September 19th, 2024 at 04:50 am

Canada Announces New LMIA-exempt Work Permit | International Mobility Program

To address the increasing need for proficient technology workers, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has unveiled a novel work permit choice tailored specifically to particular IT firms.

This groundbreaking initiative will eliminate the need for a work visa and streamline the recruiting process for tech companies, enabling them to attract and retain top talent from across the world without having to comply with labor market impact assessment (LMIA) regulations.

This development represents a substantial change in Canada’s policy regarding immigration from the tech sector and reflects the nation’s dedication to promoting innovation and expansion in the technology sector.

Introduction

A new work permit has been made available by IRCC under the International Mobility Program (IMP) Innovation Stream. The Innovation stream is one of the four pillars of the Tech Talent strategy, which was announced in 2023 to lure talented individuals to Canada and assist it in becoming a global leader in technology.

If a talented foreign worker receives a job offer from any of the participating firms in the Global Hypergrowth project, they can now apply for an Employer-specific Work Permit. This comprises eight particular businesses that the government has recognized as innovators and leaders in their respective industries. There is a good chance that qualified employees will be granted an exemption from labor market impact assessments for work permits.

Overview: LMIA

The Canadian government needs an LMIA to approve the issue of some employer-specific work permits. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) released the paper, which evaluates the effects of hiring a foreign worker on the labor market in Canada.

An Employer-specific Work Permit must be supported by an LMIA if the report yields a positive or neutral result.

Who is Eligible for this New Work Permit?

Those who wish to be eligible for a work permit through the Innovation stream must;

• Possess an offer of employment from a company taking part in the Global Hypergrowth Project.
• Possess a job offer in a highly skilled field, such as jobs falling under Categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities).
• Have completed the training and experience criteria listed in the NOC’s employment requirements section for the occupation they plan to pursue.

Eligible applicants from inside and outside Canada are welcome to apply for this stream. If an applicant’s hired position is in Tier Category 0 or 1 of the NOC, they may also be eligible for expedited work visa processing.

Keep in mind that in Canada, occupations are described and categorized using the NOC system. The Tier rankings further categorize employment based on the duties, experience, education, and training needed to carry out the task.

Before applying to the Innovation stream, candidates’ employers need to;

• Send in a job offer.
• The employer compliance fee is CAD 230.
• Offer the employment number to the worker or prospective worker.

Who are the Employers that this Stream has chosen for inclusion?

The following employers have been recognized by the Canadian government as supporting their objectives for industrial innovation.

Recent Changes in Work Permits

There have been more and more limitations on work permits and LMIAs at the time of this new permission. The Canadian government declared on August 26 that low-wage LMIAs will no longer be processed in several Canadian cities. According to the policy change, census metropolitan regions that have an unemployment rate of six percent or above would be affected.

There will be some exclusions for employment in the food security sectors, which include construction, healthcare, and primary agriculture, as well as food processing and fish processing. Applications for job-supported work visas are no longer accepted from foreign visitors to Canada.

The Canadian government has reversed temporary work permit restrictions, enabling certain tourists to apply for job-supported work permits from within the nation, in addition to recent modifications to LMIA processing. Travelers are no longer able to apply for a job-supported work visa, either with or without an LMIA, even if they can still apply for other types of work permits from within the nation.

In contrast to the most recent statement regarding the nation’s Innovation stream, which emphasizes Canada’s desire to invest in hiring foreign talent to help these enterprises in the broader digital industry, these recent changes to Canada’s work permit

To better support its rapidly growing technology sector, Canada is changing its immigration laws, as evidenced by the introduction of the LMIA-exempt work visa for specific tech enterprises. This new permit highlights Canada’s commitment to staying a competitive player in the global tech arena while also streamlining the hiring process for tech companies.

The Canadian technology sector is expected to experience sustained development and innovation as tech companies take advantage of this expedited pathway to access international talent, therefore solidifying Canada’s standing as a top destination for highly qualified workers.