How to hire a foreign worker who needs a work permit

To hire a foreign worker who needs a work permit to work on a foreign vessel, you need documents from multiple departments and agencies.

It will take time to get everything you need. Plan ahead and follow the steps below:

1. Get a coasting trade licence

   Learn how to apply for a coasting trade licence (opens in a new tab).

   When the Canadian Transportation Agency finds that there are no suitable Canadian-registered vessels available to do the work, they’ll let you know.

   A coasting trade licence can be valid for up to 12 months.

   It takes up to 120 days for the Canadian Transportation Agency to process a Coasting Trade Licence request.

   Visit the Canadian Transportation Agency website for details.

   For more information on coasting trade licences, check the following:

   • Frequently asked questions about coasting trade licences
   • Schematic of the Canadian Transport Agency’s coasting trade licence application process
   • Canadian Transportation Agency guidelines for coasting trade licence applications (including urgent applications)
   • Coasting trade in Canada
   • Coasting trade guidance library
   • Coasting trade guidance documents

2. Get a labour market impact assessment or submit an offer of employment

   In general, you need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) to hire a worker aboard any vessel that plans to work in Canadian waters under the Coasting Trade Act.

   An LMIA can be valid for up to 6 months.

   How to apply for an LMIA (opens in a new tab).

   For positions in Quebec

   To hire a worker for more than 30 consecutive days, you must submit your LMIA application to Employment and Social Development Canada and Quebec's Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI) (in French only) (opens in a new tab) at the same time.

   If you’re hiring under the International Mobility Program

   In exceptional circumstances, you can hire a foreign worker without an LMIA under the International Mobility Program. If you’re not sure, you can find out if you need a labour market impact assessment (opens in a new tab).

   Find out how to hire a worker without an LMIA (opens in a new tab).

3. Your foreign worker applies for their work permit

   You must give the foreign worker the following documents to include with their work permit application:

   • 1 of the following:
     • a copy of the positive LMIA, if the foreign national will apply for an LMIA based work permit or
     • an LMIA-exempt number (A#), if the worker will apply for an LMIA-exempt work permit
   • a job offer letter or contract
   • any other documentation, such as a copy of the coasting trade licence and other required certification

If you need help

Get help hiring a foreign worker.