A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that an employer in Canada may need to obtain from the government of Canada before being able to hire a foreign worker.

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.

Once an employer gets the LMIA (after going through a lengthy and complex process), the worker can apply for a work permit.