Start Early
Why Waiting Until the Last Minute Doesn't Work
Government processing timelines are outside anyone's control — they change from month to month, and can run anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the stream, plus a mandatory advertising period before you can even submit. If you wait until your worker's permit is close to expiring, you may not have enough time left to act.
The employers who successfully retain their workers are the ones who start planning early — ideally at least a year before a permit expires. That gives enough runway to handle delays, requests for information, or an unexpected refusal without losing your worker along the way.
We recommend reviewing your worker's permit expiry date and starting the retention conversation as soon as possible — the earlier we start, the more options you have.
Recommended: Start planning at least 12 months before your worker's permit expires.
Keeping Your Worker Employed
LMIA Support & Renewals
What it is
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is the document that allows a Canadian employer to hire or continue employing a foreign worker in a specific role.
When you need one
Renewing an existing LMIA-based worker's permit, or supporting a worker moving from another permit type onto an LMIA-based one.
- Job advertising requirements (typically 2–8 weeks depending on stream, completed before submission)
- Preparing and submitting the application to ESDC
- Responding to any requests for information
- Supporting the worker's subsequent work permit application
LMIA and work permit are two separate steps
The LMIA
The LMIA is the government's confirmation that hiring this specific foreign worker is justified — that no Canadian or permanent resident is available to fill the role. The employer applies for this first.
The Work Permit
An LMIA is not a work permit. Once the LMIA is approved, the worker then applies separately for their work permit — this is the actual document that allows them to legally continue working. This is a distinct application with its own separate processing time.
Why This Matters for Timing
These two steps happen back to back, not at the same time — so the total time to secure your worker's continued employment is LMIA processing plus work permit processing combined. This is exactly why starting early matters: waiting until a permit is close to expiring doesn't leave enough room to complete both steps.
Timeline
LMIA processing typically takes several weeks to a few months, depending on the stream and application complexity — this does not include the mandatory job advertising period beforehand. We provide a realistic timeline specific to your situation once we understand your case.
If processing runs past your worker's permit expiry
If your worker applies for their new work permit before their current permit expires, they are legally allowed to continue working for you under the same conditions while the new application is being processed — even if the old permit's expiry date passes before a decision is made. This is called "implied status."
This only applies if the application is submitted before the current permit expires — another reason why starting the process early, rather than waiting until the last minute, is critical. Miss that window, and this protection isn't available.
What we handle vs. what you provide
We handle
The application, documentation, and ESDC correspondence.
You provide
Job details, wage information, and business documentation.
Another Route
LMIA-Exempt Mobility Programs
What it is
Certain categories let you keep employing your worker without a new LMIA.
Common categories
Francophone Mobility, intra-company transfers, and trade agreement categories (e.g. CUSMA).
When this applies
Eligibility depends on your worker's specific situation — we assess whether a mobility program is a faster or simpler option than LMIA renewal.
Eligibility & Caps
Eligibility and the Low-Wage Cap
Not every position automatically qualifies.
Eligibility
Not every position or employer automatically qualifies for an LMIA. ESDC reviews genuine recruitment efforts, wage compliance, and your company's compliance history before approving an application. Low-wage applications can also be refused outright — before ever being reviewed — if the local unemployment rate in your work location is 6% or higher, based on quarterly government data. This is why we complete an eligibility assessment before starting your LMIA application, not after.
The Low-Wage Cap
If your worker's position falls under the low-wage stream, there's also a cap on the proportion of your workforce that can be made up of low-wage temporary foreign workers:
- 10% for most sectors
- 20% for construction, healthcare, and food processing/manufacturing
- No cap for certain on-farm agriculture and healthcare-institution caregiving roles
- High-wage positions are not subject to any cap or the unemployment rate restriction
These rules change periodically and are reviewed quarterly by the government — we confirm exactly what currently applies to your business and your worker's position as part of our eligibility assessment.
Our Process
Guidance. Strategy. Execution.
Keeping your worker legally employed is a process, not a single application. We work through it in three clear stages — so nothing is left to chance.
Guidance
We review your worker's current permit status, expiry date, and role to understand what's needed to keep them employed — and flag any risks early.
Strategy
We recommend the right pathway — LMIA renewal or a mobility program — and build a staged plan with realistic timelines, including the advertising period and processing estimates.
Execution
We manage the application, documentation, and government correspondence end-to-end, keeping you informed at every step until your worker's continued employment is secured.
After the Permit
The permit isn't what decides whether they stay.
Most workers don't leave over immigration. They leave over everything else — something wrong with family back home, a letter they don't understand, something at work they don't know how to raise with you. You usually find out when they hand in their notice.
Someone on our team stays in touch with your worker long after the file is closed and there's nothing left to bill for. Not about immigration — about whatever they need. Most of those problems get solved before they ever reach your desk.
For you
You keep a worker you would otherwise have lost, usually without ever knowing how close it came. The questions that would have landed on your desk go somewhere else.
For your worker
Someone to call who knows how Canada works and isn't their boss. Problems get sorted while they're still small.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this cost?
Costs vary depending on the service and complexity of your case; we provide a clear quote after an initial consultation.
What happens if the LMIA is refused?
We review the reasons for refusal and advise on next steps, which may include reapplying with additional information or exploring an alternative pathway.
How far in advance should we start?
Given unpredictable government processing timelines, we recommend starting at least 12 months before your worker's permit expires.
What do you need from us to get started?
Basic job details, wage information, and business documentation; we'll walk you through exactly what's required during your consultation.
Not Sure How to Bring This Up With Your Employer?
If your work permit is expiring and you're not sure how to explain what you need, you're not alone. Many workers aren't sure how to ask, or worry it will sound complicated. Share this page with your employer — we'll take it from here and explain everything directly to them.