International Mobility Workers Unit IMWU

The International Mobility Workers Unit (IMWU) helps employers determine if they and the temporary foreign workers they intend to hire are exempt from obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or a work permit. This service simplifies the process of assessing exemptions under Canada’s immigration policies.

Key Points:

1. Requesting an Opinion:

• Employers can submit a request to determine if an LMIA or work permit exemption applies.
• Only one exemption per request is allowed; multiple exemptions in a single request will not be processed.

2. Eligibility for IMWU Services:

• The temporary foreign worker must:
  • Be located outside Canada.
  • Be a citizen of a visa-exempt country.

3. Alternative Process for Ineligible Workers:

• If the worker does not meet these criteria, the IMWU cannot assist.
• The worker must apply for a work permit, where a visa officer or processing center will assess the LMIA or work permit exemption eligibility.