LMIA wage thresholds by province: the high-wage line for 2026
One number decides whether an LMIA is a high-wage or a low-wage application: the provincial hourly wage threshold set by ESDC. It changed on July 17, 2026. This page lists the current threshold for every province and territory, the previous figures for applications already in the queue, how the threshold differs from the prevailing wage, and what falling on the low-wage side means in practice.
Key takeaways
ESDC's provincial hourly wage thresholds decide whether an LMIA is high-wage or low-wage. New figures took effect July 17, 2026 (Alberta $37.50, BC $38.40, Ontario $36.92). The threshold is not the prevailing wage; both must be met. Low-wage applications face caps, regional refusals and extra employer obligations.
- The threshold is one number per province; the prevailing wage is per occupation and region. An LMIA must satisfy both.
- New thresholds apply to LMIAs received from July 17, 2026; earlier applications use the June 2025 figures.
- Every province's threshold rose except the Northwest Territories, which stayed at $48.00.
- Low-wage stream: 10 or 20 percent caps, refusals in high-unemployment metro areas, shorter permits, airfare and housing duties.
- Paying a foreign worker above your Canadian staff to clear the line is not accepted.
LMIA wage thresholds by province and territory, 2026
| Province or territory | LMIAs received June 27, 2025 to July 16, 2026 | LMIAs received from July 17, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $36.00 | $37.50 |
| British Columbia | $36.60 | $38.40 |
| Manitoba | $30.16 | $31.33 |
| New Brunswick | $30.00 | $31.73 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $32.40 | $33.60 |
| Northwest Territories | $48.00 | $48.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $30.00 | $31.96 |
| Nunavut | $42.00 | $45.00 |
| Ontario | $36.00 | $36.92 |
| Prince Edward Island | $30.00 | $31.20 |
| Quebec | $34.62 | $36.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $33.60 | $34.62 |
| Yukon | $44.40 | $45.60 |
Every province and territory except the Northwest Territories moved up in the July 2026 revision. Alberta rose by $1.50 to $37.50, British Columbia by $1.80 to $38.40, and Ontario by $0.92 to $36.92. The Atlantic provinces, all previously at or near $30.00, now sit between $31.20 and $33.60. The territories remain far higher because their median wages are; Nunavut rose from $42.00 to $45.00. Source: ESDC, hire a temporary foreign worker in a high-wage or low-wage position.
How the threshold works
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program splits LMIA applications into two streams with different rules. To decide which one applies, ESDC compares the hourly wage the employer is offering for the position with the threshold for the province or territory where the job is located.
- At or above the threshold: the stream for high-wage positions. No cap on the number of foreign workers, permits of up to three years, a transition plan showing how the employer will reduce reliance on foreign workers.
- Below the threshold: the stream for low-wage positions. A cap of 10 percent of the worksite's workforce (20 percent in certain sectors), automatic refusal in census metropolitan areas with unemployment of 6 percent or more, shorter permit durations, and obligations to cover return transportation, ensure affordable housing and provide private health insurance until provincial coverage starts.
The threshold that applies is the one in force on the day ESDC receives the application, which is why the table keeps the previous figures: an LMIA filed in June 2026 in Alberta is assessed at $36.00 even if the decision arrives in September.
Threshold vs prevailing wage: two tests, not one
The mistake that refuses otherwise good LMIAs
In practice, the sequence for an employer is: find the NOC code with the NOC code finder, look up the prevailing wage for that code in the economic region on Job Bank, set the offered wage at or above it and in line with Canadian staff, then compare that wage with the provincial threshold to know which stream and which rules apply.
What the 2026 thresholds mean by occupation
Because the threshold is a single provincial number, the same occupation falls on different sides of the line in different provinces, and the prevailing wage often sits well below it for the roles most often hired through LMIAs.
| Occupation (NOC 2021) | Typical prevailing wage range | Alberta ($37.50) | Ontario ($36.92) | Manitoba ($31.33) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooks (63200) | $17 to $22 | Low-wage | Low-wage | Low-wage |
| Food and beverage servers (65200) | $15 to $18 plus tips | Low-wage | Low-wage | Low-wage |
| Light duty cleaners, housekeeping (65310) | $16 to $21 | Low-wage | Low-wage | Low-wage |
| Nurse aides and care aides (33102) | $20 to $27 | Low-wage | Low-wage | Low-wage |
| Transport truck drivers (73300) | $26 to $34 | Low-wage | Low-wage | Usually high-wage |
| Carpenters (72310) | $30 to $40 | Either side; depends on the offer | Either side | High-wage |
| Electricians (72200) | $38 to $48 | High-wage | High-wage | High-wage |
| Registered nurses (31301) | $38 to $52 | High-wage | High-wage | High-wage |
| Software developers (21232) | $40 to $65 | High-wage | High-wage | High-wage |
| Restaurant and food service managers (60030) | $25 to $35 | Low-wage | Low-wage | Either side |
Two conclusions follow for employers in the Bow Valley and Alberta generally. Most hospitality hires are low-wage LMIAs, with the cap and the regional refusal rule to manage, which is why many Canmore and Banff employers route workers through International Experience Canada and Alberta's Tourism & Hospitality Stream instead. And trades and health hires usually sit on the high-wage side, where the transition plan rather than the cap is the paperwork.
How to use the thresholds when planning an LMIA
- 01
Code the job and find the prevailing wage
NOC 2021 code, then the Job Bank median for the economic region. The offered wage must be at or above it and consistent with what Canadian staff earn.
- 02
Compare the offered wage with the provincial threshold
At or above: high-wage stream. Below: low-wage stream. Use the July 17, 2026 column for new applications.
- 03
If low-wage, check the cap and the region
Count the worksite's total workforce and existing low-wage foreign workers against the 10 or 20 percent cap, and check the unemployment rate of the census metropolitan area; 6 percent or higher means an automatic refusal for most occupations.
- 04
Consider whether an exemption or another program fits
An LMIA-exempt code, the Global Talent Stream, IEC or a provincial stream may avoid the LMIA altogether. See LMIA-exempt work permits.
- 05
Advertise, then file
Four weeks of recruitment on Job Bank plus two other methods, then the LMIA with the $1,000 fee. Our processing time and fees page covers the queues by stream.
- 06
Keep the wage consistent through the work permit and beyond
The wage on the LMIA, the offer, the work permit and later a PR application should match, and must keep pace with the prevailing wage at renewal.
Where the thresholds do not apply
The Global Talent Stream uses its own occupation list and wage floors and is processed in about two weeks. The agricultural streams, including the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, have separate wage and housing rules. The LMIA for permanent residence, used to support an Express Entry or provincial application, is assessed on the prevailing wage rather than the high or low split. And LMIA-exempt permits under the International Mobility Program never touch the thresholds, though the prevailing wage still applies to the offer of employment.
Compliance note. Wild Mountain Immigration is a licensed RCIC practice (CICC R706497). The thresholds are ESDC's, as published in its July 10, 2026 update and read on August 29, 2026; ESDC revises them and the stream rules, so confirm the live table before filing. Nothing here guarantees an LMIA decision.
Frequently asked questions
What is the LMIA wage threshold?
The hourly wage, set by ESDC for each province and territory, that decides which LMIA stream an employer must use. If the wage offered is at or above the provincial threshold, the application goes through the stream for high-wage positions; if it is below, it goes through the stream for low-wage positions, which carries caps, refusals in high-unemployment regions and extra obligations. The thresholds were raised on July 17, 2026 and are listed in the table on this page.
What is the LMIA wage threshold in Alberta?
For LMIAs received on or after July 17, 2026, the Alberta threshold is $37.50 per hour. Applications received between June 27, 2025 and July 16, 2026 used $36.00. A job in Alberta paying $37.50 or more is assessed under the high-wage stream; one paying less is low-wage.
What is the LMIA wage threshold in Ontario and British Columbia?
Ontario's threshold is $36.92 per hour and British Columbia's is $38.40, both for LMIAs received as of July 17, 2026. The previous figures were $36.00 and $36.60 respectively.
Is the wage threshold the same as the prevailing wage?
No, and confusing them is the most common LMIA wage mistake. The threshold is one provincial number that decides the stream. The prevailing wage is the median wage for the specific occupation in the specific region on Job Bank, and every LMIA must offer at least that regardless of stream. A job can be above the threshold but below the occupation's prevailing wage, and it will be refused.
Can an employer pay more to get into the high-wage stream?
Not artificially. ESDC's guidance says offering a higher wage to a foreign worker is not enough on its own; wages must be in line with what Canadians and permanent residents are paid for the same job, location and experience. An employer who pays a foreign worker above its own Canadian staff to clear the threshold invites scrutiny and refusal.
What are the low-wage stream rules?
A cap on the share of a worksite's workforce that can be low-wage temporary foreign workers (10 percent in most sectors, 20 percent in some), an automatic refusal for low-wage LMIAs in census metropolitan areas where unemployment is 6 percent or higher, shorter permit durations, mandatory return airfare, housing and health insurance obligations, and a transition plan in some cases. The rules were tightened in 2024 and 2025 and remain in force.
Which streams ignore the wage threshold?
The Global Talent Stream has its own occupation list and wage floors, the agricultural streams (including the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program) have their own rules, and the LMIA for permanent residence stream is assessed on the prevailing wage rather than the high or low split. Caregiver positions follow the low-wage or high-wage rules depending on the wage.
How often do the thresholds change?
ESDC has updated them roughly annually, in spring or summer, based on Statistics Canada median wage data. The current table took effect on July 17, 2026; the previous one on June 27, 2025. An LMIA is assessed against the threshold in force on the date ESDC receives it.
Planning an LMIA and unsure which stream you are in?
A licensed RCIC checks the NOC, the prevailing wage and the provincial threshold before the employer advertises, and files under the right stream.