Canada names eight companies sponsoring work permits for Nigerians without LMIA
By Aboki Forex —
Canada has identified eight high-growth companies that can hire eligible foreign professionals, including Nigerians, through a special work permit pathway that does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The companies are part of the Global Hypergrowth Project (GHP), and the Innovation Stream pilot has been extended to March 22, 2028.
Companies and sectors
The participating companies span artificial intelligence, healthcare, legal technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and financial technology. They include Ada Support Inc., AlayaCare, Clarius Mobile Health, Clio, Lightspeed Commerce, CellCarta, Vive Crop Protection and Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group.
Ada Support Inc., based in Toronto, builds AI-powered customer service solutions. It offers a remote-first work culture, stock options, unlimited vacation, parental leave top-ups, learning and development funding, home office allowances, and health and wellness benefits. Roles have included customer solutions consultant, engineering team lead, senior cloud security engineer, technical product manager, senior data analyst and sales development representative.
AlayaCare, headquartered in Montreal, provides cloud-based software for home and community healthcare. It has advertised openings in Toronto and Montreal for product manager, AI and automation specialist, senior integration developer, FP&A analyst, customer success programme manager and customer enablement specialist. Employees also get flexible vacation policies, health coverage and career development opportunities.
More employers and benefits
Clarius Mobile Health, based in Vancouver, makes wireless handheld ultrasound scanners and AI-powered medical imaging technology. It offers flexible work arrangements, professional development funding and volunteer programmes.
Clio develops cloud-based software for law firms and operates from Vancouver, with additional offices in Toronto, Calgary and other Canadian cities. Its benefits include equity options, retirement savings matching, at least four weeks of paid leave, comprehensive healthcare, wellness support and generous parental leave. Recruitment has covered positions in sales, accounting, IT, product management and customer success.
Lightspeed Commerce, headquartered in Montreal, provides payment processing and point-of-sale technology for retailers, restaurants and hospitality businesses. It has advertised vacancies for AI specialists, software developers, product managers, designers, marketing professionals and executive assistants. Staff benefits include remote work options, flexible paid time off, pension contributions, equity programmes and wellness credits.
Limited openings at three firms
Three other companies are also participating in the Innovation Stream, although hiring opportunities may be limited at different times. CellCarta, a Montreal life sciences company specialising in biomarker testing and laboratory services, was offering internship opportunities during the latest update. Vive Crop Protection, headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, develops advanced agricultural technologies, but only United States vacancies were listed at the time. Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group, a Quebec-based pharmaceutical company focused on women's health and rare diseases, was not actively recruiting.
What this means for Nigerian professionals
The Innovation Stream removes the LMIA requirement, which often slows Canada's work permit process. Inclusion in the programme does not guarantee employment, but Nigerians with expertise in technology, healthcare, engineering, product management, artificial intelligence, marketing and related fields may find promising opportunities as Canada continues to compete for global talent.