Employer Support

Get help hiring from outside Canada.

Sometimes the right person for the job isn't already in Canada. Hiring from outside the country is possible, but it typically requires formal government approval - most commonly through a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), or by qualifying for a program that's exempt from that requirement. This page is here to help you find qualified support to do that process right.

Find an immigration professional How the process works

The honest answer

Can you do this yourself?

Some employers complete LMIA applications on their own, without hiring an immigration consultant or lawyer. It's allowed - but it takes real time, and the details matter more than they might seem to at first. The application has to correctly show genuine recruitment efforts, accurate wage calculations, and complete supporting documents, all specific to your job and region.

If it gets refused, there's no easy way to fix it after the fact. As of 2026, there is no formal appeal process for a negative LMIA. Your realistic options are limited to:

Reapplying

Submitting a new, stronger application that fixes whatever caused the refusal. This is the most common path, but it means starting over: readvertising the position and waiting through the full processing time again, which can take several months in total.

Requesting reconsideration

Asking the same government office to review its own decision. This only works in narrow situations, generally where there's a clear factual or procedural error, and the government isn't obligated to grant it.

Judicial review at Federal Court

A legal challenge to the decision. This doesn't re-examine whether the outcome was fair, only whether the officer made a legal or procedural error. It's slow, costly, and has a strict, short filing deadline that starts right away.

On top of that, the application fee is generally non-refundable, even if the application is refused. A refusal doesn't just cost the fee - it can set your hiring timeline back by months while you correct the issue and go through the process again.

None of this means an employer can't do it themselves. But it's a big part of why many employers choose to bring in someone who does this regularly, so problems get caught before submission instead of after a refusal.

Know who you're paying

Why work with a regulated consultant or lawyer.

In Canada, only certain people are legally authorized to give immigration advice or represent someone in an immigration application for a fee: licensed lawyers and Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs). RCICs are licensed and overseen by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).

Working with someone properly regulated means:

They're accountable to a professional body with rules of conduct.
You have somewhere to turn if something goes wrong.
They're legally permitted to charge for this advice in the first place.

Verify before you engage

How to check if someone is regulated.

Before engaging anyone for immigration help, it's worth verifying their credentials yourself.

Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) can be looked up on the CICC's public register, using their name or membership number.

Lawyers can be looked up through their provincial law society.

Open the CICC public register

If someone can't be found on the appropriate public register, they aren't authorized to charge for immigration advice or representation - regardless of how experienced they claim to be.

Protect your business

Watch for red flags.

Immigration and hiring paperwork can be a target for scams and unqualified “consultants.” Be cautious of anyone who:

Guarantees a specific outcome, such as LMIA or work permit approval.

Pressures you to pay large amounts upfront, especially in cash or without a receipt.

Cannot be found on the CICC or a law society's public register.

Is vague about which specific programs or services they're licensed to help with.

A starting point

Find an immigration professional.

Central Alberta First maintains this list as a starting point for employers - not a recommendation of any single firm. Each firm below is independently responsible for their own services, pricing, and booking process. Contact one directly, or reach out to more than one to compare.

Immigration Care Navigating Immigration with Clarity, Confidence and Care

CRT Legal

Woodbine

MNB Prestige Immigration Services Ltd.

Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by Central Alberta First. Employers are encouraged to verify credentials and compare options before choosing a consultant.

Important to know

This page provides general information to help you make informed decisions - it is not legal advice, and does not replace verifying credentials yourself. Central Alberta First does not recommend or endorse any specific firm listed here. Always confirm a professional's current status directly with the CICC or the relevant law society before engaging their services.