Low-Wage vs High-Wage LMIA: What's the Difference?
Low-wage vs high-wage LMIA streams in Canada — how the threshold is set, employer obligations, caps, transport and housing requirements, and what each means for the worker.
Whether an LMIA is high-wage or low-wage decides what the employer has to do — and how restrictive the program is.
The threshold
ESDC compares the offered wage to the median hourly wage for the role's NOC in the province or territory of work (published by Job Bank).
- At or above median → high-wage stream.
- Below median → low-wage stream.
High-wage stream
- Employer must complete recruitment and submit a transition plan.
- Generally faster processing.
- No regional cap on number of foreign workers per employer.
Low-wage stream
- Employer must arrange or assist with transportation to and from Canada.
- Employer must help find or provide affordable housing.
- Employer must register with the provincial workers' compensation board.
- Subject to the 10% cap on percentage of low-wage TFWs at a worksite (with sector exceptions).
- Refused in regions where unemployment exceeds 6% (in many recent quarters).
Caps and quotas
The 10% low-wage cap applies per worksite. Some sectors (primary agriculture, in-home care, seasonal seafood/fish processing) are exempt or have higher caps. Recent changes have tightened low-wage limits in major urban areas.
What it means for workers
- Both streams give you the same Canadian labour rights and the same path to a closed work permit.
- Low-wage workers should expect the employer to assist with relocation logistics.
- Some PR pathways favour higher-skilled / higher-wage NOCs — confirm with your immigration representative.
Related: LMIA Canada explained · LMIA-exempt work permits.
Disclaimer
Jobeefy is not an immigration service. Always verify with an authorized immigration representative.