Canada’s Low-Wage LMIA Stream allows eligible employers to hire temporary foreign workers when they cannot find enough Canadian citizens or permanent residents for available jobs.
In 2026, Canada classifies a position as low-wage when the employer’s offered hourly wage falls below the applicable provincial or territorial wage threshold. For example, current thresholds include $36.92 in Ontario, $38.40 in British Columbia, $37.50 in Alberta, $36.00 in Quebec and $31.73 in New Brunswick.
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What Is a Low-Wage LMIA?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) allows Service Canada to assess whether an employer can hire a temporary foreign worker.
Before receiving a positive LMIA, employers generally need to show that they genuinely tried to recruit Canadians and permanent residents. For Low-Wage applications, employers must normally advertise for at least 8 consecutive weeks within the three months before applying and continue at least one recruitment activity until Service Canada makes its decision.
20 Low-Wage LMIA Jobs in Canada
The following occupations can appear in Low-Wage LMIA hiring when the offered wage falls below the applicable threshold and the employer meets all processing requirements:
1. Cleaner – offices, hotels, hospitals and commercial buildings
Salary: $15.50 – $25.00 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Housekeeper
- Room Attendant
- Light Duty Cleaner
- Hotel Cleaner
- Hospital Cleaner
2. Farm Worker / Harvesting Labourer – farms, orchards and crop operations
Salary: $16.00 – $25.00 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Farm Labourer
- Harvesting Labourer
- Fruit Picker
- Vegetable Picker
- Greenhouse Worker
3. Kitchen Helper – restaurants, hotels and food-service businesses
Salary: $15.00 – $21.50 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Kitchen Helper
- Food Service Helper
- Dishwasher
- Kitchen Attendant
- Food Preparation Helper
4. Food Counter Attendant – restaurants and quick-service establishments
Salary: $15.00 – $21.50 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Housekeeper
- Food Counter Attendant
- Cafeteria Counter Attendant
- Fast-Food Attendant
- Take-Out Counter Attendant
- Snack Bar Attendant
5. Cook – restaurants, hotels and institutional kitchens
Salary: $15.00 – $25.00 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Restaurant Cook
- Line Cook
- Short Order Cook
- Hotel Cook
- Institutional Cook
6. Food and Beverage Server – restaurants and hospitality businesses
Salary: $15.00 – $30.00 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Restaurant Server
- Food Server
- Beverage Server
- Banquet Server
- Dining Room Server
7. Hotel Housekeeper / Room Attendant – hotels, resorts and accommodations
Salary: $15.50 – $25.00 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Hotel Housekeeper
- Room Attendant
- Guest Room Attendant
- Hotel Room Cleaner
- Resort Housekeeper
8. Retail Salesperson – stores and retail businesses
Salary: $15.00 – $28.85 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Retail Sales Associate
- Store Salesperson
- Sales Clerk
- Clothing Salesperson
- Hardware Store Salesperson
9. Cashier – supermarkets, stores and other retail operations
Salary: $15.00 – $19.02 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Grocery Store Cashier
- Retail Cashier
- Supermarket Cashier
- Convenience Store Cashier
- Checkout Clerk
10. Material Handler / Warehouse Worker – warehouses and distribution centres
Salary: $16.55 – $30.29 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Material Handler
- Warehouse Worker
- Warehouse Associate
- Order Picker
- Shipping and Receiving Worker
11. Construction Labourer – residential and commercial construction
Salary: $18.25 – $40.00 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Construction Labourer
- Construction Helper
- General Construction Worker
- Demolition Labourer
- Concrete Labourer
12. Landscaping Labourer – landscaping and grounds-maintenance companies
Salary: $17.00 – $28.00 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Landscaping Labourer
- Grounds Maintenance Worker
- Lawn Care Worker
- Garden Labourer
- Landscape Maintenance Worker
13. Home Support Worker / Caregiver – eligible home-care positions
Salary: $16.00 – $27.00 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Home Support Worker
- Caregiver
- Personal Support Worker
- Personal Care Attendant
- Family Caregiver
14. Nurse Aide / Patient Service Associate – hospitals and care facilities
Salary: $19.00 – $28.84 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Nurse Aide
- Patient Service Associate
- Health Care Aide
- Nursing Assistant
- Long-Term Care Aide
15. Fish and Seafood Plant Worker – seafood-processing plants
Salary: $15.50 – $20.00 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Fish Plant Worker
- Seafood Plant Worker
- Fish Processing Worker
- Seafood Processor
- Fish Cutter
16. Fish and Seafood Processing Labourer – fish-processing facilities
Salary: $16.00 – $21.40 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Seafood Processing Labourer
- Fish Processing Labourer
- Fish Packer
- Seafood Packer
- Fish Production Worker
17. Food and Beverage Processing Labourer – food-manufacturing plants
Salary: $16.50 – $25.67 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Food Processing Labourer
- Food Production Worker
- Packaging Labourer
- Beverage Production Worker
- Food Plant Worker
18. Industrial Butcher / Meat Cutter – meat and poultry-processing facilities
Salary: $18.00 – $26.15 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Industrial Butcher
- Meat Cutter
- Poultry Preparer
- Meat Processing Worker
- Slaughterhouse Worker
19. Laundry Worker – hotels, commercial laundries and healthcare facilities
Salary: $15.75 – $24.00 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Laundry Worker
- Laundry Attendant
- Linen Room Attendant
- Laundry Helper
- Commercial Laundry Worker
20. Nursery and Greenhouse Labourer – nurseries and greenhouse operations
Salary: $15.25 – $29.00 per hour
Job Titles Include:
- Greenhouse Labourer
- Nursery Worker
- Nursery Labourer
- Plant Nursery Worker
- Greenhouse Worker
Canada specifically prioritizes several occupations under the Low-Wage program, including light-duty cleaners, harvesting labourers, livestock workers, nursery and greenhouse labourers, industrial butchers, fish and seafood plant workers, and food-processing labourers.
Important: Farm workers, harvesting labourers and nursery/greenhouse workers may qualify under the separate Primary Agriculture Stream instead of the regular Low-Wage stream. Eligible primary-agriculture positions receive exemptions from normal LMIA processing fees and low-wage workforce caps.
Important Low-Wage LMIA Rules in 2026
Most employers can employ temporary foreign workers in low-wage positions up to 10% of their workforce at a specific location.
Canada allows a 20% cap for certain sectors and occupations, including:
- Construction
- Food manufacturing
- Hospitals
- Nursing and residential care
- Certain caregiver occupations
Primary agriculture positions have no low-wage workforce cap.
Canada also generally refuses to process Low-Wage LMIA applications when the work location sits inside a Census Metropolitan Area with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher. Certain sectors, including food manufacturing, construction and healthcare, receive exemptions.
Who Can Apply?
Foreign workers may qualify for an LMIA-supported job when they:
- Receive a genuine job offer from an eligible Canadian employer.
- Meet the employer’s education, experience and skill requirements.
- Hold any licence or certification required for the occupation.
- Meet Canada’s general work permit requirements.
- Provide documents proving their work experience and qualifications.
- Meet medical and admissibility requirements when applicable.
The worker does not apply for the LMIA. The Canadian employer must obtain the positive LMIA first. IRCC then requires the worker to use the employer’s positive LMIA, employment contract and job offer when applying for an employer-specific work permit.
How to Apply?
Step 1: Search for LMIA Jobs
Search Canada Job Bank, employer career pages and trusted Canadian job websites. Look for employers that clearly accept applications from international candidates.
Step 2: Apply Directly to the Employer
Submit a Canadian-style resume and follow the employer’s official application instructions.
Never pay anyone for an interview or guaranteed job offer.
Step 3: Complete the Employer Hiring Process
The employer may conduct interviews, reference checks or skills assessments. You must qualify for the position just like other applicants.
Step 4: Employer Applies for an LMIA
The employer completes the required Canadian recruitment period and submits the LMIA application to Service Canada.
The standard LMIA processing fee is $1,000 per requested position, although exemptions apply to eligible Primary Agriculture and certain caregiver positions. The employer cannot recover this fee from the worker.
Step 5: Receive the LMIA and Job Documents
After receiving a positive LMIA and selecting you, the employer normally provides:
- Positive LMIA information
- Employment contract
- Job offer letter
Applicants working in Quebec may also need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ).
Step 6: Apply for a Canadian Work Permit
Apply to IRCC for an employer-specific work permit and submit your passport, LMIA documents, employment records, resume, qualifications and other required documents.
Complete biometrics and a medical examination when required.
Step 7: Receive the Decision
IRCC makes the final work permit decision. A positive LMIA does not automatically guarantee work permit approval.
2026 Low-Wage LMIA Processing Time
Service Canada reported an average processing time of 73 business days for Low-Wage LMIA applications processed in July 2026. Processing times change each month and begin only after Service Canada receives all required information.
Employers must also complete the required recruitment period before filing the LMIA, so applicants should not treat 73 business days as the entire hiring timeline.
Important Job Scam Warning
Never pay someone who promises a guaranteed LMIA, Canadian job or work permit.
Canadian employers cannot charge temporary foreign workers the LMIA processing fee or recover prohibited recruitment fees.
Always verify the employer, job advertisement, wage, work location and employment contract before providing sensitive documents.
FAQ
1. What is a Low-Wage LMIA job?
It is a position where the offered wage falls below the applicable provincial or territorial LMIA wage threshold. The employer must meet Low-Wage Stream requirements.
2. Can I apply for an LMIA myself?
No. The Canadian employer submits the LMIA application. You apply for the job first and later apply for a work permit if the employer selects you and receives a positive LMIA.
3. Do Low-Wage LMIA jobs require a college degree?
Not always. Many positions such as cleaners, kitchen helpers, food-processing labourers and harvesting workers may have limited formal education requirements. Each employer sets its own legitimate job requirements.
4. How long does a Low-Wage LMIA take in 2026?
The average for applications processed in July 2026 was 73 business days, but processing times can change monthly.
5. Does an LMIA job guarantee permanent residence?
No. An LMIA-supported job can help an eligible worker obtain temporary work authorization. Permanent residence requires separate qualification under an eligible Canadian immigration program.