Canada Launches LMIA-Exempt Work Permit for Select Tech Companies

Canada launched a new LMIA-exempt work permit under the Innovation Stream of the International Mobility Program within the country’s Tech Talent Strategy. Eight specific tech companies involved in the Global Hyper Growth Project, recognized by the Federal Government as industry leaders with a lot of potential for growth, will now be able to recruit skilled foreign workers who receive job offers from those companies.

Under this new program, eligible skilled foreign workers who receive a job offer from the participating companies are able to apply for an employer-specific work permit without having to study the labour market impact assessment.

The Innovation Stream is part of four important components of the Tech Talent Strategy, launched in 2023 to position Canada as a leading country in the country’s sector.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

To be eligible to apply for a work permit for the Innovation Stream, applicants have to meet the following requirements:

• Job Offer: They are to be offered a job by an employer who participates in the Global Hyper Growth Project, GHP.

• High-Skilled Profession: The proposed offer has to be a high-skilled profession classified under the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) NOC categories 0, 1, 2, or 3.

• Requirements: Applicants must have the education and training as described in the NOC related to their intended occupation.

This immigration stream is available to eligible candidates inside or outside of Canada and will enjoy accelerated processing times for their work permits if they are offered jobs in TEER 0 or 1 occupations.

The NOC system classifies occupations in Canada, while TEER rankings classify jobs based on training, education, experience, and responsibilities needed to carry out the job effectively.

Employer Requirements

The applicant must meet all requirements before the applicants can make their application under the Innovation Stream. That is to say that employers must:

• Present an offer of employment.
• Submit a fee of $230 CAD for compliance.
• Present the employee or prospective employee with the offer of employment number.

Participating Companies

The following is a list of eight selected companies taking part in the Global Hyper Growth Project:

• Ada Support Inc.
• AlayaCare
• CellCarta
• Clarius Mobile Health
• Clio
• Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG)
• Lightspeed Commerce
• Vive Crop Protection

This work permit initiative promises to mark the way forward toward a more robust tech sector in Canada by attracting talent at the highest levels and encouraging innovation within the field.