Recruiting foreign academics

There are normally two ways in which foreign academics can obtain a temporary work permit: under a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exemption, or through an LMIA.

Faculty Relations arranges for all LMIAs or LMIA exemptions for tenure stream faculty, Lecturers, and Research Associates. LMIA exemptions may be granted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in specific circumstances, such as a work permit granted for an accompanying spouse, or a post graduation work permit granted to a recent graduate of a Canadian university.

The following are the typical LMIA exemptions that apply to faculty members:

• Free Trade Agreement (FTA) exemption: U.S. and Mexican citizens who meet the definition of Business Professionals fall under the new Canada-United States-Mexico agreement, and Chilean citizens fall under the Chilean Free Trade Agreement. Departments submit the appropriate documents from the documentation required list (below) to UBC's faculty relations department, which will confirm eligibility and pre-approval from IRCC.
• Award recipient exemption: Foreign academics who are the direct recipient of an award that's strictly based on academic excellence may apply for a work permit under an LMIA exemption. Departments submit the appropriate documents from the documentation required list (below) to UBC's faculty relations department, which will confirm eligibility and pre-approval from IRCC.
• Visiting professor exemption: Visiting foreign academics with a current faculty appointment at their home institution fall under this exemption. This is regardless of citizenship and is limited to two years under IRCC rules. Department administrators are responsible for preparing the necessary documents and submitting an Offer of Employment (OOE) on the IRCC portal. Refer to our OOE completion guide.
• Postdoctoral Fellow exemption: Recent PhDs who have accepted a postdoctoral position at UBC fall under this exemption. This is regardless of citizenship. Department administrators are responsible for preparing the necessary documents and submitting an Offer of Employment (OOE) on the IRCC portal. Refer to our OOE completion guide..

A positive LMIA must be obtained for all other foreign academics. The LMIA is an opinion provided by Service Canada to IRCC (and the employer), which assesses the likely impact that hiring a foreign academic may have on the Canadian labour market. Please also note that Service Canada will not normally consider providing LMIAs for part-time positions.

Fees for an LMIA or LMIA exemption must be paid by UBC. We may not ask the foreign national to pay fees under any circumstances.  

Please note that a set of new amendments came into effect in 2022 that require employers provide and pay for private health coverage for Temporary Foreign Workers who have obtained a work permit under a LMIA. Please review this checklist for more information.

Supporting documentation required for all foreign academic appointments where Faculty Relations will be obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment or an exemption:

Additional review: Please note that for foreign tenure/track appointments at the rank of Associate or Full Professor or any appointment with tenure will also need to be reviewed by the Senior Appointments Committee (SAC). For more information, please review the online information regarding Tenure, Promotion and Reappointment. 

Note that UBC units are required to keep copies of all information and documentation relating to the recruitment and hiring process for a period for six years following the hire date of the foreign worker, and that an audit could be performed at anytime during that six-year period.

Please refer to the Employment and Social Development Canada website for further details.

• Recruiting at UBC: The guide provides in depth information on the recruitment process.
• Health Insurance Coverage during waiting period.
  • Checklist and information for Administrators hiring Temporary Foreign Workers under a Labour Market Impact Assessment
• Relocating to Vancouver 
• Relocating to Kelowna
• IRCC Offer of Employment - completion guide for Postdoc & Visitor appointments (January 2025)
• LMIA-Exemption Offer Number Confirmation Letter (November 2022)

1. Faculty member contacts their department/school. In the case of individuals with term positions, a determination will need to be made as to whether or not they will be reappointed at the same rank.

2. Department administrator forwards to Faculty Relations (UBCV)/Human Resources (UBCO) the necessary documents for the LMIA or Exemption application.

3. Faculty Relations (UBCV)/Human Resources (UBCO) completes the application for a new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or Exemption, as applicable.
Please note: Service Canada requires that non-tenure stream positions held by foreign academics must be re-advertised and a new LMIA must be requested (the LMIA must be requested within 3 months of the closing date of the ad). Renewals for tenure stream faculty do not require re-advertising.

4. For renewals under an LMIA, Faculty Relations (UBCV)/Human Resources (UBCO) sends the LMIA request to Service Canada. Note that it can take several weeks for Service Canada to process the request.

For renewals under an LMIA exemption, Faculty Relations (UBCV)/Human Resources (UBCO) will complete the Offer of Employment Form upon receipt of the necessary documents and compliance fee form from the department.

5. For renewals under an LMIA, Service Canada will issue a Labour Market Impact Assessment; if the application is successful Faculty Relations will email the LMIA to HR Immigration who will then forward it to the faculty member..

For renewals under an LMIA exemption, Faculty Relations will send the Offer of Employment number provided by  IRCC to HR Immigration who will then forward it to the faculty member.

6. Upon receipt of the necessary document/instructions from HR Immigration the faculty member completes a request to extend their work permit and submits the application to the IRCC along with the required documents. The faculty member is responsible for paying the work permit processing fee (currently $155). IRCC processing times vary during the year and individuals are advised to check the IRCC website for information on processing times. Please note that the application must be submitted prior to the expiry date of the current work permit; preferably far enough in advance to ensure that the new work permit is received before the expiry date of the current work permit.

Those faculty members who also require a temporary resident visa (TRV) should be aware that should they leave Canada they will need to apply for a another TRV.

If applicable, a request to renew an accompanying spouse and/or child’s work or study permit or temporary resident status is to be made at the same time and on the same application form as the faculty member.

7. Faculty member receives their new work permit. Upon receipt they must immediately apply for a new SIN card.

8. Faculty member uploads a copy of the new work permit and SIN card to Workday. They can also provide these to their department administrator who will arrange for Workday to be updated. Refer to the Implied/Maintained Status & MSP section below for further details.

If the new work permit does not arrive prior to the expiry of the current one please forward a copy of the proof of submission of application to IRCC to the department administrator. As long as the faculty member has applied for their new work permit prior to the expiry of their current one they will have maintained status (refer to Implied Status section for more details).

1. Visitor/Postdoctoral Fellows contacts their department/school to make arrangements, if necessary, to continue their stay at UBC. Note that Visitors may only spend a maximum of 2 years at UBC; Postdoctoral Fellows appointments are limited to 5 years, with the Dean’s approval.

2. If the appointment is to be renewed, the department administrator arranges for a new Letter of Offer/Invitation to be produced and provides it to the Visitor/Postdoctoral Fellow along with the IRCC Offer of Employment number and proof of payment of the compliance fee.

Follow steps 6 to 8 above and refer to the Maintained Status section below.

Maintained Status, previously called Implied Status, refers to a foreign worker’s status when they are continuing in the same position, have applied for a new work permit prior to the expiry of their current permit and are awaiting a decision from IRCC. It is important to note that should a foreign worker leave Canada while they have Maintained Status their status expires and they will have to re-apply for status. Should a foreign worker be without status the University must cease processing pay to the individual.

If a faculty member has not received their work permit prior to the expiry of the current one they must upload a copy the Confirmation of Receipt Letter issued by IRCC to Workday at the time the appointment is renewed.   Work permit applications should normally be submitted online.  However, if the application is made in paper format a copy of the payment receipt as well as proof that the application is delivered (e.g. Canada post tracking information) must be uploaded.  This provides UBC with the confirmation that the member has Maintained Status, which allows UBC to continue to pay the faculty member.

Please refer to the helpful Implied Status ‘Map’ that illustrates when implied status is in effect and what the implications are if out of status.

Further details on Maintained Status is found on the IRCC website.

If you are working in British Columbia under a work permit and you are enrolled in MSP, your medical coverage will end at the end of the month that your work permit expires. If you are applying for a new work permit, it is important that you apply as far in advance as possible to avoid a lapse in medical coverage.

Once you receive your new work permit, you must provide a copy to MSP directly. You can upload your documentation through Health Insurance BC’s website. If you have a lapse in coverage contact them through Health Insurance BC directly for reinstatement or extension of coverage.

Please note that it may take as long as 90 days for MSP to process the reinstatement of benefits. MSP coverage will not be active during this time and you will need to personally pay for any medical expenses incurred during this time. Once your MSP benefit is reinstated, you may request reimbursement for these expenses from Health Insurance BC by completing their Reimbursement Request form.

If you have any questions about your MSP, please contact Health Insurance BC directly.