To be eligible for temporary or permanent foreign worker immigration programs, most employers and managers must demonstrate through a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)., that they have taken the necessary steps to hire local workers a priori, but that their efforts have proved unsuccessful. This step may take 3 to 4 months from the date of receipt.
Companies that obtain LMIA approval are eligible to hire foreign workers. Note that some business lines or organizations may be exempt from applying for an LMIA.