High-wage or low-wage stream
ESDC sorts LMIA applications by the hourly wage offered. At or above the province's threshold, the employer applies in the high-wage stream; below it, the low-wage stream. The threshold is the provincial or territorial median hourly wage plus 20%.
| Province / territory | Threshold, LMIAs received from July 17, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Alberta | $37.50/hour |
| British Columbia | $38.40/hour |
| Manitoba | $31.33/hour |
| New Brunswick | $31.73/hour |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $33.60/hour |
| Northwest Territories | $48.00/hour |
| Nova Scotia | $31.96/hour |
| Nunavut | $45.00/hour |
| Ontario | $36.92/hour |
| Prince Edward Island | $31.20/hour |
| Quebec | $36.00/hour |
| Saskatchewan | $34.62/hour |
| Yukon | $45.60/hour |
The two streams compared
| High-wage | Low-wage | |
|---|---|---|
| Advertising before applying | At least 4 consecutive weeks within the 3 months before applying | At least 8 consecutive weeks within the 3 months before applying, targeting youth (since April 1, 2026) |
| Maximum employment duration | Up to 3 years | Up to 1 year |
| Other requirements | A transition plan | A cap of 10% low-wage foreign workers per work location (20% in construction, food manufacturing, hospitals and nursing care) |
| Refusal to process | — | Not processed in metropolitan areas with unemployment of 6% or more, with exemptions |
From April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, employers outside metropolitan areas in participating provinces and territories can use a 15% low-wage cap instead of 10% (Alberta isn't participating).
The 6% unemployment refusal list
ESDC won't process low-wage LMIAs for jobs in a census metropolitan area with unemployment of 6% or higher. For October 9, 2026 to January 7, 2027, that includes Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa-Gatineau and Halifax among 30 areas; ESDC updates the list quarterly (next on January 8, 2027). Exemptions include primary agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, hospitals, nursing care and positions of 120 days or less.
Fees, timing and validity
- $1,000 per position, paid by the employer, not refunded if the LMIA is negative or withdrawn, and not recoverable from the worker. Some caregiver hires are exempt.
- Employers can apply up to 6 months before the job starts.
- A positive LMIA is valid for up to 6 months; the worker then applies for a work permit.
- ESDC publishes average processing times monthly — for September 2026, 98 business days for high-wage and 82 for low-wage.
LMIA-exempt work permits
Many permits don't need an LMIA — for example under trade agreements, intra-company transfers, or open work permits like the PGWP, spousal open work permit and bridging open work permit. Employers hiring under the International Mobility Program pay an employer compliance fee (from $230) instead.
LMIA and Express Entry after November 3, 2026
IRCC removed the LMIA requirement for all Express Entry job offers on November 3, 2026. A job offer can still count toward eligibility (for example FSW or FST) without an LMIA, and job offer CRS points — 50, 70 or 100 — returned only for high-wage occupations. Having an LMIA gives no extra points. See job offer points in 2026.