Canadian Flag on British Columbian Ski Hill
Overview
The tourism and hospitality industry in British Columbia is a vital economic contributor, employing over 350,000 workers and significantly impacting local economies throughout the province. Despite industry resilience post-COVID, a workforce shortage persists, compounded by challenges associated with an aging domestic labour pool.
Acknowledging the role of foreign nationals, government entities are prioritizing an efficient immigration system, and go2HR is committed to supporting businesses in the tourism & hospitality industry by facilitating access to global talent through relevant programs and resources. Explore our numerous resources or reach out to our HR Team if you have questions.
Contact UsKey Immigration Programs for Tourism & Hospitality
go2HR is committed to providing the BC Tourism & Hospitality industry with useful and relevant information. Below are key immigration programs tailored to meet the unique needs of the vibrant tourism and hospitality industry.
*IMPORTANT* BC PROVINCIAL REGISTRY REQUIRED:
Employers are required by law to register with the province before hiring temporary foreign workers. There is no cost to register, but registration processing times vary. Follow the link to register today.
The TFWP is intended to be used when employers are facing short-term skills and labour shortages, and only when no Canadians and permanent residents are available.
To see if you and the temporary foreign worker you want to hire are exempt from needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or work permit, do one of the following:
review the LMIA exemption codes and work permit exemptions
-
- select the LMIA exemption or work permit code that seems most relevant to your hiring situation and read the detailed description
- if an exemption code applies to you, you’ll need to include it in your offer of employment
LMIA applications can take 60+ business days, and wait/processing times vary. You can check average LMIA application processing times on ESDC’s website, or give the ESDC Employer Contact Centre to request a status update. Also within ESDC’s LMIA online portal, employers can get a real time update on the status of the applications.
Employer Tip
The International Worker Mobility Unit (IWMU) can help employers when considering hiring temporary foreign workers.
The IMWU provides opinions on whether you (the employer) and the temporary foreign worker you want to hire are exempt from
- getting a LMIA
- the work permit requirement
You can request an opinion from the IMWU to find out if an LMIA or work permit exemption applies to your situation. * To make a request with the IMWU, the temporary foreign worker must be
- located outside Canadaand
- from a country whose nationals are visa-exempt
*Note: The IMWU can only assess 1 LMIA or work permit exemption per request. If you submit a request for an opinion on more than 1 exemption, it won’t be processed.
Get the TFWP InfographicPlease note: These documents are provided as guides only, and shouldn’t be taken as legal advice on immigration matters. They include a number of links to various official sources that can provide more technical or specific advice on your individual circumstances or needs.
As part of the International Mobility Program (IMP), the Mobilité Francophone/Francophone Mobility LMIA-exempted work permit makes it easier for Canadian employers outside of Quebec to hire candidates, subject to certain requirements
There have been some recent changes to the Francophone Mobility program designed to make access easier for employers. These changes include:
- NOC TEER 0-5 jobs currently accepted (Previously only TEERs 0-3), meaning virtually all tourism & hospitality positions are eligible.
- CLB (French language proficiency) requirements now CLB 5 (previously 7), making it easier for candidates to qualify.
- IRCC has a new service for finding French-speaking or bilingual foreign workers where the employer can submit a job profile form and send it to IRCC’s new Dedicated Services Channel. This free service allows employers to submit job postings to be advertised by public employment agencies in several French speaking countries, making it easier to engage directly with candidates eligible for the Francophone Mobility work permit. Through these services, you can recruit foreign candidates from a number of countries, including
- France
- Belgium
- Morocco
- Tunisia
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Senegal
- Mauritius
Find out more about the Dedicated Service Channel’s services.
Tourism HR Canada IMP Infographic
Get the IMP InfographicFrancophone Mobility Guide
SDEBC’s offers support connecting BC employers with eligible job seekers.
Get the SDEBC GuidePlease note: These documents are provided as guides only, and shouldn’t be taken as legal advice on immigration matters. They include a number of links to various official sources that can provide more technical or specific advice on your individual circumstances or needs.
- 1-2 year term -open work permits allow candidates to work in any position or industry
- Over 90,000 annual program participants aged 18-35 annually means a deep candidate pool eligible to work now
Please note: These documents are provided as guides only, and shouldn’t be taken as legal advice on immigration matters. They include a number of links to various official sources that can provide more technical or specific advice on your individual circumstances or needs.
Please note: These documents are provided as guides only, and shouldn’t be taken as legal advice on immigration matters. They include a number of links to various official sources that can provide more technical or specific advice on your individual circumstances or needs.
Tourism HR Canada offers invaluable resources and support on immigration matters, providing compassionate guidance for business owners in the tourism and hospitality industry navigating the complexities of workforce management.
The Role of Immigration Policy in Addressing Labour Shortages
Earlier this year, a report commissioned by Tourism HR Canada outlined how immigration programs and policy impact tourism and hospitality workforces across the country.
Learn MoreImmigration Guides
THRC has also created a series of infographics that cover tips and resources to help employers meet your staffing needs.
Please note: These documents are provided as guides only, and shouldn’t be taken as legal advice on immigration matters. They include a number of links to various official sources that can provide more technical or specific advice on your individual circumstances or needs.
Download all the THRC GuidesImmigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Did you know? The IRCC has new support and resources available Tourism & Hospitality Employers:
IRCC Outreach Officers
IRCC has a network of Outreach Officers across available to assist BC employers with inquiries regarding Canada’s economic immigration programs. Use the link below to e-mail them, or contact your Regional HR Consultant for assistance.
Employer’s Roadmap
Check out The Employer’s Roadmap to hiring and retaining internationally trained workers. Among other things, the roadmap can inform you about who can work in Canada, the hiring process, defining job needs, checking credentials, and finding workers.
IRCC Virtual Assistant
IRCC’s virtual assistant can guide employers by asking a series of questions to help them find the necessary information on the IRCC website.
Downtown Victoria Parliment buildings.
An Immigration System for Canada’s Future
“Canada has a long history of immigration. It is who we are. With the exception of Indigenous communities who have been here since time immemorial, the story of every other family in this country begins with a migrant’s journey.
We need immigration to grow our communities, address labour market needs and be able to continue to enjoy the public services we are accustomed to…”
The Honourable Marc Miller, M.P.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Source: An Immigration System for Canada’s Future report
Read More