RCIC R509156Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) R509156LMIA for Employers: Hiring Foreign Talent
If you're a Canadian employer looking to hire a foreign worker who needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), the rules depend heavily on one number: the wage you're offering. High-wage and low-wage positions follow different processes, different timelines, and different obligations — and the rules for both changed significantly in 2026.
Overview
What Is an LMIA?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment is a document a Canadian employer generally must obtain from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) before hiring a foreign worker, under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). A positive or neutral LMIA confirms there's a genuine need for a foreign worker and that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available to fill the role. Once approved, your foreign worker can apply for an LMIA-based work permit.
Wage Thresholds
High-Wage or Low-Wage?
It comes down to a single threshold — the median hourly wage for that occupation's province or territory, plus 20%. If your offered wage is at or above that threshold, you apply through the high-wage stream. If it's below, you apply through the low-wage stream. Thresholds are set per province/territory (not per occupation), and they were updated on July 17, 2026.
| Province / Territory | Before Jul 17, 2026 | Jul 17, 2026 Onward |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $36.00 | $37.50 |
| British Columbia | $36.60 | $38.40 |
| Manitoba | $30.16 | $31.33 |
| New Brunswick | $30.00 | $31.73 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $32.40 | $33.60 |
| Northwest Territories | $48.00 | $48.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $30.00 | $31.96 |
| Nunavut | $42.00 | $45.00 |
| Ontario | $36.00 | $36.92 |
| Prince Edward Island | $30.00 | $31.20 |
| Quebec | $34.62 | $36.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $33.60 | $34.62 |
| Yukon | $44.40 | $45.60 |
Even a small wage change can move a position from one stream to the other — worth checking carefully before you post the job or file the application.
Compare Streams
What's Actually Different?
| High-Wage Stream | Low-Wage Stream | |
|---|---|---|
| Resulting work permit length | Up to 3 years | Up to 1 year |
| Minimum advertising period | 4 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Workforce cap on foreign workers | None | 10% (up to 20% in some sectors) |
| Blocked in high-unemployment regions? | No | Yes, in CMAs with 6%+ unemployment (unless exempt) |
| Transition plan required? | Yes, in most cases | No |
| Youth recruitment effort required? | No | Yes |
2026 Update: The Low-Wage Stream Got Considerably Stricter
Advertising doubled.
As of April 1, 2026, low-wage positions must be advertised for 8 consecutive weeks before filing — up from 4 weeks previously.
High-unemployment regions are blocked, and the list changes every quarter.
Since August 2024, ESDC won't process low-wage LMIAs in census metropolitan areas (CMAs) with 6%+ unemployment. As of the most recent update (July 10, 2026), that includes 26 CMAs — among them Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montréal, and Ottawa-Gatineau. The list is reviewed quarterly (next update: October 10, 2026), so a region can move on or off the list from one quarter to the next.
The workforce cap is generally 10%
of an employer's total workforce that can be low-wage temporary foreign workers, though construction, healthcare, and certain food-related sectors get a higher 20% cap. A temporary rural policy also allows eligible employers outside CMAs to go up to 15% (through March 2027).
Several sectors are exempt from the high-unemployment freeze,
including primary agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, hospitals, nursing/residential care facilities, certain in-home caregiver positions, positions supporting a permanent residence application only, and short-duration positions of 120 days or less.
If a low-wage position is caught by a regional freeze, sometimes the practical fix is a wage increase that pushes the role into the high-wage stream instead, which isn't subject to any of these restrictions.
The main extra requirement for the high-wage stream — specific, measurable commitments to reduce reliance on the TFWP over time.
A transition plan is a set of specific, measurable commitments showing how you'll reduce reliance on the TFWP over time, such as increasing wages for Canadian workers, investing in training, or actively recruiting under-represented groups. In exchange, high-wage employers avoid the low-wage stream's workforce cap, the high-unemployment CMA restriction, and the longer 8-week advertising requirement — and the resulting work permit can be valid for up to 3 years instead of 1.
Costs
Government Fees
Here's a breakdown of the current ESDC and IRCC fees associated with the LMIA and work permit process.
LMIA Application
Per position — paid by the employer, not the worker
CAD $1,000
Employer Compliance Fee
Employer Portal submission
CAD $230
Work Permit
Paid by the worker
CAD $155
Biometrics
If applicable
CAD $85
Who Pays What
Certain categories — including some in-home caregiver positions — are exempt from the $1,000 LMIA fee under specific conditions. It is illegal for an employer to pass the LMIA fee on to the worker. Fees are set by ESDC/IRCC and subject to change.
Support
How We Can Help
LMIA rules shift often and eligibility is fact-specific — here's how we guide employers through it.
Confirming whether your job offer falls under the high-wage or low-wage stream — and whether adjusting the wage changes your obligations
Checking whether your work location is currently affected by a regional unemployment freeze, or qualifies for an exemption
Managing recruitment and advertising requirements so they meet the current 4-week or 8-week standard
Preparing a compliant transition plan for high-wage applications
Handling the LMIA application, Employer Portal submission, and your worker's subsequent work permit application
LMIA processing times have been increasing for both streams — we track current estimates and file in a way that minimizes delay.
Details & FAQ
LMIA for Employers, FAQ
Ready to Hire Foreign Talent?
Whether you're hiring for a single specialized role or building an ongoing recruitment pipeline, the LMIA process has real deadlines, thresholds, and compliance obligations that are easy to get wrong. Let our licensed immigration professionals confirm your stream, manage your recruitment requirements, and file a strong application.
LMIA wage thresholds, regional restrictions, caps, and advertising requirements change frequently — this page reflects our understanding of current ESDC/IRCC policy as of 2026. This is a guide, not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements for your specific situation before applying.