Foreign worker is a temporary resident who is legally allowed to work in Canada on a temporary basis. A work permit or authorization to work without a permit is required in order for a foreign national to be allowed to work in Canada under either of the following programs: 

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Temporary Foreign Worker Program

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Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required when hiring a foreign workers to fill temporary labour and skill shortages. A positive LMIA will show that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job and that no Canadian worker is available.

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International Mobility Program (IMP)

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The IMP lets employers hire temporary workers without an LMIA. 

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In 2019, 98,310 individuals were issued work permits through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and 306,797 individuals were issued a work permit under the International Mobility Program. This represents an increase of almost 70,000 new permits from 2018.

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In 2019, 63,020 individuals with a temporary work permit were granted permanent residency.