Canada has implemented new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements for low-wage Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) applications, effective April 1, 2026.

Employers must now advertise the position for at least eight consecutive weeks within the three months prior to submitting an LMIA.

In addition, at least one recruitment activity must remain active until Service Canada issues a decision. The updated rules also introduce an expectation that employers make efforts to target youth during recruitment, reflecting increased scrutiny of access to entry-level employment.

Additionally, rural employers located outside census metropolitan areas (CMAs) may qualify for temporary measures to support low-wage positions.

Eligible employers can maintain their current proportion of low-wage temporary foreign workers, even if it exceeds the usual cap, or benefit from an increased cap of 15% rather than 10%. These adjustments are based on workforce composition at the time of LMIA submission, with no changes to sector-specific variations.

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