Work Permits
Labour Market Opinion
Canadian employers may apply to Service Canada for a Labour Market Opinion to hire a foreign worker. If a positive labour market opinion is assessed, it may be submitted by the employer to Citizen and Immigration Canada for a work permit.
Applies to:
All positions Easier processing for positions considered an Occupation Under Pressure:
- Accountants (NOC 1111)
- Counsellors (NOC 1111, NOC 4213)
- Custodians (NOC 6663)
- Elementary School Teachers (NOC 4142)
- Facilities Managers (NOC 7241)
- Occupational Therapists (NOC 3143)
- Physiotherapists (NOC 3142)
- Psychologists (NOC 4151)
- Purchasers (NOC 6233)
- Special Education Assistants (NOC 647)
- Special Education Teachers (NOC 4215)
- Speech Language Pathologists (NOC 3141)
- Superintendents (NOC 0313)
- Most Skilled Trades (NOC 7313, NOC 7241, NOC 7271)
This process has two steps:
- Foreign Worker Application (application for a Labour Market Opinion) to Service Canada
- Applying for the work permit through Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
The focus of the Foreign Worker Application (or LMO application) is the job and the efforts the employer has made to find a Canadian or permanent resident for the position. Some employers may already have this application underway (a pre-approval request) as a pro-active measure when they expect they will hire a foreign worker.
Prospective employees assist with the process by:
- Providing personal information to the employer for the issuance of the Labour Market Opinion (name as on passport, birth date, citizenship)
- Submitting the work permit application at the Canadian Consulate or place of entry, depending on your citizenship and situation
Processing time
- If the employer already holds a pre-approved Labour Market Opinion, the issuance of a person-specific labour market opinion request can take 1-2 weeks.
- Work permit processing times will vary based on place of application.
- Citizens of visa-required countries must apply at a Canadian Consulate outside Canada.
- Each Consulate has its own process and may take anywhere from 7 to 60 days.
- Citizens of visa-exempt countries have a choice of where to apply.
- They may apply upon entry to Canada and receive the work permit on the same day.
- These citizens may also apply at the closest Canadian Consulate.
