Work Permits Update — September 17, 2026
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Starting July 10, 2026, low-wage LMIA applications are being processed again in 8 Canadian regions including Halifax, Winnipeg, and Regina, based on updated regional unemployment rates.
26 other Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) remain restricted for low-wage LMIA processing until at least October 9, 2026, due to unemployment rates at or above 6%.
New national median wage thresholds for LMIAs took effect July 17, 2026, which determines whether a position is classified as low-wage or high-wage — directly affecting eligibility rules.
What You Should Do
- If you are an employer planning a low-wage LMIA application, check whether your CMA is on the eligible or restricted list before submitting. Visit canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers.html to see the updated regional eligibility list effective July 10, 2026.
- If your region is restricted (e.g., Saskatoon, Kamloops), do not submit a low-wage LMIA application before October 9, 2026 — it will be refused at intake regardless of the strength of your application.
- Review the new wage thresholds effective July 17, 2026 at canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers.html to confirm whether the position you are hiring for is classified as low-wage or high-wage under the updated rules, as this affects which LMIA stream applies.
- If your region is restricted for low-wage LMIA, assess whether the position qualifies as high-wage under the new July 17, 2026 thresholds, as high-wage applications are not subject to the same regional unemployment restrictions.
Sources
Topics Covered
LMIA Low-Wage Advertising Reform: Effective July 10, 2026, the federal government resumed processing low-wage LMIA applications in 8 CMAs while keeping 26 CMAs restricted until at least October 9, 2026, based on updated regional unemployment rates. Low-wage LMIAs are refused at intake — not just rejected — in restricted regions where unemployment is 6% or higher.
Service Fee Adjustments: New national median hourly wage thresholds for the LMIA program took effect July 17, 2026, changing how positions are classified as low-wage or high-wage across Canada.
More Work Permits Updates
Work Permits Update — October 1, 2026
Oct 1, 2026
Work Permits Update — September 24, 2026
Sep 24, 2026
Work Permits Update — September 14, 2026
Sep 14, 2026
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