LMIA Work Permits in 2026: What Employers and Workers Need to Know
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) showing that hiring a foreign worker will not harm the Canadian labour market. With a positive LMIA, the worker can apply for an employer-specific work permit.
Streams
- High-wage stream: for jobs paying at or above the provincial or territorial wage threshold.
- Low-wage stream: for jobs below that threshold, with stricter rules.
- Global Talent Stream: faster processing for certain skilled and tech roles.
- Agricultural streams, caregivers, and permanent-residence-supporting LMIAs have their own rules.
What changed in 2026
- New wage thresholds from July 17, 2026. The threshold is the provincial or territorial median wage plus 20%. A job that counted as high-wage before can now fall into the low-wage stream.
- Low-wage refusals. ESDC does not process most low-wage applications in census metropolitan areas where unemployment is 6% or higher, with exceptions for certain sectors. The list is reviewed regularly, so check it before filing.
- Worker caps. Low-wage employers face caps on the share of foreign workers, generally 10% (20% in selected sectors).
- Fee. The employer's fee is $1,000 per position, and the law prohibits recovering it from the worker.
Raising an offered wage only to reach the high-wage threshold can lead to a refusal, so the wage must reflect the real job.
Timing
Processing times vary by stream and change every month. ESDC publishes current averages, and the Global Talent Stream is normally the fastest. The worker applies for the work permit only after the employer receives a positive LMIA.
Get help from a licensed consultant
I can help employers and workers check stream eligibility and prepare the application. No one can guarantee an approval.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for the LMIA? The employer.
Is an LMIA the same as a work permit? No. The LMIA is the employer's approval. The worker still applies for a work permit.
Does the 6% unemployment rule affect high-wage jobs? No. It applies to low-wage applications.
Sources: ESDC, Hire a temporary foreign worker; law-firm summaries of the July 17, 2026 wage threshold update.
This page is general information, not legal advice on your situation.