Owner Operator Work Permit
A foreign national must prove the following in order to be eligible for an Owner-Operator work permit based on an LMIA:
- possess a position in which they are ineligible for termination and own at least 50% of the company;
- will be paid an amount that is equivalent to or more than the position's median wage;
- will run a firm that creates or maintains employment opportunities for Canadians or permanent residents, or that transfers skills or expertise to Canadians or permanent residents;
- own a strong business plan and have taken the necessary steps to implement it, such as securing funding, renting office space, and acquiring a business number from the Canada Revenue Agency.
- possess a skill set or expertise that will increase the business's viability; and
- In the first year of operating or starting the business in Canada, will hire at least one Canadian or permanent resident.
The Owner-Operator LMIA does not require recruitment or advertising, unlike most LMIA categories.
The ability for a foreign national to increase their Express Entry CRS score is another advantage of the Owner-Operator work permit based on an LMIA. A foreign national in a senior manager role who has an Owner-Operator work permit based on an LMIA is eligible to receive 200 more points. Gaining these extra 200 points will typically guarantee that a foreign applicant will be chosen from the Express Entry pool of applicants.
