Canada — Work (Employer job offer with LMIA (employer-specific work permit))

Main requirements

A genuine job offer from a Canadian employer with a positive LMIA. Per the official source, a job paying at or above the provincial median wage + 20% is high-wage (from 17 July 2026: Ontario CAD 36.92, BC 38.40, Alberta 37.50 per hour). The employer must advertise for at least 4 consecutive weeks in the 3 months before applying, submit a transition plan for high-wage roles, and pay the CAD 1,000 LMIA fee per position, which can't be recovered from the worker. Duration is usually up to 3 years. For low-wage jobs, from 9 October 2026 to 7 January 2027 LMIAs are not processed in CMAs with unemployment of 6% or more (30 of 41 CMAs, e.g. Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton), with exemptions such as construction, agriculture, food manufacturing, hospitals and nursing care. The list changes every quarter. The Global Talent Stream, for innovative firms and listed occupations, has a 10-business-day LMIA standard and 2-week work permit standard.

Documents

Job offer, LMIA number, passport, education and work records, professional licences if needed, work permit forms.

Language

IRCC sets no general minimum, but you must be able to do the job. Later PR needs CLB 7 (lower for some occupations).

Costs and proof of funds

Per the official source: work permit CAD 155 + 85 biometrics. The LMIA fee is the employer's. A spouse open work permit (if eligible) is CAD 155 + 100.

Steps and timeline

Find an employer; employer obtains LMIA; work permit application; biometrics outside Iran; visa and arrival. IRCC data (7 October 2026) shows about 57 weeks for work permits applied from Iran (Turkey 12, UAE 20 weeks).

Notes for Iranian applicants

Buying or selling LMIAs is illegal and was one reason job-offer points were removed from CRS; anyone asking you to pay for an 'LMIA' is a scam. Processing for Iranians is very long and some employers won't wait. Biometrics and passport submission are outside Iran.

After arrival (work while studying, post-study stay, PR path)

Your spouse gets an open work permit only if your job is TEER 0 or 1 (or certain shortage TEER 2-3 jobs) and at least 16 months remain on your permit; dependent children no longer qualify. After a year of skilled Canadian work, CEC under Express Entry (2026 cut-offs about 507-523) or a job-offer PNP stream opens.