Low-Wage LMIA Processing Restarts in Key Canadian Regions

The federal government will restart the processing of low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessments in eight more regions across Canada starting January 9, 2026. This change brings relief to many employers and foreign workers who faced delays in recent months.

Officials made the move after new figures showed that unemployment rates in these regions dropped below six per cent. Government rules allow low-wage LMIA processing only in areas where unemployment stays under that level.

Cities Back in the Program

The regions returning to eligibility include Vancouver, Winnipeg, Halifax, Kingston, Montréal, and several cities in New Brunswick. Job offers from these places did not qualify for low-wage LMIA processing during the last quarter of 2025. Employers in these areas can now submit applications again during the first quarter of 2026.

Low-wage jobs fall under this category when pay remains below 120 per cent of the median wage in the region or below what an employer already pays workers in the same role with similar experience.

Why LMIAs Matter

Foreign workers need a positive or neutral LMIA from their employer to apply for or renew a work permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Without it, they cannot legally continue working in Canada under this program.

Some jobs never fell under the pause. Positions in primary agriculture, construction, and certain front-line health care roles continued without interruption.

Regions Still Facing Restrictions

While some areas returned to the list, many major cities remain ineligible because their unemployment rates stayed at or above six per cent. These include Toronto, Ottawa-Gatineau, Calgary, Edmonton, and several cities in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. Employers in these locations cannot access low-wage LMIA processing until the next update.

The government plans to release the next unemployment review on April 10, 2026.

Options for Employers

Employers in restricted regions still have choices. They can raise wages to meet provincial thresholds and apply under the high-wage stream instead. Wage limits vary by province, with higher rates required in places such as British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta.

Another option involves waiting three months in case unemployment levels drop and rules change.

Guidance for Foreign Workers

Foreign workers can focus on jobs that remain exempt, such as agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. Some short-term roles and caregiver positions also qualify.

Workers who lose their status because they cannot extend a permit must stop working. They can apply to stay in Canada as visitors. Those who secure a new job may start work while a new application is under review if they meet specific conditions.

How to Check Eligibility

Workers and employers should confirm whether a job falls within a census metropolitan area by checking the work location’s postal code. If the location sits outside a restricted area, LMIA processing remains available.