The federal government has released its quarterly list of CMAs, wherein low-wage LMIA processing is halted in selected Canadian regions.  

In August 2024, it was announced that the government would stop processing LMIA applications under the low-wage stream of the TFWP, i.e., Temporary Foreign Worker Program for CMAs with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher.  

Since then, it has been releasing a list of CMAs with their corresponding unemployment rate. If the unemployment rate is 6% or more, low-wage LMIA applications in that CMA will not be processed. 

Its recent update lists which CMAs will not process low-wage LMIAs between April 4 and July 10, 2025. 

Without an LMIA, employers cannot hire a foreign national under the TFWP, nor can a TFWP worker renew their work permit. 

Which CMAs Are Ineligible As Of April 4? 

The government has identified 24 CMAs with unemployment rates of 6% or higher. 

These regions in Canada will not process low-wage LMIA applications over the next three months. 

The government will update this list every three months. The next updated list will come on July 11. 

How Do I Know If A Work Location Is In A CMA? 

Low-wage LMIA processing is halted in selected Canadian regions. In order to determine whether your job falls under one of these CMA:

• Enter the full postal code of the work location in the Census of Population search.
• Check the ‘Census Metropolitan Area/ Census Agglomeration’ result on the Geography search results page: 
• If this level isn’t listed, your application is still eligible.
• If it shows Census agglomeration, your application is still eligible.
• If it shows a Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), you can check if the CMA is listed in the table above. If it is, your application will not be processed for the next three months. 

Which CMAs Were Removed From The List This Quarter? 

Some CMAs had unemployment rates of 6% or higher between January 9 and April 3 but are no longer on the list. 

In other words, these CMAs were not processing low-wage LMIAs in the first quarter of 2025, but they will in the second quarter of 2025. 

• Regina, Saskatchewan (5.9%)
• London, Ontario (5.5%)

What Can I Do If A Position Is In A CMA With An Unemployment Rate Above 6%? 

Low-wage LMIA processing is halted in selected Canadian regions. Both employers as well as employees must check the unemployment rate of the CMA where the job position is located before submitting a low-wage LMIA application. This will help them find out whether the application will be processed or not. 

If an employer wishes to recruit a foreign worker under the TFWP in a CMA with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher, they can increase the wage of the position so that it falls under the high-wage stream of the TFWP. 

Employees with a job offer under the low-wage stream in a CMA where unemployment is 6% or higher can ask if their employers are willing to wait three months in case there is any change to the unemployment rates. 

Those still searching for a suitable job under the low-wage stream of the TFWP can focus their job hunt on CMAs, where LMIAs are still being processed. 

Those presently on a low-wage TFWP work permit who lose status, because their work permit cannot be extended, must stop working. A worker who loses work status can apply for a visitor record to remain in Canada as a visitor if they wish. 

What Is A CMA? 

A CMA, i.e., Census Metropolitan Area is a region formed by one or more adjacent municipalities around a core population center, known as the core. 

A CMA must have a total population of a minimum of 100,000 based on data from the present Census of Population Program, of which 50,000 or more should live in the core based on adjusted data from the earlier Census of Population Program. 

Once an area has been designated as a CMA, it retains this status even if its population falls below the certain population threshold.

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].