Canadian Regions Where Low-Wage LMIAs Won’t Be Processed

There are certain Canadian regions where low-wage LMIAs won’t be processed. The federal government has published its quarterly update identifying the CMAs for the same.

Back in August 2024, it was announced that LMIA applications under the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) would not be processed in CMAs with unemployment rates at or above 6%.

Since that announcement, the government has been releasing a list of CMAs along with their unemployment rates. If a CMA has a rate of 6% or higher, low-wage LMIA applications for that area are not processed.

The latest update outlines the CMAs where low-wage LMIAs will not be processed between April 4 and July 10, 2025.

Without an LMIA, employers cannot hire foreign nationals through the TFWP, and existing workers under this stream cannot renew their work permits.

Which CMAs Are Ineligible As Of April 4?

The government has listed 24 CMAs with unemployment rates of 6% or above. These Canadian regions are ineligible for low-wage LMIA processing during this three-month period.

The list is reviewed and updated every three months. The next update is expected on July 11, 2025.

How Do I Know If A Work Location Is In A CMA?

There are certain Canadian regions where low-wage LMIAs won’t be processed. To find out if your work location is part of a CMA:

• Enter the full postal code of the job location in the Census of Population search tool.
• On the Geography results page, check for ‘Census Metropolitan Area/ Census Agglomeration’:
  • If this level does not appear, your application can proceed.
  • If the result shows Census agglomeration, the application is still eligible.
  • If the result shows a Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), refer to the table above. If listed, the application will not be processed in the current quarter.

Which CMAs Were Removed From The List This Quarter?

Some CMAs had unemployment rates above 6% during the January 9 to April 3 period but are no longer on the list.

This means these CMAs were ineligible for low-wage LMIA processing during the first quarter of 2025, but have become eligible in the second quarter.

• Regina, Saskatchewan – 5.9%
• London, Ontario – 5.5%

What Can I Do If A Position Is In A CMA With An Unemployment Rate Above 6%?

There are certain Canadian regions where low-wage LMIAs won’t be processed.  Employers and foreign workers should verify the unemployment rate of the CMA where the job is located before submitting a low-wage LMIA application. This will help determine if the application will be processed.

• Employers looking to hire a foreign worker in a CMA with 6%+ unemployment can raise the job’s wage to qualify for the high-wage stream of the TFWP.
• Workers with job offers under the low-wage stream in such CMAs can ask employers if they’re open to waiting three months to see if the CMA becomes eligible in the next update.
• Job seekers aiming for the low-wage stream can target CMAs where LMIA processing is still ongoing.
• Workers already on a low-wage TFWP work permit must stop working if they lose status due to their permit not being extended. They can apply for a visitor record if they wish to remain in Canada as a visitor.

What Is A CMA?

A Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) is a geographic region made up of one or more neighboring municipalities built around a core urban center.

To qualify as a CMA, the area must have a minimum total population of 100,000, with at least 50,000 people in the core based on the most recent Census.

Once an area becomes a CMA, it keeps that status even if its population later drops below the required threshold.

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