LMIA Owner Operator work permit: Everything You Need to Know (2024)

FAQs

LMIA Owner Operator work permit: Everything You Need to Know? ›

To be eligible for an Owner-Operator Work Permit, an entrepreneur must be a sole proprietor or hold 50.1% of the shares in a Canadian company. It's a minimum, and the higher control and ownership, the better. It is possible to apply for a work permit under this category to grow the existing business.

Apply for an LMIA Work Permit. Unless an exemption applies to your situation, you will need to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and an employment offer from your Canadian employer to be eligible for an LMIA Work Permit. These two documents are mandatory components of your application package.

What is the total processing time for LMIA Owner/Operator Program? It minimum takes 4 to 6 months to process owner/operator visa, depends how fast an applicant provide the required documents.

A positive LMIA will show that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job. It will also show that no Canadian worker or permanent resident is available to do the job. A positive LMIA is sometimes called a confirmation letter. If the employer needs an LMIA, they must apply for one.

There are two types of work permit programs in Canada: Temporary Foreign Worker Program: A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required for a foreign national to obtain a work permit. International Mobility Program: An LMIA is not required for a foreign national to obtain a work permit.

However, not all LMIA applications sail through smoothly – some may face rejection. While this can be disheartening, it's crucial to understand that there are steps you can take to address and rectify the situation.

LMIA Application Fee: The government fee for an LMIA application is $1,000 per employee. Work Permit Fees: If you are covering your worker's work permit application fees, be prepared to pay an additional $480-$550 to cover your worker's application fees, biometric collection fees, and medical examination costs.

To be eligible for an Owner-Operator Work Permit, an entrepreneur must be a sole proprietor or hold 50.1% of the shares in a Canadian company. It's a minimum, and the higher control and ownership, the better. It is possible to apply for a work permit under this category to grow the existing business.

As of May 1, 2024, an LMIA will be valid up to 6 months after it's issued. The LMIA expiry date is the period during which: employers must notify the temporary foreign worker (TFW) that the LMIA was approved.

Permanent resident visa

Receiving a positive LMIA for an arranged employment offer does not allow a skilled foreign worker to automatically immigrate to Canada. For skilled foreign workers to become permanent residents, they must meet all the requirements under the Express Entry immigration process.

Is there an interview for LMIA? ›

Participate in the phone interview with the ESDC officer

Finally, the LMIA process comes to an end with a phone interview with an ESDC LMIA officer.

The LMIA is valid for up to six months after being issued; the employer and the temporary foreign worker (TFW) have that amount of time to apply for the respective work permit. If the employee does not apply for the work permit before the expiry date, it will be necessary to process a new LMIA.

The authority approves LMIA based on the application submitted by the employer. After LMIA approval, the foreign worker can apply for a work permit. The criteria for an LMIA work permit would depend on the type of job. Furthermore, the expatriate employee should apply for a temporary resident visa if needed.

An open work permit can only be issued to a foreign national under one of the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exemptions. An open work permit enables a person to work for any employer for a specified period of time. An open restricted permit may restrict the occupation or location but not the employer.

Unlike other visa programs, the LMIA-based visa does not mandate applicants to undergo the IELTS exam for language proficiency. Notably, language proficiency is not a prerequisite for this program, as the employer assumes responsibility for verifying the foreign worker's language skills relevant to the job.

Permanent duration to support a permanent residence application. Work permits issued under a permanent duration LMIA will be issued for a maximum period of two years, provided the candidate meets the requirements set out in the LMIA.