For Express Entry, your employer doesn’t need an LMIA if you:

• have been working full-time for the employer on your work permit for at least one year (or an equal amount of part-time work),
• have a valid job offer, and
• have a valid work permit that is exempt from an LMIA under:
  • an international agreement,
  • a federal-provincial agreement, or
  • the “Canadian interests” category.

You may be exempt from needing an LMIA for Express Entry if your current temporary job (i) is LMIA-exempt, (ii) states a specific employer or employers (if FST), and  (iii) is:

• covered by an international agreement like NAFTA or GATS, and non-trade agreements.
• covered by an agreement between Canada and a province or territory. This includes “significant investment” projects.
• exempt for “Canadian interests” reasons:
  • “significant benefit” – if your employer can prove you will bring an important social, cultural, and/or economic benefit to Canada. This can include:
    • general: Self-employed engineers, technical workers, creative and performing artists, etc.,
    • workers transferred within a company (intra-company transferees with specialized knowledge), or
    • workers under Mobilité francophone.
  • Reciprocal employment:
    • general (such as professional coaches and athletes working for Canadian teams),
    • International Experience Canada,
    • people in exchange programs like professors and visiting lecturers.
  • Designated by the Minister:
    • academics, including researchers, guest lecturers and visiting professors,
    • competitiveness and public policy.
  • Charity and religious work (not including volunteers)

These categories can be exempt only if you also meet the criteria in the first section of this page.