How it works
Hiring international skilled workers in Canada runs in five steps: a 30-minute discovery call, a written proposal within 24 hours, two weeks of sourcing and screening, employer-side IRCC filing handled by Upforce, and arrival within 6 to 10 weeks via Mobilité Francophone or 8 to 12 months via LMIA. Pricing is published and milestone-based.
The 5 steps
A 30-minute call to map the role, the count, and the urgency.
We outline the role, the headcount, and the timing constraints. We do not pitch pricing in this call. We listen. At the end, we tell you whether Mobilité Francophone, LMIA, IMP streams, or a PR-pathway hire fits your shape, and we book the proposal slot.
A scoped, written document in your inbox within 24 hours.
Scoped role description, recommended pathway with reasoning, transparent fee range from our pricing page, milestone-based payment schedule, 90-day replacement guarantee terms, and the engagement agreement template. No work begins until both sides sign.
See pricing →3 to 5 pre-vetted candidate profiles, ready for interview.
Our partner offices abroad assemble a shortlist from their pre-screened roster matching your role, language, and pathway shape. You see 3 to 5 candidate profiles with skills, language assessments, and availability windows. You interview the shortlist before any work permit work begins.
Compare immigration pathways →Employer-side IRCC documents filed; RCIC partner runs the candidate side.
We file the employer-side IRCC documents. The licensed RCIC partner handles candidate-side permit applications, biometrics, medical exams, and family-class documents if applicable. Mobilité Francophone permits typically clear in 4 to 6 weeks. LMIA-based hires run 10 to 12 weeks for the labour market assessment plus permit. Permit approval is at IRCC’s discretion.
Our Alberta licence and compliance →Landing coordination plus 30/60/90-day check-ins.
We coordinate the arrival window with the employer, including landing date and first-shift confirmation. The 90-day replacement guarantee window starts on the arrival date. We check in at 30, 60, and 90 days. If the worker leaves within 90 days, we source a replacement at no placement fee.
Timeline by pathway
Total time-to-hire depends on the pathway. Below is the typical processing range for each Canadian immigration stream we work with. Use it to plan your hiring calendar back from a target start date.
| Pathway | Total time to arrival | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mobilité Francophone | 6 to 10 weeks | LMIA-exempt federal stream for qualified French-speaking candidates. |
| IMP streams (non-MF) | 6 to 14 weeks | CUSMA, intra-company transfers, reciprocal employment. Stream-dependent. |
| LMIA | 8 to 12 months | Includes 4 weeks employer advertising plus 10 to 12 weeks ESDC processing plus permit application. |
| PR-pathway hires | 8 to 24 months to landing | Express Entry, AAIP, employer-driven streams. Long-term retention play. |
All timelines reflect typical processing. IRCC outcomes are not within our control.
Who does what
Replacement guarantee
If the placed worker leaves within 90 days, we source a replacement at no placement fee. Government processing fees on the new permit are separate. The guarantee triggers on voluntary departure or termination for non-employer-side cause. One replacement per original placement. The clock starts on the arrival date.
Pricing snapshot
Published placement ranges sit at $1,000 to $2,500 for Mobilité Francophone, $2,500 to $4,000 for LMIA, $1,500 to $3,000 for IMP streams, and PR-pathway hires are scoped per engagement. Volume hires receive a tailored proposal in writing within 24 hours.
See the full pricing page →Frequently asked
Total time-to-hire depends on the pathway. Mobilité Francophone runs 6 to 10 weeks from signed engagement to worker arrival. LMIA-based hires run 8 to 12 months because the labour market assessment alone takes 10 to 12 weeks plus 4 weeks of employer advertising. IMP streams sit between, typically 6 to 14 weeks. IRCC outcomes are not within our control.
Upforce handles sourcing, candidate screening, employer-side IRCC documentation, engagement agreement, billing, and arrival coordination. The employer handles role definition, interviewing the shortlist, the offer letter, onboarding, and routine HR after arrival. Our licensed RCIC partner handles candidate-side immigration advice and permit applications.
LMIA, the Labour Market Impact Assessment, requires a $1,000 federal processing fee, 4 weeks of mandatory employer advertising, and 10 to 12 weeks of ESDC review, before the permit application begins. Mobilité Francophone (C-16) is a federal LMIA-exempt stream for qualified French-speaking candidates with a $230 federal processing fee and no advertising requirement. Talk to a licensed immigration consultant for eligibility.
Yes. The shortlist arrives in Step 3 with 3 to 5 pre-vetted profiles. You interview the shortlist before Step 4 (compliance and filing). The engagement agreement with Upforce is signed before sourcing begins, but no candidate-side permit work starts until the offer letter is in place.
The 90-day replacement guarantee triggers on voluntary departure or termination for non-employer-side cause. We source a replacement at no placement fee. Government processing fees on the new permit are separate. One replacement per original placement. The clock starts on the arrival date.
Milestone-based payments. The typical split is 30% on signed engagement agreement, 40% on permit filing, and 30% on worker arrival. The specific schedule is scoped in the engagement agreement before any work begins. Workers never pay Upforce. Government processing fees are paid separately by the applicant to IRCC.
Send us the role, the count, and the urgency. We reply within 4 business hours with a tailored proposal.