Canada LMIA 2026: Wage Thresholds, Fee & Work Permit

“LMIA job in Canada” is one of the most searched phrases among Indian job seekers – and one of the most misused by scammers. The Canada LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) is a document your employer must obtain from the Canadian government before most foreign workers can be hired. This guide explains what an LMIA is, the 2026 wage thresholds, what it costs and who pays, the rules for high-wage and low-wage jobs, and how the LMIA connects to your work permit.

Quick answer

An LMIA is a document that proves there is a need to hire a foreign worker to fill a job. Your employer applies for it, not you.
The employer pays a CAD 1,000 processing fee per position. Employers and their recruiters are not allowed to recover it from the worker.
Stream: if the offered wage is at or above the provincial hourly wage threshold (the provincial median plus 20%), the high-wage stream applies; below it, the low-wage stream.
Low-wage jobs have extra limits, including a 10% cap on foreign workers at a work location (20% in some sectors).
With a positive LMIA your employer gives you the LMIA letter and Annex A, and you then apply for an employer-specific work permit.

Woman reviewing a work contract with the Toronto skyline behind her - Canada LMIA work permit 2026 guide

What is an LMIA?

IRCC explains that most jobs need an LMIA: a document that proves there is a need to hire a foreign worker to fill the job. Before you can apply for a work permit, your employer has to find out whether your job needs an LMIA or is LMIA-exempt, apply for the LMIA if it is needed, and give you the documents from a positive LMIA – the LMIA letter and Annex A – which you include in your work permit application.

	LMIA	Work permit
Who applies	The employer, to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)/Service Canada	You, to IRCC
What it proves	That there is a need to hire a foreign worker for this job	That you may work in Canada under stated conditions
Who pays the fee	The employer (CAD 1,000 per position)	The applicant pays the work permit fees

Canada LMIA 2026: hourly wage thresholds

The wage offered on the LMIA application decides the stream. ESDC defines the hourly wage threshold as the applicable provincial or territorial median hourly wage plus 20%, based on the Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey. If the offered wage is at or above the threshold, the employer applies under the high-wage stream; below it, the low-wage stream.

Province or territory	LMIAs received 27 Jun 2025 – 16 Jul 2026	LMIAs received from 17 Jul 2026
Alberta	CAD 36.00	CAD 37.50
British Columbia	CAD 36.60	CAD 38.40
Manitoba	CAD 30.16	CAD 31.33
New Brunswick	CAD 30.00	CAD 31.73
Newfoundland and Labrador	CAD 32.40	CAD 33.60
Northwest Territories	CAD 48.00	CAD 48.00
Nova Scotia	CAD 30.00	CAD 31.96
Nunavut	CAD 42.00	CAD 45.00
Ontario	CAD 36.00	CAD 36.92
Prince Edward Island	CAD 30.00	CAD 31.20
Quebec	CAD 34.62	CAD 36.00
Saskatchewan	CAD 33.60	CAD 34.62
Yukon	CAD 44.40	CAD 45.60

Watch out

Offering a higher wage is not a shortcut to the high-wage stream. ESDC says the wage should be similar to what Canadians and permanent residents are paid for the same job, location, skills and experience, and that adjusting the wage to fit a stream could lead to a negative decision.

High-wage stream: what the employer must do

Pay the CAD 1,000 processing fee for each position. It is not refunded if the application is withdrawn, cancelled or the LMIA is negative.
Offer a full-time position that meets the program’s wage and working-condition rules.
Complete a transition plan: the activities the employer agrees to undertake to recruit, retain and train Canadians and permanent residents and reduce reliance on the program.
Carry out at least 3 recruitment activities before applying, including advertising on the Government of Canada’s Job Bank, with one method national in scope.
Show that the business and the job offer are legitimate and provide an employment agreement.

Low-wage stream: extra limits

A 10% cap on the proportion of foreign workers in low-wage positions at a specific work location. A 20% cap applies to certain listed sectors and occupations. Applications above the cap may not be processed.
ESDC refuses to process LMIA applications for low-wage positions in census metropolitan areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher.
Some occupations are prioritised, including registered nurses (NOC 31301), licensed practical nurses (32101), pharmacists (31120) and general practitioners (31102).
Temporary measures apply to certain low-wage jobs in rural areas outside census metropolitan areas.

The rules for each stream change often. ESDC marks pages as updated or “new” when thresholds and restrictions change, so employers and workers should check the official pages before relying on a blog or an agent’s old information.

From positive LMIA to work permit: step by step

The employer decides whether your job needs an LMIA or is LMIA-exempt.
The employer applies to ESDC (if needed) and pays the processing fee.
With a positive LMIA, the employer gives you the LMIA letter and Annex A, a job offer letter and an employment contract. For jobs in Quebec, IRCC also lists a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) if you will work in a paid job for more than 30 days.
You apply to IRCC for an employer-specific work permit, including your personal documents such as proof of experience and qualifications.
You follow the permit conditions. An employer-specific permit lets you work under the conditions listed on it – the employer, location and occupation – until the expiry date.

Who pays for the LMIA? Protect yourself from scams

The employer pays the CAD 1,000 fee. ESDC says employers must not recover the costs of a paid third-party representative from the worker, and a representative cannot demand or recover the processing fee or other recruiting costs from the worker.
If someone asks you for money to “buy” or “arrange” an LMIA, treat it as a red flag.
A job is not guaranteed by an LMIA. The LMIA is only one step; you still need a work permit.
Check that the employer is real and not on IRCC’s list of non-compliant employers.

Pro tip

Compare Canadian routes before you decide: read about the spousal open work permit (no LMIA needed for the spouse in eligible cases), the PGWP for graduates and our work permit processing time guide.

LMIA and your long-term plan

A work permit is often the first step to Canadian experience. Check how experience can help your PR plan with our Express Entry requirements guide and CRS score calculator, and see which provinces fit your profile with the PNP eligibility finder. If you are a family applying together, see the guide on the dependent visa after a work visa.

Frequently asked questions

What is an LMIA in simple words?

It is a document, issued after an employer applies to ESDC, proving there is a need to hire a foreign worker for a job. Most jobs need one, and you need the documents from a positive LMIA to apply for an employer-specific work permit.

Can I apply for an LMIA myself?

No. The employer applies for the LMIA. You apply for the work permit once the employer gives you the documents from a positive LMIA.

How much does an LMIA cost?

The employer pays CAD 1,000 per position requested. ESDC says the fee is non-refundable if the application is withdrawn, cancelled or the LMIA is negative, and employers cannot recover it from the worker.

What is the difference between the high-wage and low-wage streams?

It depends on the offered hourly wage compared with the provincial or territorial threshold, which is the provincial median hourly wage plus 20%. At or above the threshold is high-wage; below is low-wage, which has extra restrictions such as a 10% cap.

Does a positive LMIA guarantee a Canadian work permit?

No. A positive LMIA is one required document. You must still apply to IRCC and meet the general requirements for work permit applicants.

Official sources

Facts on this page were checked against the official sources listed at the end on 23 October 2026. Immigration rules, fees and thresholds change often, so confirm the current figure on the official site before you apply.

Talk to NC Visas

Got a Canadian job offer or wondering whether it is genuine? Our Canada work permit consultants in Hyderabad check the employer, the LMIA status and your documents before you pay anyone. Book a free consultation or call +91 95055 15154.

C. Pavan Kumar

C. Pavan Kumar is a European Immigration Specialist at NC Visas with expertise in EU visa and residency processes. He has helped numerous individuals navigate international relocation with clarity and confidence.

His focus covers the Germany Opportunity Card and EU Blue Card, the Portugal and Sweden job seeker routes, Schengen work permits, and the UK and Australian skilled categories. He works most closely with applicants moving from India to Europe, where degree recognition, language evidence and proof of funds decide the majority of outcomes.

On this site he writes practical guides on living and working in Europe — the documents that are actually checked, the sequence that avoids delays, and the mistakes that most often cost applicants an appointment slot or a decision.