Hire a temporary foreign worker through the Agricultural Stream - Apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment
On this page
Transition to online applications
As of April 2023, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is moving to online LMIA applications. Consult the LMIA Online Portal resources page frequently for details and updates.
Get a head start and use the LMIA Online Portal today!
Before you apply
Hiring temporary foreign workers in British Columbia or Manitoba
If you’re hiring temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in British Columbia or Manitoba, you must apply for the employer registration certificate with the province first and include a copy of the certificate or proof of exemption with your LMIA application. Your application will be considered incomplete if submitted without the required documentation. Be sure to consider provincial processing times before you submit your LMIA applications.
For more information on provincial laws on the employer registration requirement and possible exemptions in British Columbia and Manitoba, visit the following websites:
- British Columbia:
- Provincial website: Register to hire foreign workers
- Provincial law: Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act
- Manitoba:
- Provincial website: Employer Registration Information
- Provincial law: Worker Recruitment and Protection Act
Hiring temporary foreign workers in Quebec
For positions in Quebec for an employment period of more than 30 consecutive days:
- LMIA applications must be submitted at the same time to Service Canada and Quebec's Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI) (in French only)
- 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 to MIFI in paper format
- the names of the TFWs must be included in the application
For more information, consult Hiring in the province of Quebec.
Note:
On May 12, 2020, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a temporary public policy. The new policy allows some TFWs who are already in Canada to change jobs before a final decision is made on their work permit application.
Employers hiring these TFWs may receive priority processing of the LMIA applications. To do so, employers must notify Service Canada in writing that the TFW:
- is in Canada, and
- wishes to benefit from IRCC's COVID-19 temporary public policy
How to apply
Your LMIA application can be submitted up to 6 months prior to the expected job start date.
There are 2 ways you can apply:
- online through the LMIA Online Portal, or
- by emailing or faxing a PDF application form
Apply online
The fastest way to apply is through the LMIA Online Portal. It’s a reliable and secure platform that allows you to complete and submit an online application to Service Canada.
To access the LMIA Online Portal, you need to have a Job Bank account.
1) Create a Job Bank for employers account if you don't already have one
It takes about 10 minutes to register, and up to 5 business days for Job Bank to process a new employer file.
2) Access the LMIA Online Portal using your Job Bank for employers’ credentials
Your account details will be required for authentication purposes.
3) Submit your application
- Create and fill out your LMIA application
- Upload all required documents supporting your business legitimacy (if applicable)
- Submit the application form along with the required documents and the processing fee (if applicable) via the LMIA Online Portal
OR
Send a PDF application form by email or fax
If you don't have a business number issued by the CRA or if you don't have a social insurance number, complete the EMP5519 PDF form and send it by email or fax. Make sure:
- you use the latest version of the application form
- all fields are completed (except for the TFW information in case of an unnamed LMIA application)
- all documentation is submitted
- all documents are signed where required
- the processing fee payment is submitted with the application (if applicable)
For applications where the work location is in Canada, but not in Quebec
Submit your application to the Service Canada processing centre responsible for this specific program or for processing the LMIA applications in the region where the TFW will be employed.
For positions in Quebec
Submit your application by email to EDSC.QC.PTET.INFO-INFO.TFWP.QC.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca.
Make changes to your pending application
If you need to make changes to your application once submitted, and before the LMIA decision is made, contact the appropriate Service Canada processing centre or the Employer Contact Centre to modify the application and avoid processing delays.
If you need to change the stream you had originally selected, withdraw your original application and reapply under the new stream. Processing fees aren’t refunded and cannot be transferred to your new application.
Contact us
To obtain immediate assistance with your application, contact the Employer Contact Centre from Monday to Friday, between 7 am and 8 pm, Eastern time.
Canada and the United States:
- Toll-free: 1-800-367-5693
- TTY: 1-855-881-9874
Outside Canada and the United States:
- 506-546-7569 (collect calls accepted)
Report a problem or mistake on this page
- Date modified: