Labour Market Opinion (LMO) Exemptions

There are some types of positions and some types of individuals who are exempt from the Labour Market Opinion process. This means that they may apply for a Work Permit if they receive a job offer from a Canadian employer.

If you fall under any of the four exempt categories below, and are qualified for a position you are considering, you can apply for this position on-line, and select "yes" on the pre-screening question which asks: "Are you a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or otherwise qualified to work in Canada?"

Workers covered under international agreements – Eligible professionals under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) , the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) , or the General Agreement on Trades and Services (GATS) are exempt from LMOs.

A summary of NAFTA professional titles can be located in Appendix G, B, and D respectively of the CIC Foreign Worker Manual (725 kb).

Spouses, Common-Law Partners, and Dependent Children of Temporary Foreign Worker : If the principal worker possess a temporary work permit, his/her spouse or common-law partner and dependent children may be able to work while in Canada, and they must apply for their own Work Permit. Normally, they must meet the same requirements as the principal worker, including (if needed) the Labour Market Opinion (LMO) from Service Canada. However, they may qualify as LMO exempt if the principal worker meets the following conditions:

The principal worker is authorized to work in Canada for six months or longer.

The job done by the principal worker is listed in Skill Level O, A or B in the National Occupational Classification .

If the principal worker meets these two conditions, the spouse, partner, and/or dependent child may apply for a work permit that is "open" and that will allow her or him to accept any job with any employer. This permit will be valid for the same period as the principal worker's authorization to work in Canada. For more information on Work Permits view CIC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) .

International Students, Recent Graduates, and Spouse or Common-Law Partner of Students or Recent Graduates: There are various CIC Student Work Permits available to international students while they are studying, to work on or off campus or as part of a co-op program. Other work permits allow recent Canadian graduates to work in Canada. In Alberta these work permits are for up to three years, depending on the length of the original school program. A spousal work permit will allow your spouse or common-law partner to work for the same period of time.

Participants in Exchange Programs: Appendix E, Pages 116 to 123 of the CIC Foreign Worker Manual (725 kb) provides a list of international youth exchange programs which are exempt from LMOs: