Visa Sponsorship: Canada Restaurant Jobs

The Canadian hospitality sector, which includes the colourful restaurants, the luxurious hotels and resorts, is facing the unrelenting and high competition of talent talent. If you are dreaming about working in Canada, some of the most available opportunities for gaining a Work Permit by being sponsored by an employer include jobs such as Cooks, Chefs, and Restaurant Managers.

To successfully navigate the immigration system to find restaurant jobs with Visa Sponsorship or hotel jobs for foreigners, one needs a strategic understanding of key government programs. This is the master guide that reduces the main steps and elucidates the most important LMIA procedure in the hospitality industry, and outlines the particular job positions that can accelerate your process of acquiring a new life in Canada in 2025.

1. The Core Requirement: Understanding LMIA Sponsorship

In the majority of Hospitality Jobs Canada, the vehicle to getting a closed employer-specific work permit is through the Labour Market Impact Assessment LMIA.

What is LMIA and why is it Necessary?

1 LMIA is a certificate of Employment and Social Development Canada(ESDC) that confirms two very important facts:

2 A genuine need exists for a foreign worker to occupy the position.2

3 There was no qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident to occupy the position.3

4 Canada Visa Sponsorship is based on LMIA. You cannot be employed under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) without having a positive LMIA.

The LMIA Requirement Checklist for Employers (Simplified)

Your potential employer must satisfy strict criteria to receive a positive LMIA:

Advertising Requirements: The job must be advertised for a minimum of four consecutive weeks on approved platforms, including the Government of Canada’s Job Bank, plus at least two other recruitment methods.⁵
Proof of Recruitment Efforts: The employer must keep detailed records of all applicants and clearly explain why Canadian candidates were not suitable.⁶
Wage Requirement: The salary offered must meet or exceed the prevailing median Wage Requirement for LMIA for that specific occupation and region (e.g. in Ontario, the wage threshold is often above $34.07 hour, as of late 2024 updates).⁷

Expert Insight: Always search for roles where the job posting explicitly mentions the company is seeking to file or has a confirmed LMIA. This is your strongest indicator of a genuine Job Offer Canada with sponsorship potential.

2. Top In-Demand Hospitality Jobs for Foreign Workers

The hospitality sector features several roles that are consistently high in demand across all TEER Categories (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) of the NOC Code system, making them excellent targets for those seeking LMIA Sponsorship.

Job Title	2021 NOC Code	TEER Category	Typical Permit Stream
Restaurant Manager	60030	TEER 0 (Management)	High Wage LMIA
Accommodation Service Manager	60031	TEER 0 (Management)	High Wage LMIA
Chefs	62200	TEER 2	Low High Wage LMIA
Food Service Supervisors	62020	TEER 2	Low High Wage LMIA
Cooks Line Cook	63200	TEER 3	Low-Wage LMIA
Hotel Front Desk Clerks	64314	TEER 4	Low Wage LMIA
Food and Beverage Servers	65200	TEER 5	Low Wage LMIA

These NOC codes are highly sought after by employers needing to fill labour shortages, especially in busy tourist regions and major cities.

Managerial Roles (TEER 0 & 2)

Managers and Food Service Supervisors (NOC 62020) often qualify for the high-wage LMIA stream due to their salary and supervisory duties, which often leads to quicker LMIA processing times and better long-term prospects. Searching for “LMIA requested restaurant manager” can narrow your focus effectively.

Skilled Trade Roles (TEER 2 & 3)

Roles like Chefs and Cooks are critically short. Many Provincial Nominee Programs PNPs include a Canadian Tourism and Hospitality Stream specifically targeting these NOCs, offering a clearer path to permanent residency after you gain Canadian work experience.

3. The 4 Step Pathway to Your Canadian Work Permit

The process requires synchronised efforts between you and your Canadian employer.

Step 1: Secure a Genuine Job Offer

You must find an employer willing to navigate the TFWP. Search on the Job Bank and industry-specific portals. Your offer must be full-time at least 30 hours per week and include a detailed breakdown of the required wage.⁸

Step 2: The Employer Applies for LMIA

The employer submits the LMIA application to ESDC, including all Proof of Recruitment Efforts and paying the $1,000 LMIA application fee.⁹

Step 3: Work Permit Application (The Candidate)

Once the employer receives a Positive LMIA (typically a few weeks to a few months), they send you a copy of the official LMIA decision letter.¹⁰ You then apply to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) for your Temporary Work Permit Application.¹¹

Key Documents: Positive LMIA letter formal job offer, valid passport, and necessary application forms.¹²
Quebec Note: If the job is in Quebec, the employer must first obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate CAQ before you apply for the work permit.¹³

Step 4: Visa Issuance and Arrival

Once approved, you will receive a Letter of Introduction. Your physical Employer specific work permit will be issued by a Border Services Officer upon your arrival in Canada.¹⁴

4. LMIA Exemptions: The International Mobility Program (IMP)

While most hospitality roles need an LMIA, some positions fall under the International Mobility Program (IMP) and are LMIA Exempt LMIA Exempt Jobs.¹⁵

Key Exemption: The employer may be exempted from undergoing the LMIA step in certain situations or international situations (e.g highly specialised positions, intra-company transfers).16
Employer Compliance Fee: Where the job is LMIA exempt, then the employer will also be required to file an offer of employment form via the Employer Portal and pay the Employer Compliance Fee before being allowed to apply to be permitted to work.17

Actionable Tip: In the event that you are of advanced experience, consult your employer on whether your job can be treated as being covered by a special exemption of IMP so as to save a lot of time.

5. Staying Compliant and Planning for PR

Securing your work permit is just the first step.

Compliance: You must work only for the employer listed on your permit. Any change in employer requires a new LMIA and work permit application.
Pathway to PR: Gaining Canadian work experience in an in-demand NOC (especially TEER 0 1 2 or 3) is a powerful asset. Use your experience as a Chef or Restaurant Manager to boost your points in the Express Entry system (Canadian Experience Class) or apply through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Ready to Find Your Dream Canadian Hospitality Job?

The demand for foreign talent in Canada’s F&B sector has never been higher. With the right strategy focusing on in-demand roles and LMIA-ready employers, your goal of obtaining Canada Visa Sponsorship is highly achievable.