Top Companies That Grant LMIA-Exempt Work Permits In Canada
Foreign nationals might be eligible for an LMIA-exempt work permit if hired by one of the eight Canadian companies primarily based in the tech sector. Earlier this month, IRCC introduced a new work permit under the Innovation Stream. The stream is one of the four pillars of Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy, designed to bolster economic growth by attracting talent into Canada. Below is a look at the top companies that grant LMIA-exempt work permits in Canada and the job opportunities they offer as of October 16:
| Company | Headquartered In | Hiring In | Glassdoor Rating |
| Ada Support Inc. | Toronto | Toronto, remote | 3.1 |
| AlayaCare | Montreal | Montreal, Toronto | 3.5 |
| CellCarta | Montreal | Montreal, remote | 2.2 |
| Clarius Mobile Health | Vancouver | Vancouver | 4.3 |
| Clio | Burnaby | Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, remote | 3.9 |
| Lightspeed Commerce | Montreal | Montreal, Toronto. Ottawa, remote | 3.7 |
| Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group | Montreal | Not presently hiring in Canada | 3.4 |
| Vive Crop Protection | Mississauga | Not presently hiring in Canada | 4.5 |
Ada Support Inc.
Toronto-based Ada was launched in 2016 to transform customer service from agent-driven to AI-driven. It provides companies and their customers worldwide with AI-powered customer service across channels and languages.
While Ada is a remote company, certain applicants are required to be based in specific provinces.
Other company perks include the opportunity to work from abroad, stock options, unlimited vacation, and a home office budget.
The company presently has over 15 vacant positions in product development, operations, finance, revenue, and customer experience.
Come sample vacant positions are:
- HR Generalist (Toronto)
- Staff Software Engineer, Solutions (remote – Canada)
- DevOps Engineer (remote – Canada)
- Senior Technical Writer (remote – Canada)
- Manager, Sales Development (Toronto)
AlayaCare
Another one of the top companies that grants LMIA-exempt work permits in Canada is AlayaCare. Montreal-headquartered AlayaCare was founded in 2014 with a mission to solve healthcare challenges, especially in the home care sector, through AI and technology. The company’s cloud-based software allows its clients to simplify multiple tasks, including managing employees, billing, scheduling, etc.
It currently has around 550 employees across Canada, Australia, Brazil, and the US. In Canada, the company has a handful of vacancies based in either Toronto or Montreal. Some positions require bilingualism.
Some sample vacant positions are:
- Bilingual Senior Technical Services Specialist (Montreal, Quebec)
- Implementation Specialist (Toronto)
- Senior Developer, Scheduling (Montreal, Quebec)
- Engineer Manager – SRE (Montreal, Quebec)
- Senior DevOps Analyst (Montreal, Quebec)
CellCarta
CellCarta is another Montreal-based company that uses research and technology to map the difference between cells and tissues and identify biomarkers, resulting in more targeted therapies and diagnoses.
This improves the customization of disease detection and prevention strategies and fosters more targeted therapies.
The company also has locations in China, Australia, the US, and Belgium. At the time of this posting, it has a very limited number of vacancies in Canada, specifically in Montreal.
Some sample vacant positions are:
- Global Technology Architecture Manager (Montreal)
- Global Revenue Accounting Manager (remote)
Clarius Mobile Health
Clarius is a British Columbia-based company founded in 2014. Its mission is to make affordable ultrasound tools available to all medical professionals.
In 2024, the company received a certification from Great Place To Work – a global authority on workplace culture, which is based on employee feedback.
Some benefits include a hybrid work environment, employee recognition program, professional development program, and team events.
At the moment, Clarius has only one opening in Canada:
- Manufacturing Technician (Vancouver)
Clio
Another one of the top companies that grant LMIA-exempt work permits in Canada is Clio.
Through its cloud-based legal technology, Clio helps lawyers manage tasks ranging from client intake and contact management to timekeeping, billing, payments, and more.
Apart from its British Columbia headquarters, Clio currently has offices in Toronto, Dublin, and Calgary. It also offers remote positions and a hybrid work model, depending on the role.
Other work benefits include RRSP matching, flexible paid time off, parental leave benefits, and various health, dental, and vision benefits.
Some sample vacant positions include:
- Account Executive, Customer Sales (Vancouver, Calgary)
- Account Executive, Mid-Market (Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver)
- Business Development Representative (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto)
- Customer Onboarding Specialist (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto)
- Data Scientist (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto – with remote option available)
- Director, Product Research (Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver – with remote option available)
Lightspeed Commerce
Founded in Montreal in 2005, Lightspeed provides companies with a one-stop commerce platform, helping them simplify and scale up operations.
Lightspeed Commerce currently has numerous vacancies in Canada, primarily in Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa, with a few remote opportunities available as well.
Some sample vacant positions are:
- Team Lead, Software Development (Montreal)
- Staff Software Developer (Ottawa)
- Software Development Manager (Toronto)
- Senior Strategic Pricing Specialist (Montreal)
- Senior Site Reliability Engineer (Ottawa)
- Senior Product Manager, Payment Processing (Montreal)
The following two companies might not be presently hiring in Canada, but that could change in the future:
Vive Crop Protection
Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Vive Crop Protection is an ag-tech company that aims to save farmers time, labor, and resources through its patented delivery system and crop-protection products.
The company currently has no Canada-specific vacancies. However, it encourages qualified applicants to apply for work opportunities.
Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group
The last and one of the top companies that grant LMIA-exempt work permits in Canada is Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group.
The company is a pharmaceutical company based in Montreal that focuses on developing new medicines and offering therapeutic options to improve patients’ health and quality of life.
The company is made up of six pharmaceutical entities based between Canada and the US.
Moreover, the company offers benefits such as hybrid teleworking and a flexible schedule, including summer hours. Duchesnay is not currently hiring in Canada.
How Are Companies Selected For Employer-Specific Work Permits Under The Innovation Stream?
The Innovation stream grants LMIA-exempt work permits to employers participating in the Global Hypergrowth Project.
The Canadian government launched GHP to help innovative Canadian companies grow. The project’s idea is to support Canadian companies in creating job opportunities, supporting small businesses, and bolstering economic growth. The first eight companies chosen, which are listed above, are all homegrown businesses that the government has identified as industry leaders and innovators.
If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].
