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Canada corporate immigration comes down to one first question: does the job need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)? If yes, the employer uses the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). If the worker qualifies for an exemption, the employer uses the International Mobility Program (IMP), which is LMIA-exempt. Permanent residence routes such as Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs are a separate track.
This KPvisas guide is a route finder for employers and for skilled professionals who want to understand what a Canadian employer must do. It does not repeat the step-by-step candidate guides; links to those are at the end.
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Which route fits which worker
| Route | LMIA needed? | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| TFWP, high-wage position | Yes | Employers filling a role paid at or above the provincial wage threshold |
| TFWP, low-wage position | Yes | Roles paid below the provincial wage threshold, with extra program requirements |
| IMP, employer-specific permit | No | Workers covered by an exemption, such as some free trade agreement categories, some Global Skills Strategy cases and certain International Experience Canada categories |
| IMP, open work permit | No | Workers who already hold an open permit, such as post-graduation work permit holders and some family members of workers |
| Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, Start-Up Visa | Not a work permit route | Permanent residence for skilled workers, nominees and entrepreneurs |
How the TFWP wage stream is decided
Under the TFWP, the hourly wage the employer offers is compared with a threshold for the province or territory. The threshold is the provincial or territorial median hourly wage plus 20 percent. An offer at or above it falls under the high-wage stream; an offer below it falls under the low-wage stream. Offering a higher wage only to change streams can lead to a negative LMIA decision. Wages for foreign workers should also be similar to those paid to Canadians and permanent residents in the same job and location.
| Province | Threshold for LMIAs received from 17 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Alberta | $37.50 per hour |
| Ontario | $36.92 per hour |
| Quebec | $36.00 per hour |
Thresholds are updated, and every province and territory has its own figure, so employers should read the current table on the Government of Canada page before setting a wage.
What the IMP covers
The IMP lets employers hire temporary foreign workers without an LMIA. Employers can hire workers who are exempt from needing a work permit, workers with an open work permit, and workers with an employer-specific LMIA-exempt permit. If an LMIA is required for the job, the IMP cannot be used and the employer must go through the TFWP. Employers on the list of non-compliant employers cannot hire open work permit holders.
Five questions to pick a route
- Is the worker already in Canada on an open work permit? If so, the IMP may apply and no LMIA is needed.
- Does the worker fall into an LMIA-exempt category such as a free trade agreement category or an International Experience Canada category?
- If neither applies, what hourly wage will you offer, and is it above or below the threshold for the province where the job is?
- Is the job in Quebec? Quebec has its own selection rules and language expectations, so check them early.
- Do you want the worker to stay permanently? Then plan a permanent residence route such as Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program alongside the work permit.
Employer checklist before you start
- A clear job description, location and offered hourly wage.
- A wage that matches the prevailing wage for the occupation and what Canadians in the same role are paid.
- A decision on whether the job needs an LMIA or can use an exemption.
- The worker’s language results and qualifications, which matter for permanent residence streams and for French-speaking routes outside Quebec.
- A plan for what happens when the permit ends, so the worker is not left without status.
What African and Nigerian candidates should check
A genuine Canadian employer does not charge a candidate for a job offer or an LMIA. Treat anyone who asks you to pay for a guaranteed offer as a scam risk, and check the offer against the employer’s own website and the Government of Canada pages. An employer-specific permit ties you to one employer, so ask whether the role needs an LMIA and who handles it before you resign from your current job.
Official pages: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, International Mobility Program and Employment and Social Development Canada, high-wage and low-wage positions.
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Where to go next
- Working in Canada as a Nigerian: visa pathways explained
- Canada Express Entry high-wage CRS points and LMIA changes
- How to find a job in Canada as a Nigerian: resume, credentials and sectors
- Canada PGWP eligible programmes
- Canada visa processing times for Nigerians
Frequently Asked Questions
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