Employers anticipating a higher workload in the near future can prepare themselves and act now to secure authorization to hire foreign workers later. They are allowed to apply for an Unnamed Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before temporary foreign workers (TFW) have been identified, depending on the NOC occupation code. This helps employers to facilitate hiring TFWs in the future, if a positive Unnamed LMIA has been issued.

The application procedure is similar to a standard LMIA application leaving out the section “Foreign Worker Information”. Employers must continue to make efforts to recruit Canadians and permanent residents until the names of the TFWs have been provided.

A positive Unnamed LMIA for a given number of positions, and a specific period of employment is valid for 6 months. But certain NOC occupation codes will not be processed.

Unnamed LMIA Details: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/unamed.html

Occupation Information for LMIAs: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/refusal.html