Canada expands low-wage work permit freeze, adds six regions and removes two

Canada has updated its low-wage work permit rules under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), adding six regions to its processing freeze and removing two. The freeze runs until January 7, 2027, and applies to regions with unemployment of at least 6%.

The two regions removed from the restricted list are Kamloops and Chilliwack. The six new additions are Halifax, Fredericton, Kingston, St. Catharines-Niagara, Regina and Lethbridge. The changes leave 24 previously affected regions on the list, while the new additions face the same restrictions on low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications.

What changed and when

The updated policy took effect on October 9, 2026, and will remain in place until January 7, 2027. It applies to regions where the unemployment rate is 6% or higher. In those areas, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will not process LMIAs for low-wage positions under the TFWP.

An LMIA is a document employers generally need to show that they require a foreign worker and that hiring one will not negatively affect the Canadian labour market. Employers in affected regions cannot submit new LMIA applications for low-wage positions paying below 120% of the relevant provincial or territorial median hourly wage. The restrictions also affect applications to renew employment arrangements covered by the rules.

Canada introduced the broader restrictions in September 2024 as part of measures to limit the use of low-wage foreign workers in areas with high unemployment. The minimum wage threshold for low-wage positions was raised to 120% of the applicable provincial or territorial median hourly wage on November 8, 2024.

Sectors still exempt

Despite the freeze, employers in several sectors can continue recruiting foreign workers. Exemptions cover primary agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities. Private households hiring nurses, childcare providers and personal support workers as in-home caregivers are also exempt. Employers may apply for case-specific exemptions for certain temporary or highly mobile jobs, including roles linked to concerts, carnivals and fairs.

What it means for applicants

Foreign nationals seeking employment in Canada should check whether their intended work location falls under the restrictions and whether their jobs qualify for an exemption. The removal of Kamloops and Chilliwack means those regions are no longer subject to this particular low-wage LMIA processing freeze under the updated list. However, employers and applicants must still meet other applicable immigration and work permit requirements.

The changes do not amount to a nationwide ban on hiring foreign workers. They limit the processing of certain low-wage LMIA applications in designated regions with elevated unemployment, while allowing recruitment in exempt sectors. Foreign workers and employers should consult official Canadian government guidance to confirm the rules for their specific jobs and locations.

In a related move, Canada extended a special immigration pathway that allows international graduates, including Nigerians, to pursue permanent residency through employment after completing selected programmes at two private colleges in New Brunswick. The province said its Private Career College Graduate Pilot will remain open until December 31, 2027.