LMIA in Québec: hire a foreign worker without losing months.

What is an LMIA?

The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is the document through which an employer shows that it needs to hire a temporary foreign worker. A positive LMIA then allows the worker to apply for a work permit.

In Québec: two applications, at the same time

For a position located in Québec lasting more than 30 consecutive days, the employer must submit its application simultaneously to Service Canada and to Québec's immigration ministry (MIFI). Documents must be in French.

The worker must also obtain a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ): the employer submits the worker's application for temporary selection at the same time as the LMIA application. A CAQ isn't required, for example, for work of 30 days or less, or when a joint LMIA isn't required. Once the LMIA is positive and the CAQ issued, the worker applies for a work permit with the federal government.

High-wage or low-wage position?

The pathway depends on the wage offered. The threshold is the provincial median hourly wage plus 20%. Above the threshold, the application falls under the high-wage stream; below it, under the low-wage stream, which has more restrictions, including a cap on the proportion of low-wage foreign workers in the business. Thresholds are updated every year; in Québec, the wage offered must also meet the prevailing wage published by the MIFI.

Montréal and Laval: low-wage positions blocked

Since September 26, 2024, the federal government has also refused to process applications for low-wage positions in census metropolitan areas where the unemployment rate is 6% or higher. Before recruiting for a low-wage position, you therefore need to check the region, the wage and the sector.

The facilitated process, a real Québec advantage

Québec and the federal government have agreed on a facilitated process for skilled occupations on a list. For these positions, the employer doesn't have to provide proof of recruitment efforts, although it must still make reasonable efforts to recruit locally before offering the job to a foreign worker.

The list is updated every year; the most recent update was on February 24, 2026, with a 30-day transition period for employers.

What we do for you

• Determine whether the position is high-wage or low-wage, and whether it's affected by the Montréal and Laval restrictions
• Check eligibility for the facilitated process and whether an LMIA exemption applies (for example Francophone Mobility, for a position outside Québec)
• Prepare both applications, in French, and coordinate the candidate's CAQ and work permit
• Put in place what you need to stay compliant after the hire

Frequently asked questions from employers

My business is in Montréal. Can I still hire a foreign worker?

Yes, in several cases: high-wage positions, exempt sectors, or LMIA-exempt pathways. The current restrictions target certain low-wage positions. It all depends on the wage offered, the sector and the occupation.

Does the facilitated process exempt me from the LMIA?

No. It simplifies the LMIA application, notably by exempting you from proof of recruitment efforts, but the LMIA is still required.

Official sources: Employment and Social Development Canada, "Hiring temporary foreign workers in the province of Quebec" and "Facilitated Labour Market Impact Assessment process" (canada.ca, modified July 24, 2026); Government of Québec, "Embaucher un travailleur étranger temporaire avec le traitement simplifié" and "Comprendre les autorisations à obtenir pour embaucher un travailleur étranger temporaire" (quebec.ca). Consulted September 14, 2026.