There are some cases where a positive LMIA is not required in order to be eligible to apply for a work permit.

The following categories are exempt from requiring a positive LMIA. A  work permit can be obtained without one

• ​Athletes and sports persons
• Business visitor
• Civil aviation inspector
• Clergy
• Convention organizers
• Crew
• Emergency service providers
• Examiners and evaluators
• Expert witnesses or investigators
• Foreign government officers
• Foreign representatives and Family members of foreign representatives
• Health care students

Being exempt from obtaining a LMIA does not mean the individual is exempt from obtaining a work permit. All streams on the LMIA exemption list still require the individual to obtain a work permit to work in Canada legally.

 LMIA Exemptions

Certain circumstances allow for individuals to work in Canada without first obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Work Permits may be issued by Canadian immigration officials without the LMIA requirement in a limited number of situations, as follows:

• Under international agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA);
• Due to the significant economic, social or cultural benefits the work activity will bring to Canadians;
• As part of reciprocal agreements Canada and its provinces/territories have entered into with other countries, such as youth and teacher exchange programs;
• So that international students studying in Canada can fulfill academic requirements, known as co-op placements;
• To allow the spouses/common-law partners of Work Permit and certain Study Permit holders in Canada to work in Canada;
• Because the nature of the work is charitable or religious;
• In recognition that certain persons in Canada for reasons other than the above-mentioned, such as the making of a refugee claim, need to support themselves.

NAFTA Work Permits

These permits are issued under the North American Free Trade Agreement, allowing work without a LMIA.

Intra-Company Transfers

These permits will allow a company to bring certain employees to Canada from its offices abroad without a LMIA.

Business Visitors

In many cases, business visitors may work in Canada without a work permit, so long as they don’t enter the Canadian labour market. Business visitors must demonstrate the following:

• they plan to stay for less than six months,
• they do not plan to enter the Canadian labour market,
• the main place of business, and source of income and profits, is outside Canada,
• they have documents that support their application and
• they meet Canada’s basic entry requirements, because they
  • have a valid travel document, such as a passport,
  • have enough money for their stay and to return home,
  • plan to leave Canada at the end of your visit, and

are not a criminal, security or health risk to Canadians. There are a number of reasons why an individual may come to Canada as a business visitor, including:

• Attending business meetings, conferences, conventions, fairs, etc;
• Buying Canadian goods or services on behalf of a foreign entity;
• Taking orders for goods or services;
• Providing after-sales service, excluding hands-on work in the construction trades;
• Being trained by a Canadian parent company for work outside of Canada; and
• Training employees of a Canadian subsidiary of a foreign company.

Business visitors to Canada may require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)