eligible for the facilitated process are exempt from the cap proportion of low-wage positions requirements at a specific work location.

Refer to the Facilitated LMIA process page for more information on the application process.

National Occupational Classification

The TFWP has switched to the 2021 version of the NOC. Learn more about the NOC 2021 transition.

For a list of occupations specific to the other Canadian provinces and territories, refer to Hire a temporary worker through the TFWP.

Notes:

• Effective June 10, 2020, the program is prioritizing certain occupations in Quebec. Occupations with an asterisk (*) are also exempt from the minimum recruitment requirements
• Any condition outlined on the Refusal to process page supersedes prioritization of the NOCs list below
• Effective from January 12, 2022, to June 30, 2024, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will suspend minimum advertising requirements for employers applying for an LMIA to hire TFWs in primary agriculture. Employers are expected to continue efforts to recruit Canadians and permanent residents. However, employers won't be required to meet TFWP minimum advertising requirements or submit proof with their LMIA application
• If the NOC is on the list of target occupations under the facilitated LMIA process, the facilitated process requirements will apply

Exemption from LMIA process

The MIFI in Quebec implemented provisions to simplify the hiring of TFWs. These provisions include employers not being required to apply for an LMIA if they're hiring a TFW who:

• has a valid work permit
• holds a skilled worker Certificate of Selection in Quebec (CSQ)
• resides in the province of Quebec
• has applied for permanent residency under the Quebec Skilled Worker class

The TFW must also fall under 1 of the following categories:

• is seeking to extend the work permit for their current employer
• is seeking to renew the work authorization with a new employer in Quebec
• is a foreign student who has obtained a post-graduation work permit and has a job offer in the province of Quebec
• is a work permit holder through participation in a program under the International Experience Canada (IEC) initiative and is seeking to:
  • extend the work authorization for the current employer
  • renew the work authorization for a new employer in Quebec

For more information on LMIA exemptions, consult the operational bulletin issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, there may be additional situations where employers may not require an LMIA and/or the TFW isn't required to apply for a work permit from IRCC.

For more information on occupations that are exempted from an LMIA or a work permit, visit Find out if you need a work permit.

Employers wishing to hire TFWs that don't meet these criteria must apply for an LMIA and follow the regular LMIA process for hiring TFWs in Quebec.

Related links

• Regular LMIA process
• Hire top foreign talent through the Global Talent Stream
• Hire a TFW as an in-home caregiver