International Mobility Program (IMP)
Canada’s labour market has been under tremendous strain due to various reasons such as a declining birth rate, a booming economy, and younger retirement age, leaving many important jobs in Canada vacant. Canada has therefore sought to fill these positions with foreign workers, offering both permanent and temporary employment opportunities at all skills levels.
The International Mobility Program (IMP) is designed to help Canadian employers hire international workers on a temporary basis without having to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) first.
What is an LMIA?
An LMIA is a document that shows that a Canadian employer has attempted to fill a job locally but was unable to do so successfully and is therefore permitted to hire a foreign employee.
There are various work permit streams and programs that fall under the IMP, many of which could give you the opportunity to eventually apply for permanent residency through various provincial programs or federal economic programs such as the Canadian Experience Class, which falls under the Express Entry system.
What Is the International Mobility Program (IMP)?
The International Mobility Program (IMP) allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers without an LMIA if the position serves Canada’s cultural and economic interests. This makes for faster processing and a much simpler application process than that of the Temporary Foriegn Worker Program, which requires an LMIA and is labour market dependent.
Step 1: Job Offer
Your prospective employer will need to submit an official job offer in Canada via the Employer Portal.Employers will need to meet the following requirements to hire foreign workers through the International Mobility Program:
Step 2: Apply for Work Permit
Once this has been done, you will be able to apply for your temporary foreign work permit. You will need your offer of employer number to complete your application. If eligible to work in Canada, your application will be approved and you will receive:
Step 3: Prepare for Your New Job in Canada
Once you have your work permit and travel visa you can get ready to start anew in Canada.