Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) allows Canadian employers to hire foreign nationals to fill labour shortages in Canada. The International Mobility Program (IMP) advances Canada’s broader economic, social and cultural interests.
Employers wishing to hire under the TFWP must complete the Canadian government’s labour market test, known as the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). By contrast, a foreign national does not need an LMIA to obtain a work permit under the IMP.
Contents
An overview of the TFWP and the IMP
Detailed article onInternational Mobility Program (IMP).
Canada offers more than100 different pathwaysfor foreign nationals to work in the country temporarily. These pathways are divided between the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is administered jointly by IRCC andEmployment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)andImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The programme allows Canadian employers to address genuine labour shortages by recruiting internationally, while ensuring that Canadian citizens and permanent residents have the first opportunity to apply for vacant positions.
The International Mobility Program (IMP) is administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The programme exists to advance Canada’s broader economic, social and cultural policy objectives.
Accordingly, in addition to facilitating the arrival of foreign workers to meet labour market needs, the programme exists to allow foreign workers to enter Canada in order to strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations between Canada and the global community, and to advance fields such as the arts, culture, sport and religion in Canada.
The key difference between the TFWP and the IMP is that the TFWP requires completion of the Canadian government’s labour market test, known as the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
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Labour Market Impact Assessment
Detailed article onThe Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and a temporary work permit must be obtained before a foreign national can begin working for a Canadian employer through the TFWP. The LMIA is the document demonstrating that the employer’s hiring of a foreign worker will have a positive or neutral effect on the Canadian labour market.
Employers in Canada should be aware of the requirements, wage levels, advertising efforts, exceptions to the advertising requirement, and how to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Exceptions to the LMIA requirement include jobs that fall outside the scope of the TFWP. Job offers made by Canadian employers to foreign workers through the International Mobility Program (IMP) do not require an LMIA.
Comparing the TFWP and the IMP
The table below compares the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) with the International Mobility Program (IMP):
| Criterion | Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) | International Mobility Program (IMP) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To allow employers to fill vacancies where no qualified Canadian worker is available. | To advance Canada’s broader economic, social and cultural interests. |
| LMIA requirement | A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) must be obtained. | No Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required. |
| Responsible department | Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). |
| Reciprocity | No reciprocity; based on labour market needs for specific occupations and regions. | Based primarily on reciprocity. |
| Type of work permit | Employer-specific work permit (the foreign worker is tied to a single employer). | The work permit may be employer-specific or open, depending on the situation or agreement. |
| Applicable classification | Uses wage level rather thanNational Occupational Classification (NOC)to determine applicability. | No classification by the wage offered. |
| Basis | Based on labour market needs for specific occupations and regions. | Based primarily on multilateral and bilateral agreements with other countries (for example:CUSMA). |
Find out more about the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) on the Government of Canada website athere.
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