7 things to know about Quebec's simplified LMIA application

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required for those seeking to obtain a work permit (closed) from their employer. The purpose of the LMIA is to determine if the employer meets the requirements to offer a job to a temporary foreign worker and if there are no available Canadian workers to fill the job.

In order to prove that no Canadians can fill the job, employers usually need to show minimum recruitment efforts which targeted Canadian audiences with the appropriate education, professional experience and skill level required for the occupation. This recruitment requirement is waived for jobs that qualify for Quebec's simplified LMIA applications.

1. Why is it called simplified or facilitated?

Simplified means that the procedures and processing times for you to obtain the work permit visa are reduced in order to facilitate your work permit application. For example, some requirements such as advertising the job for other Canadians, are not required in the simplified process.

Furthermore, a transition plan, which is usually required for high-wage LMIA applications, is also not necessary if this is the first LMIA application for the same occupation and same work location.

2. What is the application process?

There are three applications to submit in order to get a work permit through a Simplified LMIA application:

1. A simplified LMIA application to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

2. An application for a "Certificat d'Acceptation du Québec"

3. An application for a work permit

Since these applications will be reviewed by EDSC and the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Diversité et de l'Inclusion (MIDI), the entire application must be submitted in French.

3. Which jobs qualify for the simplified LMIA?

The MIDI publishes a yearly list of occupations that qualify for the simplified process.

Starting in 2019, the list has differences based on the labour needs of each region.

You can find the MIDI's official list of eligible occupations here.

4. What happens after the LMIA is approved?

An approved LMIA does not mean that you will automatically receive a work permit. Once you receive your approved LMIA from your employer and your CAQ, you need to apply for a work permit. This can be done online or at a point of entry, depending on your country of nationality. You must be able to demonstrate that you meet the requirements of the job offered to you and that you are eligible to work in Canada.

5. How long is the work permit valid for?

Your work permit will be closed (only one employer) and will be valid for 12 or 24 months, depending on what was requested on the LMIA and the officer's decision.

Once your LMIA application is approved, you will have 6 months to apply for the work permit.

6. Can I use the LMIA to get bonus points in Express Entry?

No, an LMIA from the simplified LMIA applicaton process does not warrant you the right to obtain bonus points in the Express Entry program as the job is located in the province of Quebec.

7. What is the processing time for the application?

It is impossible for us to determine the processing time for the simplified LMIA application as each officer will take a different amount of time to process the application. Based on our experience with previous cases, the average processing time can take from 3 to 10 months. There is also additional processing time to be considered if the work permit application is submitted online.