If you want to hire temporary foreign workers in Canada without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), you’ll need the IRCC Employer Portal. This online tool lets you submit job offers and pay compliance fees for foreign workers under the International Mobility Program (IMP). The portal helps you follow Canada’s laws and makes the whole process more efficient for your business.
You can create an account, manage your business details, and submit offers of employment directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It’s meant to be straightforward and accessible. You get a clear path to meet your legal requirements and keep your hiring on track—no unnecessary confusion.
Understanding the IRCC Employer Portal
The IRCC Employer Portal is an online system for Canadian employers who want to hire foreign workers under certain immigration programs. It helps you manage job offers and make sure you follow federal requirements for hiring.
Purpose and Key Functions
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) manages the Employer Portal. The goal is to simplify how employers submit job offers for temporary foreign workers.
With this portal, you can:
- Create and submit offers of employment directly to IRCC
- Pay required compliance fees online
- Keep track of submitted offers and their status
- Edit business and contact information as needed
This single online platform makes hiring foreign workers easier under the International Mobility Program (IMP). It also helps both employers and IRCC keep accurate records.
User Roles and Account Types
The Employer Portal has different user roles, mainly primary users and secondary users.
- Primary User: Usually the first person to enroll the business. They can create job offers, add or remove secondary users, and manage business details.
- Secondary User: Can submit job offers but can’t change business information or manage other users.
Businesses must enroll before using the portal. Your account type affects what you can do. For example, only the primary user can change most account settings.
Knowing your role and its permissions helps you avoid annoying errors down the line.
International Mobility Program Integration
The Employer Portal is closely tied to the International Mobility Program (IMP). Under the IMP, you can hire certain foreign workers without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
If you want to hire workers through the IMP, you’ll need to:
- Register your business in the Employer Portal
- Create and submit a job offer for the foreign worker
- Pay the employer compliance fee
The portal keeps your records available for IRCC review. That helps make sure your business is following all the rules and helps workers apply for their work permits.
Enrolling and Managing Your Account
You’ll use the IRCC Employer Portal to create and manage offers of employment for foreign workers under the International Mobility Program. Setting up your account, submitting offers, and handling technical issues are all part of staying compliant.
Creating and Accessing Your Account
To create an Employer Portal account, start by visiting the official portal page. You’ll need a valid Canada Revenue Agency business number.
Enroll as the primary user for your business. You can register with a GCKey username and password, or through a sign-in partner like Interac.
GCKey is a government service for secure credentials, while Interac lets you use your bank account login. After you register, IRCC processes your request.
You might get a Personal Identification Number (PIN) by email to activate your account. Check your spam or junk folders just in case. Once approved, use your login details to access your account any time.
If you want someone else, like an immigration lawyer or consultant, to manage your account, you can add third-party representatives after your enrolment is approved.
Offer of Employment Submission Process
Submitting an offer of employment is a must before hiring a foreign national through most IMP streams. In your Employer Portal account, hit “Submit an offer of employment” and fill out all the required forms.
You’ll need things like the worker’s info, job details, and your CRA business number. Double-check everything matches your documents, or you might hit delays.
After you submit, you’ll get a confirmation number. Give this to the foreign worker so they can include it in their work permit application.
Sometimes offers get refused if there are errors or your portal account isn’t active. It’s worth checking the IRCC Employer Portal User Guide for step-by-step instructions and updates.
Common Errors and Troubleshooting
Many technical problems pop up during registration or when submitting job offers. Duplicate information, inactive accounts, or a “Submit” button that won’t work are all too common.
If your account isn’t active, email the Employer Portal to request a PIN and confirm your enrolment status. Make sure your login credentials and business number match what you used to enroll.
Still stuck or caught in a login loop? Contact IRCC support. Attach screenshots and include your username, business name, and a full description of your issue. That usually speeds things up.
Always check for typos and keep your browser up to date. Sometimes it’s the little things that trip you up.
Security and Credential Management
Protect your login credentials. Use a strong password for your GCKey or sign-in partner account, and change it regularly.
Don’t share your login info—even with coworkers. If you think your account’s compromised or need to revoke your GCKey, follow the secure steps IRCC provides.
When you add third-party representatives, manage their permissions in your Employer Portal and keep a list of who has access. Always sign out when you’re done.
Keep your contact info updated so you don’t miss account notifications or support from IRCC. A little caution goes a long way toward keeping your employer and worker info safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
The IRCC Employer Portal helps Canadian employers hire foreign workers under the International Mobility Program. It manages offers of employment, account access, and employer compliance.