Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP)

Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP / PTET) enables Canadian employers to recruit foreign workers when the local labour market cannot fill a position in the short term. At the core of the process is the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA / EIMT), which demonstrates a genuine hiring need and the lack of available candidates.

When is the TFWP the right solution?

The TFWP is relevant when you face:

• a documentable labour shortage;
• an operational position that must be filled quickly (production, services, skilled trades, etc.);
• a temporary hiring need with employment conditions aligned with market standards.

LMIA (EIMT): what employers must master

An LMIA is built on a consistent, well-supported file: the position (NOC), wage, working conditions, recruitment evidence, business rationale, and employer compliance capacity. In Montréal, certain measures may affect the low-wage stream, so the file must be properly assessed and classified before submission.

TFWP vs IMP (LMIA exemption)

Some hires fall under the International Mobility Program (IMP / PMI) (no LMIA) depending on the applicable exemption category. Choosing the wrong pathway (TFWP vs IMP) often leads to delays, additional requests, or refusals.

What you gain by structuring the file “audit-ready”

• Reduced refusal risk (coherence + evidence)
• File ready in case of inspection (traceability, supporting documents)
• Better predictability of timelines and steps (LMIA → work permit)

Next step

Next, review: Work permit with LMIA, LMIA-eligible occupations in Québec, and IMP to identify the most efficient route for your situation.