WORK PERMITS
LMIA-Exempt Work Permits: International Mobility Program
Many work permits don’t need an LMIA at all. The International Mobility Program covers free trade agreements, intra-company transfers, Francophone Mobility and more, if you pick the right category and document it properly.
Not every Canadian work permit requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Under the International Mobility Program (IMP), employers can hire foreign workers, and workers can be authorized to work, without an LMIA. Choosing the right LMIA-exempt category, and documenting it properly, is where these applications are won or lost.
TFWP vs. IMP: two different systems
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program requires employers to obtain an LMIA from Service Canada, proving no Canadian was available for the role. The International Mobility Program is different: no LMIA is needed, but the job must fit a recognized exemption, and the employer keeps real compliance obligations. Categories, eligibility rules and fees change regularly, for example, a new LMIA exemption for certain work permit extensions in Quebec took effect in March 2026, so current requirements should be verified before filing.
Related services: Work Permits in Canada · LMIA Applications · International Experience Canada · Work Permit Refusals
This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Immigration programs and requirements change, and eligibility always depends on individual facts. For advice about your situation, please book a consultation.
The program
What is the International Mobility Program?
The IMP lets employers hire foreign workers without a Labour Market Impact Assessment where the employment supports Canada’s economic, social or cultural interests, or falls under an international agreement.
The employer still submits an offer of employment through the IRCC Employer Portal and pays the compliance fee (currently $230, unless exempt). The worker then applies under the matching exemption category.
The category, not the job, decides the outcome. The wrong classification is a common cause of refusal; the right one, properly documented, is where these applications are won.
Common categories
Three LMIA-exempt routes I handle most
There are many IMP categories, including significant benefit (C10) and entrepreneurs (C11). These three cover most of the employer-specific permits I see.
Treaty-based
Free Trade Agreements
Professionals, traders and investors under CUSMA, the CPTPP, CETA and other agreements.
- Citizenship-dependent eligibility
- Precise occupation categories
- No LMIA required
Intra-Company Transfers
Move key staff to a Canadian branch, subsidiary or affiliate.
- Executives, managers, specialized knowledge
- Qualifying corporate relationship required
- Time with the company matters
Francophone Mobility
French-speaking workers taking jobs outside Quebec.
- French proficiency required
- Broad range of occupations
- A fast, underused route
Employers, take note
LMIA-exempt is not obligation-free
Before the worker applies, the employer must:
- Submit the offer of employment through the IRCC Employer Portal
- Pay the $230 employer compliance fee (unless exempt)
- Honour the wages and conditions promised in the offer
- Be ready for IRCC inspections, penalties and bans apply
Work with me
How I help
For workers
Applicants & employees
- Confirming the strongest exemption category for your situation
- Preparing the permit application as a complete legal submission
- Planning the path from temporary status to permanent residence
- Responding to refusals and procedural fairness letters
For employers
Hiring foreign talent
- Confirming whether you truly need an LMIA, or not
- Employer Portal filings, compliance fee and record-keeping
- Contracts and offers that match the exemption category
- Audit-ready compliance and inspection responses
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Often, because there is no separate LMIA stage, but processing times vary by category and by where you apply. Some categories also qualify for priority processing.
That depends on your citizenship, your occupation and the specific agreement. Free trade categories have precise requirements, and the wrong classification is a common cause of refusal.
Spouses and common-law partners of some workers may be eligible for an open work permit, depending on the principal applicant’s occupation and permit. The rules have changed several times in recent years, so current criteria should always be checked.
For employer-specific IMP permits: submit the offer of employment through the Employer Portal, pay the compliance fee unless exempt, and honour the offer’s terms. IRCC conducts inspections, and non-compliance can bring penalties.
Post-graduation work permits, bridging open work permits, many spousal and family open work permits, and IEC Working Holiday permits are all part of the International Mobility Program.
Find the right category before you file
The IMP rewards precise preparation. Tell me about the role and I’ll identify the strongest LMIA-exempt route, or confirm whether you need an LMIA.