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Immigration Services for Employers

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Navigating Canada's Changing
Immigration Landscape

Canada’s economy remains dynamic, creating persistent demand for specialized talent and hard labor that often exceeds domestic supply. Many industries—from agriculture and food processing to construction, hospitality, and healthcare—struggle to find enough workers to meet their operational needs. While foreign worker recruitment offers a solution, recent significant changes to immigration policies have made the process considerably more challenging.

Understanding Your Options

LMIA

Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA): An LMIA is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that authorizes Canadian employers to hire foreign workers. This process requires employers to demonstrate they’ve made genuine efforts to hire Canadians first, including advertising the position domestically for a specific period. Once approved, the foreign worker can apply for a work permit specific to your company and position.

LMIA-exempt Job Offers (International Mobility Program): Certain categories of foreign workers can receive work permits without an LMIA through the International Mobility Program (IMP). These include workers under international trade agreements, intra-company transferees, participants in working holiday programs, and certain specialized professionals. Unlike LMIA-based permits, many IMP work permits offer greater flexibility for employers and workers.

Why Professional Help Is Essential in Today's Climate

With Canada’s drastic reduction in temporary foreign worker admissions and increasingly stringent application reviews, employers face an unprecedented competitive environment. The government’s plan to slash LMIA-based work permits by 53% (from 175,000 to just 82,000) and International Mobility Program permits by 54% in 2025 means far fewer opportunities for foreign recruitment. Immigration authorities are scrutinizing applications more intensely than ever, resulting in a 63% increase in refusal rates for temporary resident applications compared to previous years.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program Levels Plan

Category

2023

2024

2025    Target

2026    Target

2027    Target

Temporary Workers (Total)

953,000

460,000

367,750

210,700

237,700

LMIA-based Work Permits

185,000

90,000

82,000

82,000

82,000

International Mobility Program

768,000

370,000

285,750

128,000

155,770

These targets reflect the government’s goal to reduce temporary residents from 7% of Canada’s population in 2024 to 5% by 2026.

The High Cost of Failed Applications

The consequences of attempting to navigate the LMIA process independently have become even more severe:
  • Application fees remain non-refundable regardless of outcome
  • IRCC has reported a 63% increase in refusal rates for temporary resident applications
  • Processing times have increased by 33% as officers apply more scrutiny to applications
  • LMIA validity has been reduced to just 6 months
  • Low-wage work permits are now limited to 1-year duration
  • LMIAs are now refused in Census Metropolitan Areas with unemployment rates over 6%
  • A 10-20% cap has been imposed on employers of low-wage TFWs

Why Choose El Camino Immigration Services

In this restrictive environment, our specialized expertise is more valuable than ever:

  • Comprehensive understanding of current immigration policies and requirements
  • Strategic approach to application preparation that anticipates potential issues
  • Proven track record of successful LMIA applications, even in challenging cases
  • Access to pre-screened international candidates through our recruitment partners
  • Guidance on employer compliance requirements to avoid penalties during inspections
  • Development of medium and long-term immigration strategies for your business

Protecting Your Investment

Working with El Camino means protecting your investment of time and money. Our thorough preparation process ensures applications meet all requirements before submission, dramatically reducing the risk of refusal in this environment of heightened scrutiny. We provide end-to-end guidance, from initial assessment to work permit approval, ensuring nothing is left to chance.

As stated in the latest government briefings: “It is not more difficult; we simply need to do our due diligence.” With our help, you can navigate these challenging changes successfully.

Alternative Pathways to Consider

We can also help you explore other immigration options for your employees:

  • International Mobility Program streams (free trade agreements, intra-company transfers)
  • Francophone worker programs
  • Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
  • Francophone Community Immigration Pilot

In today’s highly restrictive immigration environment, professional assistance isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for employers serious about successfully bringing foreign talent to Canada while avoiding costly setbacks and delays.

FAQs – Immigration Services for Employers

An LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that confirms there is a need for a foreign worker to fill a job, and that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available to do so. A positive LMIA is required in most cases before a foreign national can apply for a work permit.

LMIA-exempt work permits fall under the International Mobility Program (IMP) and are available to foreign workers in specific categories, such as intra-company transferees, participants in reciprocal programs (e.g., working holiday), professionals under free trade agreements, and others. These permits are intended to advance Canada’s economic, social, and cultural interests.

Due to recent federal policy changes, the number of work permits issued under both LMIA-based and IMP streams has been significantly reduced. Application scrutiny has intensified, refusal rates have risen sharply, and new regional and occupational limitations have been introduced. Employers must now meet stricter compliance and recruitment requirements.

As of recent policy changes, a positive LMIA is valid for 6 months. If a work permit application is not submitted within this period, a new LMIA must be obtained.

Low-wage positions under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program are now typically limited to 1 year in duration, subject to renewal and continued employer eligibility.

Possibly not. ESDC has implemented restrictions that may refuse LMIA applications in Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) with unemployment rates over 6%, particularly for low-wage occupations.

Employers are now subject to a 10% to 20% cap on the proportion of their workforce that may consist of low-wage temporary foreign workers, depending on the industry and region.

Given the increased refusal rates, longer processing times, and policy complexity, professional assistance ensures applications are thoroughly prepared, compliant with current regulations, and strategically positioned to succeed. This helps avoid costly mistakes, delays, and the loss of application fees.

Depending on your industry and the qualifications of the candidate, alternatives include:
1. International Mobility Program (e.g., free trade agreements, intra-company transfers)
2. Francophone Mobility programs
3. Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
4. Francophone Community Immigration Pilot

1. LMIA processing: 12 to 25 weeks (may vary depending on stream and region)
2. Work permit processing: 2 to 3 months (depending on the visa office and completeness of the application)
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