published on 16 January 2026 @ 3:40 pm · COMMENT

Low-Wage LMIA Processing Reopens in Seven Regions

As of January 9, 2026, Service Canada has resumed processing low-wage LMIA applications in the census metropolitan regions of Vancouver, Winnipeg, Kingston, Halifax, Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton after local unemployment were reported at less than six percent. This change lifts a 2025 freeze that barred low-wage LMIA processing in region with high unemployment. Additionally, while the unemployment rate in the Montreal region was also reported at less than six percent, low-wage LMIAs are still not being processed in Montreal due to a separate bar on low-wage LMIAs put in place by the Quebec government until December 31, 2026.

The reopening of low-wage LMIA processing in the above regions provides short-term flexibility for employers facing front-line and entry-level labour shortages, but the policy framework remains restrictive. Low-wage roles for foreign workers remain subject to caps, shorter employment durations, and heightened scrutiny.

Because eligibility is reviewed quarterly, access to low-wage LMIAs in these regions is not guaranteed beyond the next scheduled update on April 10, 2026. Employers should factor timing and wage strategy into any LMIA planning, particularly as changes in regional unemployment can quickly trigger renewed refusals to process.

filed under: IMMIGRATIONPERMANENT RESIDENCE