Toronto has been blocked for low-wage LMIA processing since September 2024 and remains on the federal freeze list as of the Q2 2026 update (April 10 to July 9). Most Toronto restaurant, retail, and hospitality LMIA inquiries cannot proceed under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in the current regulatory environment. What can proceed: high-wage LMIA at provincial median wage or above, Global Talent Stream for eligible tech occupations, LMIA-exempt work permits under the International Mobility Program, and sector-exempt low-wage in primary agriculture, healthcare, and construction. We work with Toronto employers across all four pathways.
1-hour paid consultation · Diagnostic on your hiring scenario and viable routes
Sources: ESDC Labour Market Impact Assessment processing times and policy updates, March-May 2026.
Each pathway has different eligibility, processing times, costs, and compliance obligations. On a paid employer strategy session, I work through your specific hire and identify which pathway (or combination) fits your situation. Below is the overview.
For positions paying at or above the regional median wage (often $36/hour or more in many NOCs, varies by occupation and province). Toronto is open for high-wage LMIA processing.
For eligible tech, engineering, and high-skilled occupations on the Global Talent Occupations List (Category B) or unique specialized talent referred by designated partner organization (Category A).
Work permits under the International Mobility Program, administered by IRCC. No labour market test required. Significant benefit must be demonstrated.
For employers in sectors exempt from the 6% unemployment block: primary agriculture, healthcare, construction, food processing, and seasonal agriculture.
Software, data science, cybersecurity, engineering. Usually Global Talent Stream Category B (Global Talent Occupations List) for fast 10-day LMIA, or ICT for intra-company transfers from US or other offices. CUSMA Professional for US-based hires in specific listed occupations.
Sector-exempt from the Toronto low-wage block. Low-wage LMIA may be viable for specific NOC codes (carpenters, electricians, registered nurses, personal support workers). Workforce caps and compliance obligations apply.
Setting up a Canadian subsidiary or branch and moving key personnel. Intra-Company Transferee (ICT) work permits under IMP. Executive, senior managerial, or specialized knowledge categories. Initial work permit up to 1 year, renewable to 5-7 years total.
We do: LMIA applications across all streams; LMIA-exempt work permit filings under IMP; employer compliance reviews and audit preparation; work permit applications for the foreign worker after LMIA approval; recruitment advertising strategy and documentation; transition plan drafting; provincial nominee employer-driven streams (OINP Employer Job Offer, etc.).
We don’t: Recruitment itself (we are not a recruitment agency; we do not place candidates with employers); employment law disputes (we refer to employment counsel); US-side hiring or H-1B sponsorship (we refer to US-licensed counsel); Quebec-specific work permits requiring CSQ (we refer to Quebec-licensed consultants for the provincial selection portion).
Compliance and audit support: ESDC employer inspections increased substantially in 2024-2026. We assist employers in preparing for compliance reviews, responding to ESDC requests, and remediating findings. Employer non-compliance with TFWP rules can result in fines, bans, and placement on the ineligibility list.
For French-speaking foreign workers, the C-16 Mobilite Francophone work permit is LMIA-exempt under IMP and processed in 6-10 weeks; see our Francophone practice page. For US-based workers (H-1B or other), see From the US to Canada. For the foreign worker after the LMIA or LMIA-exempt approval is issued, see our work permits page.
$200 paid consultation, deliberately priced because it is real diagnostic work. We review your hiring scenario, NOC code, wage offer, sector, and location, and you leave the call knowing which pathway is viable and what timeline to plan around.