Currently activeHigh urgency
LMIA Refusal-to-Process and Wage-Threshold Reform
Effective: September 26, 2024 (refusal-to-process); November 8, 2024 (high-wage 20% premium); June 27, 2025 (median wage update); ongoing extensions
TL;DR
ESDC refuses to process low-wage LMIAs in Census Metropolitan Areas with ≥6% unemployment (with limited exemptions). High-wage LMIA threshold increased to provincial median wage + 20%. TFW workforce caps reduced from 30% to 10% (20% in select sectors).
What changed
- Low-wage LMIA processing refused in high-unemployment CMAs.
- High-wage LMIA wage threshold increased by 20% over provincial median.
- TFW workforce cap dropped from 30% to 10% (20% in priority sectors).
Who is affected
Employers seeking LMIAs and workers applying for LMIA-based work permits.
Verify on canada.ca
Always confirm policy details, dates, and exact eligibility on the Government of Canada source page before acting:
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/median-wage/low/requirements.html ↗Related immigration topics
Other recent policy changes