CIC Rolling Out New Fees And Compliance System For Employers Using Temporary Foreign Workers

Starting February 21, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada ("CIC") will require employers hiring temporary foreign workers ("TFWs") that are exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment ("LMIA") process to pay a new fee to CIC. The fee per work permit will be CAD $230 (payable online by employers). Employers will also need to submit new and additional information about their business and an additional form, even when TFWs are applying at a Canadian port of entry.

Once the new system kicks in, any foreign national exempt from a LMIA will only be able to get a Canadian employer-specific work permit if their Canadian employer has submitted the required information and paid the applicable fee before their work permit application is submitted or made at a port of entry.