Canada's three new LMIA rules take effect, including two-year maximum for low-wage LMIAs
Key points
- Low-wage LMIA applications submitted on or after Nov. 6, 2026 can support up to two years of employment, up from one
- The change is not retroactive and does not apply to LMIAs already submitted or approved
- Early childhood educators are added to an exemption list; a third IRCC operational update took effect in late October
Employment and Social Development Canada confirmed that low-wage LMIA applications submitted on or after Nov. 6, 2026 can support up to two years of employment, up from one. The change is not retroactive and does not apply to LMIAs already submitted or approved. Two changes took effect Nov. 6, and a third, an IRCC operational update, took effect in late October. The changes also add early childhood educators to an exemption list.
What employers should do
- Check LMIA applications submitted on or after Nov. 6, 2026 and plan employment periods within the two-year maximum
- Confirm whether your positions qualify for the early childhood educator exemption
Policy details
- Jurisdiction
- Canada
- Status
- In effect
- Effective date
- 2026-11-06
- Employers covered
- Employers using the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (low-wage LMIA)
- Official source
- View official source ↗
Original report: INC News ↗Edited with AI assistance. Facts are based on official sources and original reports. For information only; not legal, immigration or insurance advice.