Quebec's facilitated LMIA process: what it changes for employers

The LMIA facilitated process Quebec occupations list helps employers identify positions that may qualify for simplified recruitment requirements. It does not exempt a Quebec employer from obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), meeting wage rules or completing any required provincial steps. This article is based on Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) pages checked on October 17, 2026.

Key takeaways

• Use the current official Quebec facilitated-process list, and match the position’s NOC code to an entry on that list.
• Choose the NOC based on the work’s main duties, not just the job title, then check any conditions tied to the work location.
• For an eligible occupation, you don’t have to provide proof of recruitment efforts, but the employer still submits an LMIA application and must keep making best efforts to recruit Canadians and permanent residents.
• List eligibility does not remove the wage-stream rules, the low-wage processing limits in Montréal and Laval, or a required CAQ for work.
• A positive LMIA is not a work permit. The worker must obtain the required authorization before starting the job.
• For help assessing a Quebec position and its LMIA steps, see our Quebec LMIA guidance.

How to check the current Quebec occupations list

Start with the current ESDC guidance, which links to the facilitated-process list of specialized occupations, set by the Quebec government and published in French.

Use the official list rather than an undated copy. Search it by the position’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) code, and read any notes attached to the entry instead of relying on a similar occupation name.

What to check	How to check it	Why it matters
List version	Open the current federal facilitated-process page and its linked list.	Eligible occupations can change with the annual update.
NOC code	Find the code that best describes the position’s actual work, then search for that code in the list.	A similar job title does not establish that the occupation is listed.
Location conditions	Read the location rules in the current official guidance and compare them with the actual work location.	Location-based processing rules can apply even when the occupation appears on the list.

ESDC states that the list of specialized occupations is updated every year on February 24; the current version dates from February 24, 2026. Employers have 30 calendar days to transition to the updated list.

The list covers occupations classified under NOC skill levels 0, A and B, now classified under Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories 0, 1, 2 and 3. That broad classification is not a substitute for checking whether the specific occupation and code appear on the current list: not every TEER 0 to 3 occupation is on it.

Match the job’s duties and location to the listed NOC

Identify the NOC by comparing the proposed job’s main duties and responsibilities with the occupation descriptions in the National Occupational Classification. Use the title as an initial clue only, because employers may use different titles for positions with similar duties.

Once you have a likely code, compare it with the current Quebec list and check the conditions relating to the work location in the official facilitated-process instructions. If duties span more than one occupation, document the actual responsibilities clearly and select the NOC that best represents the position.

Keep list eligibility separate from the candidate’s qualifications. The worker must still meet the job’s requirements and applicable federal work-permit rules, while a regulated occupation may also require authorization from a Quebec regulator.

What facilitated processing changes, and what it does not

The facilitated process is a route for applying for an LMIA through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) in Quebec, not an LMIA exemption.

For occupations on the list, ESDC says employers aren’t required to provide proof of recruitment efforts when submitting an LMIA application. Even so, the employer must continue making best efforts to recruit Canadian citizens and permanent residents before hiring a foreign national, and ESDC may still request information or documents, for example if there is reason to believe no such effort was made.

Make sure the facilitated process is the route you want before you apply: if you change your mind after applying, you must cancel and reapply, and processing fees are neither refunded nor transferred.

For an overview of how we work with businesses, see our employer services.

Apply the correct wage stream and check other restrictions

Determine whether the position falls under the high-wage or low-wage stream by comparing the offered wage with the current provincial hourly wage threshold for Quebec. Use ESDC’s current wage-stream guidance, not a threshold copied from an older article. Whatever the stream, the wage must be consistent with the wage rate paid to Canadians and permanent residents in the same occupation and area; for a unionized position, the collective agreement applies.

Wage offered	Stream	What changes
At or above Quebec’s hourly wage threshold	High-wage	Transition plan required, except for the first LMIA application request for the same occupation at the same work location under the facilitated process. Up to 3 years of employment when no Canadians or permanent residents are available.
Below the threshold	Low-wage	Low-wage stream requirements, a maximum duration of 1 year, and the refusal-to-process rules below.

When a transition plan is required, it should set out practical steps to recruit or train Canadian citizens and permanent residents and reduce reliance on temporary foreign workers. Describe measures that fit the employer’s actual hiring needs rather than generic commitments.

Two location rules limit low-wage applications:

• Since September 26, 2024, ESDC does not process certain LMIA applications for low-wage positions with a work location in a census metropolitan area with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher, subject to exemptions.
• Until December 31, 2026, certain LMIA applications for low-wage positions in the economic regions of Montréal and Laval won’t be processed. Whether an application is processed then depends on the Montréal area’s unemployment rate and the related exemptions.

Check ESDC’s current Quebec pages before preparing a low-wage file in the Montréal area.

How Quebec and federal application steps fit together

Quebec LMIA applications involve federal and provincial requirements. The facilitated list does not create a separate exemption: employers follow the federal LMIA process and the relevant Quebec steps, and the worker obtains a CAQ for temporary work when required.

When the work location is in Quebec and the employment period is more than 30 consecutive days, ESDC’s Quebec instructions state that LMIA applications must be submitted simultaneously to Service Canada and the Ministère de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration (MII, formerly MIFI), and that all applications must be submitted in French. ESDC warns that failing to do so may affect the processing of your application. In LMIA Online, choose French before you start.

Prepare the application around the position’s duties and NOC code, the wage and stream, the actual work location, recruitment information and the supporting documents required by the current forms. Our LMIA assistance for Quebec employers describes support with assessing a position, choosing the stream and preparing the LMIA, CAQ and work-permit steps; use the official instructions for the requirements themselves.

A filing checklist for Quebec

• The employer’s documents are in French; the worker’s are in French or English, or translated by a professional translator.
• The employer’s name, Quebec enterprise number (NEQ) and LMIA number are identical in both applications.
• If a representative files for you, the designated employee signs the attestation form ME-0031-2309.
• For a unionized position, pay the collective agreement rate, offer the same benefits and attach the excerpt showing the wage scale.
• Fees: $1,000 per position to ESDC, and Quebec’s fee for assessing the offer, $233 per worker since January 1, 2026, indexed every January 1, paid by card at filing and not refunded if refused. The worker’s application for temporary selection costs another $233.

Example: a machine shop in Saint-Hyacinthe wants to hire two industrial mechanics at a wage above Quebec’s threshold. The employer checks the current list for the NOC code that matches the duties, confirms the code is listed, and files one LMIA for two positions, at the same time with Service Canada and the MII, in French. It doesn’t attach proof of recruitment, but it keeps its job postings and the applications it received in case ESDC asks. It is a first request for this occupation at this location, so no transition plan is needed yet. Budget: $2,000 federal and $466 for Quebec’s assessment, before the workers’ CAQs and permits.

What the worker still needs after an LMIA decision

A positive LMIA does not itself authorize the worker to begin employment; the worker needs the CAQ for work where required and an IRCC work permit before starting.

The occupation’s presence on the Quebec list does not establish that a particular worker meets the job’s education, experience or other requirements. The worker must satisfy the conditions for the position and the permit application. For the full sequence, see our guide on hiring a foreign worker in Quebec. Not sure an LMIA is even needed? See LMIA or LMIA exemption.

Some Quebec occupations are regulated and require a licence, permit or other authorization to practise. Check the profession’s requirements with the relevant regulator; immigration authorization and professional authorization are separate requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Is the facilitated process an LMIA exemption?

No. You still apply for an LMIA; you just don’t attach proof of recruitment efforts for listed occupations.

Can a worker start working while the LMIA or work-permit application is still being processed?

A pending application alone does not authorize work; the worker needs valid work authorization before starting.

What should an employer do if the job’s duties change after the LMIA application is submitted?

Tell the processing authorities promptly and ask whether the change affects the application or requires a new filing.

Can an employer use the facilitated process for a position that requires professional licensing in Quebec?

Yes, if the occupation is on the list; licensing is a separate matter. The employer should account for the regulator’s authorization steps.

What should an employer do if the occupations list changes while an application is being prepared?

Reopen the official list, note the version and date, and follow ESDC’s 30-day transition rule for the timing of the application. If the proposed NOC no longer appears, do not assume an older copy controls.

Conclusion

To use the LMIA facilitated process Quebec occupations list correctly, employers need to verify the current NOC entry, match it to the job’s actual duties and location, and apply the right wage stream. Facilitated processing relaxes the proof of recruitment, but it is not an LMIA exemption and does not remove the wage, CAQ, work-permit or licensing requirements. Employers can describe the position or book a consultation.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 17, 2026:

• ESDC — Facilitated LMIA process for Quebec employers