Do I need an LMIA to work in Canada?
It depends on the route. Many employer-specific permits need one; IEC and other exempt categories do not follow that path. Never pay for a job or an LMIA.
UK → CANADA · CAREERS
BUILD YOUR CAREER IN CANADA
Canada does not have one work permit; it has families of routes, and the right one depends on your occupation, employer, qualifications and timing. This hub helps British professionals read that landscape honestly — including the scams to walk away from.
From the Team of Sean McKinsley and Kimberly White: Sean G. McKinsley, RCIC, CICC R529731 · Kimberly J. White, RCIC, CICC R712483.
Open, employer-specific and exempt routes
Some permits are open, letting you change employers; others bind you to a named employer, role and place. Many employer routes need a Labour Market Impact Assessment first, where the employer must show a need to hire from abroad. Others are exempt by design — IEC is the best-known example for younger Britons, and French-speaking routes exist for those who can genuinely prove their French.
Your qualifications, in context
Your UK education and professional background will matter somewhere in almost every route on this page, but how they matter is route-specific. Start with the credential-assessment question in the FAQ below, alongside the permit families above, and treat the two as separate conversations.
Working lawfully from week one
Your permit authorises the work; a Social Insurance Number, obtained through Service Canada after arrival, is the nine-digit number you need to work in Canada. Employers must never charge you for a job or a labour market assessment — anyone asking you to pay for either is showing you a scam, not an opportunity. We explain routes; we do not sell jobs or recruit.
FAQ
Do I need a WES or other Educational Credential Assessment for my UK degree?
It depends on your program — an assessment is needed for Federal Skilled Worker eligibility as a principal applicant, or to claim points for foreign education. WES is one designated provider, not the only one.
Do I need a Social Insurance Number to work in Canada?
Yes — apply through Service Canada as soon as possible after arrival. The number does not replace your work permit.
Keep going
Immigration permission is not permission to practise
An Educational Credential Assessment supports an immigration application; it does not authorise you to practise a regulated profession. Recognition and licensing for regulated work depend on the occupation and the provincial or territorial regulator. Keep the two questions separate, and start with the qualification answers on the Answers hub.
Are British qualifications automatically recognized in Canada? (Answers hub) · Do I need a WES or other Educational Credential Assessment for my UK degree? (Answers hub)
Preparing a Canadian job search
Once your route is clear, prepare the practical side honestly: research employers in the place you intend to live, adapt your CV to Canadian conventions (concise, achievement-led, no photo or personal details employers do not ask for), and prepare for interviews that test the experience your permit route relies on. This site explains immigration routes; it does not sell jobs, recruit, or charge for placements.
Feature · Working draft · Professional review pending
Big projects. Valuable skills. A new chapter in Canada.
Canada’s energy opportunity for UK tradespeople and professionals
Canada offers something worth a serious look: an established energy economy, ambitious infrastructure plans and skilled careers with substantial earning potential. For the right person, it could be a life-changing move, combining valuable experience with the possibility of building a longer-term future.
Read the feature: Big projects. Valuable skills. A new chapter in Canada.