Canada extends low-wage LMIAs to up to two years from November 6, 2026
Announced by canada.caNov 6, 2026BLOOM ABROAD Editorial · Managing editor Yuki Sugimoto
NewCanadaVisas and rules
In short
- What
- Low-wage LMIAs applied for on or after November 6, 2026 can last up to two years, up from one.
- What to do
- Ask your employer about the LMIA application date and duration, and check the official announcement.
Does this apply to you?
It applies to
- Employers applying for LMIAs under the Low-wage Stream
- People working, or planning to work, as temporary foreign workers for those employers
- People working, or hoping to work, as early childhood educators
Key terms
- Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
- A review a Canadian employer goes through before hiring a foreign worker. It checks whether Canadian workers are unavailable.
- Low-wage Stream
- The part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for jobs paid below a certain wage level.
- Census Metropolitan Area (CMA)
- A large urban area used in Canadian statistics.
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- A program that lets provinces and territories nominate candidates for permanent residence.
- LMIA
- An assessment that Canadian employers apply for when they want to hire a temporary foreign worker. Source: canada.ca
What changed
Low-wage Stream LMIAs applied for on or after November 6, 2026 can last up to two years, up from one year.
In metropolitan areas with unemployment of 6% or higher, LMIAs are not processed except for priority sectors such as healthcare, construction and food processing.
From November 6, 2026, early childhood educators were added to these exceptions.
A proposal for March 1, 2027 would let provinces and territories that opt in adjust eligible occupations and raise the employer cap from 10% to 15%.
Budget 2026 also offers provinces and territories additional Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) spaces through a time-limited measure.
When it applies
Announced: November 6, 2026. Two-year LMIAs and the early childhood educator exception: from November 6, 2026. Further changes where provinces and territories opt in: from March 1, 2027 (proposed).
Exceptions
Even in metropolitan areas with unemployment of 6% or higher, LMIAs are processed for priority sectors such as healthcare, construction and food processing.
From November 6, 2026, early childhood educators are also included in these exceptions. Under the March 1, 2027 proposal, employers in rural communities keep full access to all Low-wage Stream occupations.
Under the same proposal, priority sectors stay under the existing 20% limit. Provinces and territories may add or remove occupations.
What to check or do
- Check the official announcement on Canada.ca for the latest details.
- If you plan to work in Canada through an employer's LMIA, ask your employer about the application date and the LMIA duration.
- The March 1, 2027 changes depend on provinces and territories opting in, so also check announcements from your province or territory.
Official sources
- Announced and effective
- Nov 6, 2026
- Last checked
- Not confirmed
Not confirmed
canada.ca (external site)
