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LMIA Work Permit

LMIA – Labour Market Impact Assessment

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is an assessment by Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada of an employer’s proposed hiring of a foreign worker. Where required, the employer applies first; the worker then applies separately for a work permit.

A positive LMIA supports the application but is not a work permit or a guarantee of approval. Some jobs qualify for an LMIA exemption under a different program.

Last reviewed: September 16, 2026.

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Employer Requirements in 2026

Choose the correct wage stream. For applications received from July 17, 2026, the hourly thresholds are B.C. $38.40, Alberta $37.50 and Ontario $36.92. Wages at or above the applicable threshold use the high-wage stream; lower wages use the low-wage stream. These are stream thresholds, not minimum wages. The offered wage must also meet the occupation’s prevailing wage requirements. ESDC: Current wage thresholds

Recruitment and advertising. Standard high-wage recruitment generally requires three methods and at least four consecutive weeks of advertising within the three months before applying. Standard low-wage recruitment requires at least eight consecutive weeks within that period, youth outreach, and two additional methods targeting different underrepresented groups. At least one recruitment activity must continue until the decision. Check applicable exceptions and Job Bank requirements. High-wage requirements · Low-wage requirements

Low-wage restrictions. The usual cap is 10% of the workforce at a work location, with 20% limits for specified sectors and occupations, plus exemptions and temporary rural measures. Some low-wage applications in metropolitan areas with unemployment of 6% or more will not be processed; sector and other exceptions apply. Check the work location and current quarterly table before applying. ESDC: Refusal-to-process rules

Business and employment obligations. Employers must establish a genuine business and job, offer at least 30 hours per week, meet wage and worker-protection rules, and normally pay $1,000 per requested position unless exempt. High-wage applications generally require a transition plan. LMIA processing and recruitment costs cannot be charged to or recovered from the worker. ESDC: Employer obligations

The Worker’s Application

  1. Confirm the job and LMIA. Obtain the employer’s supporting documents and check that the occupation, wage and work location match the intended employment.
  2. Confirm eligibility. Demonstrate that you can perform the job and meet work permit and admissibility requirements. Licensing, medical examinations and biometrics may be required.
  3. Apply through the correct route. Your location and immigration status affect where and how you may apply. An approval letter issued outside Canada is not itself the work permit.
  4. Start work only when authorized. Follow the employer, occupation, location and expiry conditions on your permit. Changing employers generally requires a new application; eligible workers can request interim authorization from IRCC.

IRCC: Work permit application process · IRCC: Changing employers

We help employers and applicants assess the LMIA route and prepare the required applications based on the rules in effect when they apply.

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