Recruitment Requirements Prior to LMIA Submission under the TFW Program

This communiqué aims to provide information and reminders of the recruitment of Canadians and permanent residents prior to submitting a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW Program). 

Reminder – When submitting an LMIA application 

The TFW Program is designed as an extraordinary and temporary measure to be used to fill critical employment gaps, only when qualified Canadians and permanent residents are not able to fill job vacancies. Employers are required to demonstrate that they have made reasonable efforts to recruit Canadians and permanent residents prior to hiring a temporary foreign worker.   

To enable Service Canada to assess this recruitment requirement, employers must answer all relevant questions in the LMIA application and provide proof of their advertising activities, along with the outcome of their recruitment efforts. Service Canada will assess the LMIA and all supporting documents to make sure that hiring temporary foreign workers addresses specific labour shortages and does not negatively affect the Canadian labour market, in accordance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.  

 When using Job Bank for an LMIA application 

Job Bank is a free platform provided by the Government of Canada that connects domestic job seekers with employers. When using Job Bank, two key features are enabled by default: Job Match and Direct Apply.

• Job Match automatically connects job postings with candidate profiles that meet the employer’s criteria. 
• Direct Apply allows job seekers to apply directly to job postings submitted by employers, delivering applications in a streamlined and accessible format via their Job Bank account. 

Effective immediately, when using Job Bank for an LMIA application, Job Match and Direct Apply must both remain enabled under the employer’s Job Bank account. 

To comply with the TFW Program’s requirements, employers must consider all applications submitted by Canadians and permanent residents, including those received through Direct Apply. If employers or their third-party representatives choose to disable Job Match or Direct Apply, or do not consider all job seeker applications – whether submitted online or otherwise – they may not meet the Program’s requirements. In such cases, Service Canada may conclude its assessment with a negative LMIA decision. 

Reminder – Recruitment documentation retention 

For inspection purposes, employers must retain records of recruitment and advertising efforts to hire Canadians or permanent residents for a minimum of six years. Employers can consult the TFW Program website to learn more about their compliance obligations.  

This requirement also applies to employers submitting an LMIA application to hire temporary foreign workers for primary agriculture positions, as well as for occupations processed under the facilitated process (traitement simplifié) of the TFW Program. Currently, for these positions, employers are not required to submit proof of job advertisement with their LMIA application; however, they are expected to continue efforts to recruit Canadians and permanent residents. As a reminder, starting January 1, 2026, for primary agriculture positions, the requirement to provide proof of job advertisement with an LMIA application will be reinstated. 

To learn more about the requirements regarding recruitment and advertisement, according to the different streams, visit the TFW Program website or reach out to the Employer Contact Centre. 

You are encouraged to share this communication throughout your respective networks, and with any colleagues or peers who may need to be aware of this information. 

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Employment and Social Development Canada.