IMP & TFWP

In addition to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), the International Mobility Program (IMP) promotes the economic, social, and cultural interests of Canada.

As part of the TFWP, employers are required to complete a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a government-administered assessment of the Canadian labour market. A foreign national does not need an LMIA to obtain a work permit under the IMP, however. This CanBridge page provides an overview of the process in more detail.

There are over a hundred different entry points that are available to non-Canadian citizens seeking temporary employment. The Temporary Foreign Worker Programme and the International Mobility Programme each have their own set of procedures to follow in order to qualify for the path.

In order to manage the Temporary Foreign Worker Programme (TFWP), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) work together. In order to address actual labour shortages, the program allows companies in Canada to hire workers from abroad. It also ensures that Canadians have the first chance to apply for job openings.

The IMP, overseen by IRCC, promotes Canada’s economic, social, and cultural policies. It facilitates the entry of foreign workers to meet labor market needs and strengthen bilateral and multilateral ties. Additionally, it promotes aspects of Canadian society such as the arts, culture, sports, and religion.

TFWP and IMP differ primarily in that the former requires completion of the Labour Market Impact Assessment, the test administered by the Canadian government to assess the impact on local labor markets.

Market Effects of Labour

It is necessary for foreign workers to obtain both a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and a temporary work visa before they can begin working for an employer in Canada through the Temporary Foreign Worker Programme (TFWP). The purpose of a Labour Market Impact Assessment is to prove that if an employer decides to hire a foreign worker, there will be a positive or neutral impact on the Canadian labour market. This document is referred to as the Labour Market Impact Assessment.

In order to comply with applicable laws and regulations, employers in Canada should know the requirements, wages, advertising efforts, exceptions to the advertising requirements, and how to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment.

The TFWP does not oversee a number of occupations that must comply with the LMIA requirement. If a Canadian company offers a job to a foreign worker through the International Mobility Programme (IMP), it is not necessary to obtain an LMIA.