Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) C11 – Entrepreneur

What is an LMIA?

A Labour Market Impact Assessment is a document from the Canadian government that an employer in Canada may need to obtain before hiring a foreign worker.

An LMIA ensures that the foreign workers will not take jobs from Canadian residents. A positive LMIA will show that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job. It will also show that no Canadian worker or permanent resident is available to do the job. A positive LMIA is sometimes called a confirmation letter.

There are LMIA exemptions that do NOT require a positive LMIA report for successful immigration. This includes exemptions under the International Mobility Program (IMP). The C11 pathway is one of these exemptions.

LMIA International Mobility Program – C11 – Entrepreneur

LMIA C11 – Entrepreneur applies to entrepreneurs and self-employed workers who can demonstrate significant social, cultural, or economic benefits for Canada or Canadian permanent residents.

C11 is like the C10 program where candidates are exempt from the LMIA, but C11 instead requires them to purchase or start-up a new business where they are the majority owner. LMIA exemptions may apply if the start-up or business purchase will have a significant benefit in one of the categories outlined in the C10 exemption, namely:

• Significant benefit
• Economic benefit
• Social benefit
• Cultural benefit

There is no minimum net-worth requirement for the C11 exemption.

Do you believe that your business purchase plan or start-up may qualify for an LMIA exemption under C11: Entrepreneur? Sharp can assist you in developing a business plan that clearly demonstrates all possible benefit.