Register to hire foreign workers

Make sure you meet the federal requirements to hire foreign workers.

You'll need to tell us:

• The legal name, address, email and phone number of your business
• The name, email and phone number for each business owner, director or partner
• The name, email and phone number for at least one contact person (this can be one of the above people)
• The address of each work location
• The business's industry type and the services it performs

You'll also be asked:

• How many foreign workers you intend to employ within the next 12 months
• Where you intend to recruit foreign workers from
• If you're planning on providing accommodation to foreign workers you hire

If you have a WorkSafeBC registration number, include it on the form and upload a clearance letter.

The B.C. government keeps a public registry of employers that are registered to hire foreign workers. The registry lists each employer's name, the date they were registered as an employer and when their registration expires.

Who needs to register?

You need to register if you intend to hire a temporary worker through most federal foreign worker programs:

• Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
• Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program (SAWP)
• Other programs that require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

You do not need to register if you're an excluded employer or you

• Currently employ foreign workers and do not plan to hire additional workers
• Only hire foreign workers under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) or federal International Mobility Program (IMP)

If you're unsure, contact Employment Standards.

Know your obligations

Employers of foreign workers in B.C. need to:

• Follow employment standards
• Meet WorkSafeBC requirements
• Inform each foreign worker about their rights under the Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act

Keep accurate records

Employers must have a written contract with each temporary foreign worker. If a recruiter was used to hire the worker, keep a copy of the recruiter's contract as well.

Records must be kept in B.C. for at least four years. They must be made available for inspection upon request.

Employers must keep all records related to recruiting and hiring temporary foreign workers:

• Signed contracts
• Fees and expenses related to recruitment and hiring
• The name, address and work location of each worker
• Approval from the federal government to recruit and hire temporary foreign workers
• All payroll records

Renew your certificate

Your certificate of registration may be issued for up to three years. The Director of Employment Standards has discretion over the period of time a certificate of registration remains valid.

You will need to apply through this same process to renew your certificate before it expires.​ If you hire additional temporary foreign workers after your certificate expires, we may not renew your certificate. It's against the law to hire a foreign worker with an expired certificate of registration.