International Mobility Program

The International Mobility Program covers work permits that don't need an LMIA. Employers usually submit an offer of employment and pay a $230 fee.

Also called: IMP, LMIA-exempt work permit, employer compliance fee

What international Mobility Program means

The International Mobility Program (IMP) is the part of Canada's temporary worker system, run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), for work permits that do not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). It exists because some hiring serves wider economic, cultural or trade goals, so the government does not require the employer to prove that no Canadian is available.

Examples include the Francophone Mobility stream for French-speaking or bilingual workers, and open work permits such as the post-graduation work permit. Each exemption has its own code and its own eligibility rules.

For a small employer, the IMP can be faster than the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, but it is not a free pass. You still make an official job offer, pay a fee in most cases, and must keep to the terms you set.

How it works

If the worker needs an employer-specific, LMIA-exempt permit, you must submit an offer of employment through IRCC's Employer Portal and pay the employer compliance fee of $230 before the worker applies. The portal gives you an offer of employment number with 7 digits, which the worker includes in their work permit application. If you skip these steps, the officer can refuse the application.

For the Francophone Mobility stream, you submit the offer through the Employer Portal using exemption code C16 and pay the same $230 fee.

No offer or fee is needed if the worker already holds an open work permit, such as a post-graduation work permit or a spousal open permit. In that case, you hire the person like any other employee, after checking the permit.

After hiring, you must meet the conditions you set out in the offer, such as the wage, the occupation and the working conditions. Employers found non-compliant can face penalties and bans, and IRCC publishes a list of employers found non-compliant or ineligible under either the IMP or the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

A common mistake is changing the job after the offer is submitted. If something in the offer changes, check with IRCC whether a new offer is needed before the worker starts the changed job.

Is it the same in every province?

The IMP is a federal program run by IRCC and applies across Canada. Some streams have their own rules about where the work can be done, so check the stream's eligibility page, and the worker's pay and hours follow the employment standards where the work is done.

Example: Hiring a French-speaking manager in New Brunswick

Émilie runs a 20-person tourism business in Moncton and wants to hire a bilingual guest services manager from France. Her immigration adviser tells her the job may fit the Francophone Mobility stream, which does not need an LMIA.

Émilie creates an account on the Employer Portal, submits the job offer using exemption code C16, and pays the $230 employer compliance fee. She sends the 7-digit offer of employment number to the candidate, who then applies for the work permit.

Hollis drafts the letter

Hollis, part of the Staffkin HR Suite, drafts province-specific offer letters for your approval. Keep the letter's wage, duties and location the same as the offer you submit to IRCC.

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Questions about international Mobility Program

What is the employer compliance fee?

It is a $230 fee that employers pay when they submit an offer of employment for an employer-specific, LMIA-exempt work permit through the Employer Portal.

Do I need an LMIA under the International Mobility Program?

No. The IMP covers work permits that are exempt from the LMIA. You may still need to submit an offer of employment and pay the employer compliance fee.

Do I pay the fee if the worker has a PGWP?

No. The fee does not apply when the worker already holds an open work permit, such as a post-graduation work permit.

What happens if I don't follow my IMP job offer?

You must meet the conditions in the offer you submitted. Employers found non-compliant can face penalties and bans, and IRCC publishes their names.

Official sources

General information for Canadian employers, not legal advice. Rules differ by province and territory and change over time, so check with your provincial employment standards office (or the federal Labour Program if you are federally regulated) before you rely on it. See employment standards by province.

Checked against official sources on 4 November 2026.