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LMIA Jobs for Foreigners
For an applicant outside Canada, the realistic question is not 'which jobs exist' but 'which employers are approved to hire me'. In the current ESDC register window, 26,462 employers hold positive LMIAs — this page shows where they concentrate and how the hiring sequence works from abroad.
Top approved employers
| Employer | Location | Top occupation | Approved positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jealous Fruits Ltd. | Kelowna, BC | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 1,085 |
| les Entreprises Pitre Inc. | Mont-Laurier, QC | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 1,045 |
| Procyk Farms (1994) ltd | WILSONVILLE, ON | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 772 |
| DeVry Greenhouses | Chilliwack, BC | 85103-Nursery and greenhouse labourers | 610 |
| Northern Cherries Inc. | Kelowna, BC | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 521 |
| Schuyler Farms Ltd. | Simcoe, ON | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 505 |
| S SUNDHER ORCHARDS LTD. | Kelowna, BC | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 489 |
| Pure Flavor Farms LP | Leamington, ON | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 484 |
| Scotlynn Sweetpac Growers Inc. | Vittoria, ON | 82030-Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors | 405 |
| Cultures gen V inc. | Ste-Clotilde, QC | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 378 |
| Cape Bald Packers ltd | Cap-Pelé, NB | 75119-Other trades helpers and labourers | 361 |
| les Jardins Vegibec inc. | Oka, QC | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 354 |
| Ferme Onésime Pouliot | Saint-Jean-de-l'île-d'Orléans, QC | 82030-Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors | 353 |
| G.P. Sandher Holdings ltd | kelowna, BC | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 351 |
| Cielo Vista Farms Inc. | Leamington, ON | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 336 |
| les Fermes du Soleil Inc. | Ste-Clotilde-de-Chateauguay, QC | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 320 |
| Aliments Nortera Inc. | Brossard, QC | 72400-Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 313 |
| LES PRODUCTIONS MARGIRIC INC | Laval, QC | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 309 |
| Nature Fresh Farms Inc. | Leamington, ON | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 309 |
| Champs Fresh Farms inc | Aldergrove, BC | 85101-Harvesting labourers | 303 |
Employer table computed from the ESDC register, decisions through June 2026, published October 30, 2026.
Top occupations in this slice
| Occupation | NOC | Approvals | Approved positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85101-Harvesting labourers | 85101 | 3,995 | 55,816 |
| 85100-Livestock labourers | 85100 | 3,105 | 6,777 |
| 63200-Cooks | 63200 | 2,137 | 3,148 |
| 62020-Food service supervisors | 62020 | 1,721 | 2,745 |
| 60030-Restaurant and food service managers | 60030 | 1,263 | 1,443 |
| 73300-Transport truck drivers | 73300 | 912 | 3,256 |
| 85103-Nursery and greenhouse labourers | 85103 | 814 | 10,142 |
| 62010-Retail sales supervisors | 62010 | 723 | 857 |
| 72310-Carpenters | 72310 | 668 | 1,073 |
| 82030-Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors | 82030 | 663 | 1,220 |
The sequence from abroad
From outside Canada the order is fixed: the employer advertises and applies for the LMIA; you receive the positive LMIA and signed contract; you apply to IRCC from your country of residence; you travel only after the permit is approved. Any process that starts with your payment rather than the employer's application is not this process.
What employers look for in foreign applicants
Register data shows where foreign hiring is routine — agriculture, food service, cooking, trucking, construction — and employers in those sectors recruit internationally every season. Outside those sectors, approvals skew to specialized roles (the Global Talent Stream alone accounts for 1,562 approvals). Match your background to a sector with a deep approval bench rather than applying at random across the economy.
Live vacancies
Approvals show who can hire; live postings show who is hiring now. Search Job Bank — Temporary Foreign Workers for current postings from employers who have obtained or applied for an LMIA, then cross-check the employer against this register.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners apply for LMIA jobs from outside Canada?
Yes. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is designed for hiring workers who are not already in Canada. The employer applies for the LMIA first; you apply for the work permit from your country of residence after a positive decision.
Which LMIA jobs hire the most foreigners?
By approved positions: harvesting and farm labour first, then food processing, food service and cooking. The tables on this page are computed from the current register window.
Do I need a job offer before applying for a work permit?
For an LMIA-based permit, yes — the work permit application is built on the employer's positive LMIA and your signed job offer. There is no worker-first application for this route.
How long does it take from abroad?
Timelines vary by stream and visa office. The employer's LMIA comes first (the Global Talent Stream targets 10 business days; standard streams take longer), then IRCC processes the work permit in your country.