Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) allows employers to hire foreign nationals for positions they cannot fill with Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Most TFWP positions require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) — a determination by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect the Canadian labour market.

The TFWP divides positions into high-wage and low-wage streams based on whether the offered wage is at or above the provincial or territorial median wage. A separate Agricultural stream applies to on-farm primary agriculture. Each stream has its own advertising requirements, employment duration limits, and transition planning obligations.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) — Part 11 — the regulatory framework for LMIA-based work permits
• ESDC: Hire a temporary foreign worker with an LMIA — canada.ca/foreign-workers-lmia
• ESDC: High-wage positions — canada.ca/tfwp-high-wage
• ESDC: Low-wage positions — canada.ca/tfwp-low-wage
• ESDC: Agricultural stream — canada.ca/tfwp-agricultural

Determining the stream — the provincial/territorial wage threshold

The stream is determined by comparing the wage being offered for the position to the provincial or territorial median hourly wage for the relevant occupation. Each province and territory publishes its own threshold. If the offered wage is at or above the threshold, the position falls under the high-wage stream. If it is below the threshold, it falls under the low-wage stream. The thresholds are updated periodically by ESDC.

High-wage stream

Key features of the high-wage stream:

• Employment duration: Up to 3 years (or longer in exceptional circumstances)
• Advertising requirement: Employers must advertise the position for at least 4 consecutive weeks within the 3 months before submitting the LMIA application
• Transition plan: Employers must submit a transition plan explaining how they will reduce reliance on TFWs in the long term (for example, by training Canadians for the role)

Low-wage stream

Key features of the low-wage stream:

• Employment duration: Up to 2 years
• Advertising requirement (from April 1, 2026): Employers must advertise the position for at least 8 consecutive weeks within the 3 months before submitting the LMIA application. This is an increase from the previous 4-week requirement, effective April 1, 2026.
• 10% cap: From September 26, 2024, employers cannot have more than 10% of their workforce at a specific work location be TFWs in low-wage positions. This cap replaced a 20% cap that had been introduced in 2023.
• No transition plan required: Unlike the high-wage stream, low-wage stream employers are not required to submit a transition plan

Rural employer measures (April 1, 2026 — March 31, 2027)

ESDC has implemented temporary measures for employers in rural areas of participating provinces and territories (outside census metropolitan areas — CMAs) for certain low-wage positions. These measures provide more flexibility for rural employers who face specific labour market challenges. For current details, refer to the ESDC temporary measures page.

Agricultural stream

The Agricultural stream applies to on-farm primary agriculture positions — including labourers, workers, managers, and supervisors in farming, livestock, harvesting, nurseries, and greenhouses. Key distinctions:

• No cap on low-wage positions: Unlike the general low-wage stream, the agricultural stream has no cap on the proportion of TFWs that can fill low-wage positions
• Eligible NOC codes: Only specific NOC TEER codes are eligible for the agricultural stream — employers should verify the occupation is eligible before applying

Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programs (SAWP) — a specific pathway for workers from Mexico and the Caribbean under bilateral agreements — operates alongside but separately from the general agricultural stream.

The TFWP is separate from the International Mobility Program (IMP), which covers LMIA-exempt work permits (including CUSMA professionals, intra-company transfers, and post-graduation work permits). LMIA-exempt positions do not go through ESDC — they are processed directly by IRCC.

LMIA applications are submitted to ESDC (Service Canada), not to IRCC. ESDC determines whether the LMIA is approved; IRCC processes the actual work permit application after an LMIA is obtained. For current processing times and fees for LMIA applications, refer to the ESDC TFWP page.

Compliance inspections are conducted by ESDC to verify that employers are meeting the conditions set out in the LMIA, including paying the wages set out in the LMIA, providing the working conditions committed to, and operating a genuine business. Non-compliance can result in penalties, bans, and public disclosure.