How Canadian Employers Can Hire Americans

On This Page You Will Find:

• Why Americans are looking to work in Canada
• CUSMA: A streamlined option for U.S. citizens
• Global Talent Stream: Fast-track hiring for tech and skilled roles
• Express Entry: A permanent residence route for skilled Americans
• Steps for Canadian employers to hire Americans
• Frequently asked questions

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Why Employers Are Looking South

With political uncertainty growing under the Trump presidency, many highly skilled Americans are considering a move north. Canadian employers have a unique opportunity to benefit from this exodus by tapping into U.S. talent pools across sectors like tech, healthcare, and academia. Several immigration pathways make it easier and faster than ever to hire American workers.

CUSMA: Hiring Through a Trade Agreement

The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) – formerly NAFTA – allows Canadian employers to hire eligible American professionals without needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This is part of Canada’s International Mobility Program (IMP), which streamlines hiring in key areas.

CUSMA covers four categories of business people:

1. Business Visitors – No work permit required.
2. Professionals – 63 LMIA-exempt occupations requiring a work permit.
3. Intra-Company Transferees – For employees relocating to a Canadian branch.
4. Traders and Investors – Individuals conducting substantial trade or investment.

Examples of eligible professional occupations include:

• Engineers, architects, and computer systems analysts
• Registered nurses and physiotherapists
• University professors and research assistants
• Scientists and economists

To hire through CUSMA, Canadian employers must:

• Create an Employer Portal account with IRCC
• Pay a $230 employer compliance fee (unless exempt)
• Submit an offer of employment via the portal
• Provide the resulting employment number to the worker

Global Talent Stream: A Fast-Track Option

For highly skilled tech workers and STEM professionals not eligible under CUSMA, the Global Talent Stream (GTS) is an attractive option.

Benefits include:

• Two-week processing of work permits
• No LMIA advertising requirement for Category A or B occupations
• Tailored service through the Global Talent Officer network

Occupations under GTS Category B include:

• Software engineers
• Computer programmers
• Web designers
• Data scientists

Employers must:

• Partner with a designated referral agency (Category A), or
• Hire from the GTS occupation list (Category B)
• Create a Labour Market Benefits Plan to outline long-term skills development and job creation

Express Entry: Long-Term Talent Acquisition

Express Entry is Canada’s flagship immigration system for skilled workers. Canadian employers can use it to recruit American talent for permanent positions.

Here’s how it works:

• The American candidate creates an Express Entry profile
• They may receive extra points for a valid job offer
• Employers can support the application by issuing a full-time, permanent offer

While most job offers under Express Entry require an LMIA, some IMP-based exemptions (e.g. intra-company transferees) can be used to bypass this.

Express Entry programs include:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class
• Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

Other LMIA-Exempt Pathways

Canadian employers can also consider these additional routes:

• Pro-Francophone policies – For French-speaking Americans working outside Quebec
• Open Work Permits – Spouses of skilled workers or international students
• Post-Graduate Work Permit holders – American students who study in Canada

How Employers Can Start Hiring

1. Determine Eligibility
   Assess which pathway – CUSMA, GTS, or Express Entry – suits the candidate and role.
2. Register on the Employer Portal (if IMP)
   For LMIA-exempt hires, register and submit job offers online.
3. Pay Employer Compliance Fee (if required)
   Some exemptions apply, especially for open work permits or public-interest roles.
4. Provide Offer of Employment Number
   This is needed by the candidate to apply for their work permit.
5. Support the Worker’s Application
   Assist with documentation and prepare for compliance checks if applicable.

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Frequently Asked Questions