Temporary Foreign Worker Program

The Canada Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) allows Canadian employers to address temporary labor and skill shortages by hiring foreign workers when qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents are not available. This employer-driven program requires employers to obtain approval and often a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to hire foreign workers.

Key Points about the TFWP:

  • Employer-driven: Canadian employers must demonstrate efforts to hire Canadians or permanent residents before resorting to the TFWP. They must apply for and receive approval from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to hire foreign workers.

  • Work Permits: Foreign workers hired through the TFWP typically need a specific work permit tied to a particular employer and job. These permits are usually issued for a specified period and are renewable under certain conditions.

  • Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA): In most cases, Canadian employers must obtain a positive LMIA before hiring a foreign worker through the TFWP. The LMIA assesses whether hiring a foreign worker will have a positive or negative impact on the Canadian labor market and whether there are qualified Canadians available for the job.

  • Occupations: The TFWP covers a wide range of occupations, including skilled trades, professional, managerial, and low-skilled positions. Specific regulations and requirements may apply to different occupations and industries.

  • Compliance: Employers hiring foreign workers through the TFWP must comply with Canadian immigration and labor laws. This includes providing wages, working conditions, and benefits that meet or exceed those offered to Canadian workers in similar positions.

  • Pathways to Permanent Residence: Depending on their qualifications and job category, some foreign workers may have pathways to Canadian permanent residence through provincial nomination programs, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or other immigration streams.

Administered jointly by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the TFWP aims to balance the needs of Canadian employers with the protection of the Canadian labor market and the rights of foreign workers.