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Migration Overseas
LMIA Process
Complete guide to Canada's Labour Market Impact Assessment. Understand the employer sponsorship process, LMIA requirements, and how to transition to permanent residence.
The Labour Market Impact Assessment explained
The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a process through which Canadian employers can demonstrate that they need to hire a temporary foreign worker because no Canadian citizens or permanent residents are available to fill the position. A positive LMIA allows employers to hire international workers on work permits.
For the worker, a positive LMIA is the basis for an employer-specific work permit. The LMIA itself earns no CRS points. The skilled Canadian work experience you gain on that permit can later earn CRS points and support a Canadian Experience Class or provincial nominee application.
Canadian employers initiate LMIA applications. You (as a worker) cannot apply yourself. Your Canadian employer must sponsor you.
Employers must pay a non-refundable $1,000 fee per LMIA application per position. ESDC states that the fee can't be paid by, or recovered from, the temporary foreign worker.
A positive LMIA lets the employer hire you and supports your employer-specific work permit application. It does not add CRS points; the Canadian work experience you gain on the permit can.
Categories that don't require LMIA
Some work permits don't require a positive LMIA. These include:
Different LMIA streams for different needs
| LMIA Type | Annual Salary Requirement | CRS Points from the LMIA | Average Processing Time (ESDC) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Wage LMIA | At or above the provincial median wage plus 20% | None | 98 business days (September 2026) | Skilled professionals, senior roles |
| Low-Wage LMIA | Below that threshold, but at least the prevailing wage | None | 82 business days (September 2026) | Hospitality, retail, food service |
| Global Talent Stream | At least the prevailing wage; Category A referral or Category B listed occupation | None | 9 business days (September 2026) | Top talent, STEM specialists |
| Agricultural Stream | Prevailing wage varies | None | 22 business days (September 2026) | Farm workers, agricultural workers |
| Caregiver LMIA | At least the prevailing wage | None | Not listed separately by ESDC | Childcare, elder care workers |
Hourly wage that separates high-wage from low-wage LMIAs, set by ESDC as the provincial or territorial median wage plus 20%
| Province or Territory | LMIAs Received From 17 July 2026 | 27 June 2025 to 16 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | CAD 37.50 | CAD 36.00 |
| British Columbia | CAD 38.40 | CAD 36.60 |
| Manitoba | CAD 31.33 | CAD 30.16 |
| New Brunswick | CAD 31.73 | CAD 30.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | CAD 33.60 | CAD 32.40 |
| Northwest Territories | CAD 48.00 | CAD 48.00 |
| Nova Scotia | CAD 31.96 | CAD 30.00 |
| Nunavut | CAD 45.00 | CAD 42.00 |
| Ontario | CAD 36.92 | CAD 36.00 |
| Prince Edward Island | CAD 31.20 | CAD 30.00 |
| Quebec | CAD 36.00 | CAD 34.62 |
| Saskatchewan | CAD 34.62 | CAD 33.60 |
| Yukon | CAD 45.60 | CAD 44.40 |
A job paid at or above the threshold goes through the high-wage stream. A job paid below it goes through the low-wage stream. Every LMIA must still pay at least the prevailing wage. Processing times in the table above are ESDC averages in business days for September 2026 (page updated 7 October 2026) and change from month to month. Source: ESDC wage-threshold and processing-time pages.
ESDC list for applications submitted from 9 October 2026 to 7 January 2027
ESDC does not process low-wage LMIA applications, meaning those that pay below the provincial threshold, when the work location is in a census metropolitan area (CMA) with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher at the time of submission. ESDC updates the list every three months from Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey data. The next update is due on 8 January 2027. The unemployment rate ESDC lists for this period is shown in brackets.
Still eligible: primary agriculture occupations; construction (NAICS 23), food manufacturing (NAICS 311), hospitals (NAICS 622) and nursing and residential care (NAICS 623); specific in-home caregiver positions in a private household (NOC 31301, 32101, 44100 and 44101); positions that support permanent residence only; and short-duration positions of generally 120 calendar days or less, which need a written exemption request. A work location in a census agglomeration that is not a CMA also remains eligible. Source: ESDC refusal to process list.
How CRS points work for LMIA workers from 3 November 2026
An LMIA adds no CRS points: Job offer points were removed from Express Entry on 25 March 2025. Since 3 November 2026, IRCC no longer requires an LMIA for Express Entry job offers, and an LMIA does not add points on its own. Treat an LMIA as a route to an employer-specific work permit.
Canadian work experience earns points later: Once you work in Canada on the LMIA-based permit, your skilled Canadian experience scores under the Labour Market Integration factor: 40, 53, 64, 72 or 80 points for one to five or more years (35 to 70 with a spouse), plus a bonus of 20, 40 or 70 points after 12 months in an occupation paying 1.3, 1.5 or 2 times the median wage. One year of skilled work in Canada can also make you eligible for the Canadian Experience Class.
High-wage job offer points, no LMIA needed: From 3 November 2026, a job offer in an occupation on IRCC's high-wage list earns 50, 70 or 100 points, depending on whether the occupation pays 1.3, 1.5 or 2 times the median wage. IRCC gives points for either Canadian work experience or a high-wage job offer, never both. The factor is capped at 150 points (140 with a spouse), and the CRS maximum is now 1,270.
Typical sequence: positive LMIA, then a work permit, then at least 12 months of skilled work in Canada, then an Express Entry profile under the Canadian Experience Class or a provincial nominee application. See our November 2026 CRS changes guide and CRS calculator for worked examples.
How employers apply for and obtain LMIA approval
You must receive a genuine job offer from a Canadian employer. The job offer must include position details, salary, duties, and employment duration. The employer must be willing to sponsor your LMIA application.
Your employer submits an LMIA application to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). They must pay the $1,000 non-refundable fee. The application includes job posting details, recruitment efforts, and why they need you specifically.
Employers must prove they advertised the position to Canadian citizens and permanent residents first. This typically involves 4 weeks of job posting on government sites and industry-specific platforms.
ESDC reviews the application, recruitment efforts, and justification for hiring a foreign worker. They assess whether hiring you would negatively impact the Canadian labor market. ESDC's published averages for September 2026 run from 9 business days for the Global Talent Stream to 98 business days for the high-wage stream.
ESDC issues either a positive or negative LMIA. If positive, your employer receives the LMIA assessment letter. You can now apply for a work permit using this positive LMIA.
Using the positive LMIA, you apply for a work permit to IRCC. Include the LMIA assessment letter, job offer, passport, and police certificates. Work permit processing times vary by country; check IRCC's processing-times tool.
What employers must submit with LMIA application
Fastest processing: 9 business days on average in September 2026 for tech specialists and top talent. Like every LMIA stream, it earns no CRS points by itself.
Average processing: 98 business days in September 2026. Pay must be at or above the provincial threshold and at least the prevailing wage, and a transition plan is required. It earns no CRS points by itself; the Canadian experience gained on the permit can.
Average processing: 82 business days in September 2026. Capped at 10% of the employer's workforce (20% in named sectors) and refused for work locations in the 30 metropolitan areas listed above (unemployment of 6% or more). It earns no CRS points by itself.
Understanding why applications get denied
Failed to demonstrate genuine recruitment efforts to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Must show 4+ weeks of active job posting.
Canadian citizens or PRs applied and were equally or more qualified. ESDC concluded the position could be filled by a Canadian worker.
Offered salary is below prevailing wage for the region and position. Must match market rates to justify hiring a foreign worker.
ESDC determined hiring a foreign worker would negatively impact Canadian workers' employment opportunities in the sector.
Application contains false or misleading information about recruitment, company details, or job offer. Serious compliance violations can result in employer bans.
Employer has history of violating LMIA terms or employing workers beyond agreement scope. Employers with poor compliance records face rejections.
Where to search for employer-sponsored positions
Job Boards with LMIA Opportunities:
Pro tip: Employers who have previously obtained LMIAs are more likely to sponsor again. Ask about their experience with the process.
Common questions about LMIA process and work permits
The employer pays the $1,000 LMIA fee for each position. ESDC states that the fee can't be paid by, or recovered from, the temporary foreign worker, so an employer who asks you to reimburse it or share the cost is not following the program rules. The fee is non-refundable even if the application is denied.
No. Only Canadian employers can apply for LMIA. As a worker, you cannot initiate the process yourself. You need a genuine job offer from a Canadian employer willing to sponsor you.
A positive LMIA assessment letter is typically valid for 6 months. You must apply for your work permit within this period. If it expires, the employer must reapply, which costs another $1,000.
The work permit is tied to the employer specified in the LMIA application. If you want to change employers, you need a new job offer and a new LMIA (costing another $1,000). An open work permit is available only in narrow cases, such as a bridging open work permit while a PR application is processed or a permit for vulnerable workers facing abuse. Time spent with one employer does not by itself qualify you.
Every LMIA must pay at least the prevailing wage. The stream depends on whether the wage is at or above the provincial threshold, which is the median wage plus 20% (for example CAD 36.92 an hour in Ontario, CAD 38.40 in BC and CAD 37.50 in Alberta for LMIAs received from 17 July 2026). High-wage LMIAs require a transition plan. Low-wage LMIAs are capped at 10% of the employer's workforce (20% in named sectors) and are refused for work locations in the 30 metropolitan areas where unemployment is 6% or more (list valid from 9 October 2026 to 7 January 2027). Neither stream earns CRS points.
An LMIA does not add CRS points. It supports an employer-specific work permit. After 12 months of skilled work in Canada you may qualify for the Canadian Experience Class, and that Canadian experience earns CRS points under the Labour Market Integration factor: up to 80 points for work length plus up to 70 for high-wage work, with a cap of 150 (140 with a spouse). Separately, from 3 November 2026 a job offer in an occupation on IRCC's high-wage list earns 50, 70 or 100 points with no LMIA needed. IRCC counts either the Canadian experience points or the job offer points, not both. Provincial nominee programs are another route.
If denied, you lose the $1,000 fee. Your employer can appeal (optional) or reapply with a new application and updated recruitment evidence. Many denials can be overturned with better documentation. Consider seeking professional immigration help.
No, but it's highly recommended. You can stay and work in Canada indefinitely on work permits (renewing as needed), but PR offers more benefits (healthcare, social benefits, ability to sponsor family, no dependency on employer).
No. LMIA is not guaranteed. Even with strong recruitment efforts and justified salary, ESDC may deny the application if they determine it will negatively impact Canadian workers. Success rates vary by region, sector, and economic conditions.
Our immigration specialists in Vadodara can help you connect with Canadian employers willing to sponsor LMIA applications and navigate the entire work permit to PR pathway.
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