Working in Quebec
Hiring a foreign worker in Quebec: how the LMIA, the CAQ and the work permit fit together
Joint LMIA and CAQ filing, simplified processing, low-wage limits in Montreal and Laval: a practical guide for Quebec employers hiring from abroad.
Hiring a foreign worker in Quebec is not the same as in Ontario or British Columbia. On top of the federal Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), Quebec adds its own authorization, the Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for work, and its own simplified processing list. For an employer, the practical question is simple: which route applies to this job, and in what order do things happen?
The three pieces
| Authorization | Who issues it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| LMIA | Federal government (ESDC) | Assesses your job offer and its impact on the labour market |
| CAQ for work | Quebec | Quebec's authorization, required for many jobs |
| Work permit | IRCC | Allows the worker to do the job, under the conditions printed on it |
Neither a positive LMIA nor a CAQ allows the person to start working. Only the work permit does.
In Quebec, the employer files two applications together
When both are required, the employer submits the LMIA application and the worker's application for temporary selection (the CAQ) at the same time. A CAQ is not required in some cases, for example for work of 30 days or less. Once the LMIA is positive and the CAQ is granted, the worker applies to IRCC for the work permit.
Because the same job is described in two files, everything must match: duties, wage, location, hours. Inconsistencies between the two are a classic source of delays.
Choosing the route: five questions
- Does the candidate already have a permit? An open work permit holder may be able to take the job without an LMIA. A worker tied to another employer needs a new permit.
- Is the job high-wage or low-wage? It depends on how the wage you offer compares with Quebec's current threshold.
- Is the job in Montreal or Laval? Until December 31, 2026, some LMIA applications for low-wage jobs in the Montreal and Laval economic regions are not processed. Some sectors are exempt, including agriculture, construction, food processing, health care and education.
- Is the occupation on Quebec's simplified processing list?
- Does an LMIA exemption apply? Some exemptions under the International Mobility Program exist, but several, such as francophone mobility, only apply to jobs outside Quebec.
Simplified processing: what it does and does not do
For occupations on Quebec's simplified processing list, you do not have to provide proof of your recruitment efforts. It is not an LMIA exemption: the other LMIA requirements still apply, and you are still expected to make reasonable efforts to hire locally.
Getting the occupation code right is essential. Choose it from the real duties and required skills, not from your internal job title. The correct code is what tells you whether the job is on the list.
What to prepare
- A precise job offer: duties, requirements, location, wage and working conditions, identical across all forms.
- For a regular LMIA: your job ads, where and when they ran, the applications received and the job-related reasons each candidate was not retained.
- For simplified processing: evidence that the occupation is on the list and that the duties match.
- From the worker: passport, diplomas, proof of experience and documents on their current status.
After the hire
Respect the conditions of the offer and the permit throughout the employment: wage, duties, location. Keep your recruitment and employment records; they matter in a compliance review. Before changing the job, the wage or the location, check the effect on each authorization. And start renewals well before the permit expires.
Our LMIA in Quebec page and our employers page explain how we work with businesses.
Frequently asked questions
We are in Montreal. Can we still hire from abroad?
In many cases, yes: high-wage jobs, exempt sectors and LMIA-exempt routes are not affected. The current restrictions target certain low-wage jobs. It depends on the wage, the sector and the occupation.
Can the worker start as soon as the LMIA is approved?
No. The LMIA is about your offer. The worker needs a work permit before starting.
Do we need to advertise if the job is on the simplified list?
You do not have to submit proof of recruitment efforts for listed occupations, but reasonable efforts to hire locally are still expected. Check the current conditions before you file.
Official sources
Official pages consulted on October 11, 2026:
- ESDC — Hiring temporary foreign workers in the province of Quebec
- Québec — Temporary Foreign Worker Program (French)
More in this series
- A Quebec job offer: what foreign workers should check before applying for a work permit
- Employer-specific work permit in Quebec: how to change jobs without losing your status
- LMIA or LMIA-exempt work permit: how employers and workers tell the difference
- Your permit expired: how to restore your status in Canada within 90 days
- Open work permit in Canada: who actually qualifies
- Quebec workers with a PSTQ application: the 12-month work permit, until December 31, 2026
About this guide
Written for Visa Canada Rouge, a Montreal immigration consultancy led by Moadh Rahmaoui, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC-IRB, licence R534941, listed on the public register of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants).
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Immigration requirements, fees and processing times change often: check them on the official websites (canada.ca, quebec.ca) when you apply. No outcome can be guaranteed.
Every file is different.
This guide covers the general rules. To find out what applies to you, talk to a regulated consultant.