Immigration pathways
Choose the fastest legal route for your hire.
Four federal and provincial pathways. Different timelines, different costs, different eligibility. Upforce names the recommended pathway in the written proposal, with the trade-offs explained in plain language. We source and coordinate the hire; our network of licensed RCIC partners handles all the immigration filing — employer-side and candidate-side.
Side-by-side comparison
All four pathways at a glance.
| Pathway | Total timeline | Government fee | Upforce placement fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobilité FrancophoneC-16, IMP exemption | 6–10 weeks | $230 | $1,000–$2,500 | French-speaking candidates outside Quebec |
| LMIALabour Market Impact Assessment | 5–8 months | $1,000 + advertising | $2,500–$4,000 | Most standard skilled/semi-skilled roles |
| IMP streamsCUSMA, ICT, reciprocal | 6–12 weeks | $230 | $1,500–$3,000 | Cases fitting a specific IMP exemption |
| Permanent residenceAAIP, Express Entry, PNP | Scoped | Stream-dependent | Scoped | Long-term retention strategy |
Government processing times reflect IRCC published service standards as of 2026. Actual times depend on IRCC processing and are not within our control. Speak with a licensed Canadian immigration consultant for case-specific guidance.
In detail
Four pathways. One Edmonton team.
- 01
Recommended for francophone-fit roles
Mobilité Francophone
C-16 work permit
Total timeline
6–10 weeks
Cost
$230 federal fee + Upforce $1,000–$2,500
A federal pathway under the International Mobility Program that exempts employers from the LMIA process when hiring French-speaking candidates outside Quebec. The lowest-friction pathway when the role and candidate fit. Typically 6 to 10 weeks from written engagement to candidate landing.
Best for: French-speaking candidates hired into Alberta. No LMIA required. Lowest government fee.
See Mobilité Francophone details → - 02
For most permanent skilled roles
LMIA
Labour Market Impact Assessment
Total timeline
5–8 months
Cost
$1,000 federal fee + advertising + Upforce $2,500–$4,000
The default pathway when no exemption applies. Requires Canadian recruitment advertising, ESDC labour-market impact assessment, then work-permit application. Upforce sources the hire and coordinates the process; our network of licensed immigration partners (RCICs) handles the advertising and the ESDC/IRCC filing — employer-side and candidate-side.
Best for: Standard skilled and semi-skilled roles where no IMP exemption applies. Required when the role does not fit Mobilité Francophone or another IMP stream.
See LMIA details → - 03
For exempt categories
IMP streams
International Mobility Program
Total timeline
6–12 weeks
Cost
$230 federal fee + Upforce $1,500–$3,000
A collection of work-permit categories that bypass the LMIA requirement when specific eligibility criteria are met. Faster and cheaper than LMIA when applicable. Upforce screens candidates for IMP eligibility during sourcing and connects you with our network of licensed immigration partners (RCICs), who handle the IRCC filing.
Best for: Cases that fit a specific IMP exemption: CUSMA professionals, intra-company transfers, reciprocal employment, post-graduation work permits, spousal open permits.
See IMP streams details → - 04
For long-term retention
Permanent residence
Express Entry, AAIP, PNP
Total timeline
Scoped per engagement
Cost
Scoped per engagement
For employers thinking beyond the work permit. PR-focused pathways include the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), Express Entry, and federal Provincial Nominee Programs. The candidate arrives with a stronger commitment to Alberta and the employer reaps long-term retention. Scoped per engagement because the right PR stream depends on the role and the candidate.
Best for: Long-term hires where retention is critical. Workers who arrive with PR status or move to PR within their first year stay 3x longer on average.
See Permanent residence details →
Not sure which pathway fits?
Tell us the role and we will name the right one.
The right pathway depends on your role, your timing, your candidate, and your retention goal. The written proposal you receive within 4 business hours of a discovery call names the recommended pathway, the trade-offs against the alternatives, and the milestone-based pricing. We do not lock you into a single stream. See how the process works or jump to pricing.
A note on compliance
Upforce is a recruitment company, not an immigration firm — we do not file immigration applications or give immigration advice. Under our Alberta Employment Agency licence, we source and coordinate the hire, then connect you and your candidate with our network of licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs), registered with the Collège des consultants en immigration et en citoyenneté, who handle all the immigration filing and advice — employer-side and candidate-side. See our compliance page for the legal framework.