See if you need a labour market opinion
In most cases, an employer must get a labour market opinion (LMO) to hire a temporary foreign worker.
An LMO is a document from the Government of Canada that permits your employer to hire a temporary foreign worker.
These people need a work permit but do not need an LMO:
Workers covered under international agreements
This group can include:
professionals,
traders and
investors.
People taking part in exchange programs
These programs can include:
youth exchange programs,
teacher exchange programs and
other joint programs.
Spouses
This group can include:
spouses and common-law partners of certain foreign students who are studying full time (the spouse must not be enrolled in full-time studies) and
Workers, their spouses/common-law partners or their dependants who are eligible for a work permit through a pilot project
Pilot projects are agreements between the Government of Canada and provincial/territorial governments. Find out if you are eligible to come to Canada through a pilot project.
Workers nominated by a province for permanent residence
The person must have a job offer from an employer based in that province