Hiring a Foreign Worker in Canada: Steps and Realistic Timelines

To hire a foreign worker in Canada through an LMIA, plan for four main stages: mandatory local recruitment (4 to 8 weeks of advertising), LMIA processing (an average of 82 to 98 business days in September 2026), the work permit application, and finally arrival and onboarding. In practice, expect several months, often close to a year, between the decision to hire and the first day on the job.

This guide is for business owners and HR leads who want a realistic timeline, not a promise. The rules and processing times below were checked against official government sources as of November 2026. They change often, so confirm them before every application.

What are the steps to hire a foreign worker in Canada?

Most hires go through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Some situations are exempt under the International Mobility Program, but the LMIA remains the most common route for small and mid-sized employers.

1. Define the job and the wage. The wage you offer determines the stream: high-wage or low-wage.
2. Recruit locally. Advertise the job and document your efforts to hire Canadians and permanent residents.
3. Submit the LMIA application. To Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and, in Quebec, at the same time to the provincial immigration ministry.
4. Send the positive LMIA to your candidate. They then apply for a work permit with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
5. Prepare for arrival. Travel, housing, insurance, welcome and onboarding.

How long does each stage take?

The table below brings together the official figures available. Advertising periods are minimum requirements; processing times are published averages that vary from month to month.

Sources: LMIA processing times (Canada.ca), high-wage stream requirements, low-wage stream requirements and LMIA validity. For work permits, use IRCC's processing times tool.

Keep in mind that the processing clock only starts once a complete application is received, and advertising time is not included. An incomplete file doesn't just sit in a queue; it goes back to the start.

How do I know if my job is high-wage or low-wage?

The threshold is the provincial median hourly wage plus 20%. In Quebec it is $36.00 an hour for LMIAs received since July 17, 2026 ($37.50 in Alberta, $36.92 in Ontario, $38.40 in British Columbia). A wage at or above the threshold falls under the high-wage stream. Source: Canada.ca wage thresholds.

The stream changes a lot: the advertising period, a transition plan for high-wage jobs, a cap on foreign workers, and transportation and housing obligations for low-wage jobs. Our article explaining the LMIA for employers covers these requirements in detail.

What is different in Quebec?

In Quebec, the LMIA is a joint process: you submit the application at the same time to the federal and Quebec governments, along with the temporary selection application that leads to the Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ). Source: Québec.ca, required authorizations (in French).

• Since December 17, 2025, employers with 25 or more employees must comply with the francization process under the Charter of the French Language to receive a positive LMIA (agricultural businesses excepted).
• Since April 10, 2026, applications for jobs paid under $36/hour in the Montreal and Laval regions are not processed, subject to exemptions.
• Quebec charges its own fees on top of federal fees (see below).

How much does it cost to hire a foreign worker?

Government fees are the visible part of the cost. As of November 2026:

• $1,000 per position for the federal LMIA application, non-refundable and not recoverable from the worker (ESDC).
• $233 per worker for Quebec's LMIA assessment, plus $233 per temporary selection application (Québec.ca, in French).
• $155 for the work permit and $85 for biometrics per person (IRCC fee list).

Then come the less visible costs: your managers' time, advertising, travel (paid by the employer for low-wage jobs), welcome and onboarding. Above all, there is the cost of the job sitting empty for the entire process: slower output, overtime and contracts you have to turn down.

What is a realistic timeline from need to arrival?

Here is a planning estimate for a high-wage job, built from the official figures above. It is not a guarantee.

1. Month 1: define the job and wage, and start advertising (4 weeks minimum).
2. Month 2: prepare and submit a complete application, while selecting your foreign candidate.
3. Months 2 to 7: LMIA processing (98 business days is roughly 20 weeks).
4. Months 7 to 9, sometimes longer: work permit application, depending on the country of residence.
5. Final weeks: travel, housing, welcome and first days on the job.

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The most expensive delay is often the one you could have avoided: non-compliant advertising, a wage set incorrectly or a missing document.

How can you keep the process from running late?

• Start with the wage: confirm the prevailing wage, which is the higher of the Job Bank median and what you already pay for this job.
• Start advertising before you pick your candidate, because the advertising period can't be shortened.
• Keep proof of every recruitment activity; ESDC requires you to keep these records for six years.
• Submit a complete application the first time and, in Quebec, to both levels of government at once.
• Prepare onboarding during processing: housing, an internal buddy, a training plan.

For what comes next, see our articles on welcoming an immigrant worker after a successful hire and our international recruitment survival guide for small businesses.

Frequently asked questions

Can I hire a foreign worker without an LMIA?

Yes, in certain cases under the International Mobility Program (for example some international agreements or open work permits). The employer usually pays a $230 compliance fee instead (IRCC fee list, November 2026). Eligibility depends on the candidate's profile, so have it confirmed before you start.

How long is a positive LMIA valid?

For applications received since May 1, 2024, a positive LMIA is valid for up to six months. The worker must apply for the work permit before it expires, or the employer has to start over.

Does the advertising period count toward processing time?

No. ESDC's published processing time starts when a complete application is received. The 4 or 8 weeks of advertising come before that.

Who pays the LMIA fee?

The employer. The $1,000 per-position fee cannot be paid by the worker or recovered from them.

Getting started with Industrielle RH

Industrielle RH supports employers with international recruitment, from defining the job to onboarding, working with its partner IR Immigration on the immigration steps. You get a clear timeline, a carefully prepared file and a new hire who is properly welcomed. Tell our team about your hiring need to get an estimate tailored to your role.

Read next

• Welcoming an Immigrant Worker: Success Beyond the Hire
• International Recruitment: A Survival Guide for Quebec SMEs