Apply for an employer-specific work permit (LMIA or LMIA-exempt job offer)

For people with a job offer from a Canadian employer who need a work permit tied to that employer. Your employer first gets a positive labour market impact assessment (LMIA) or submits an LMIA-exempt offer of employment. You then apply online, from outside Canada (IMM 1295) or, if eligible, from inside Canada (IMM 5710), and give biometrics if required.

Who it is for: Foreign nationals with a genuine job offer from an eligible Canadian employer.

14 steps in order, a checklist of 20 documents, what to write in each form field and the mistakes IRCC warns about, each linked to the official page it comes from. Last checked against IRCC’s pages on November 3, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

The complete walkthrough is also published as a page that opens without JavaScript.

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Applying? Follow a step-by-step walkthrough of your IRCC application, from Express Entry and work or study permits to citizenship, with every point linked to the official page.