2026年8月LMIA规则：到底有哪些改变？
Read in English2026年8月，加拿大LMIA相关规则出现了两项值得雇主和外国工人关注的调整。
第一项变化涉及小型雇主的 low-wage LMIA cap 如何计算； 第二项变化则涉及已经在加拿大境内、 但雇主的LMIA尚未获批时， 部分工签申请如何处理。
这次主要有两项变化：
- 小型雇主的low-wage LMIA cap， 按具体的工作地点（work location）计算；
- 符合条件的境内工签申请， 等待positive LMIA期间， IRCC暂缓审理的期限由60天延长至90天。
一、小型雇主的Low-Wage LMIA Cap按工作地点计算
自2026年8月18日起， 如果某一个具体工作地点的总员工人数少于10人， 在计算low-wage cap时， 将按照该工作地点有10名员工来计算。
这意味着：
- 对适用普通10% cap的行业， 一般最多可以有1名low-wage temporary foreign worker；
- 对适用20% cap的指定行业， 一般最多可以有2名low-wage temporary foreign workers；
- 全职员工、兼职员工以及部分已经获得LMIA批准但尚未入职的岗位， 都可能计入workforce；
- 兼职员工按照0.5名员工计算。
为什么“at a given work location”很重要？
这次规定中一个非常值得注意的表述是： “fewer than 10 employees at a given work location”。
这里强调的是具体的 work location， 而不是简单按照整个公司的全国员工总人数计算。
对拥有多个营业地点的企业来说， 这可能意味着不同工作地点的low-wage cap 需要分别进行评估。
例如， 一家公司可能在不同城市或不同门店分别经营。 在判断某一个工作地点能够使用多少low-wage TFW时， 不能简单只看整个公司的员工总人数， 而应当进一步确认相关工作地点的员工数量和cap计算方式。
二、等待LMIA期间，部分工签申请可暂缓审理最多90天
第二项变化自 2026年8月21日起生效。
在特定情况下， 如果外国工人的现有工签即将到期， 但雇主已经递交LMIA申请、 LMIA尚未作出决定， 申请人可以先递交新的employer-specific work permit申请。
IRCC可以将该工签申请 暂缓审理最多90天， 等待申请人补交positive LMIA。
此前这一暂缓期限为60天。
哪些申请人可能符合条件？
一般而言， concurrent processing需要同时满足以下条件：
- 申请人根据 IRPR section 199 有资格从加拿大境内递交工签申请；
- 申请人当前工签在递交新工签申请时 只剩两周或更短时间；
- 雇主已经递交一份 完整的LMIA申请；
- LMIA应当提前合理时间递交， 根据当时公布的processing time， 理论上已经可能作出决定；
- 在递交工签申请的时候， LMIA仍然没有作出决定。
LMIA不能等到最后一刻才递交
这一点对雇主尤其重要。
如果雇主一直等到外国工人的工签快到期时， 才临时递交LMIA， 一般不能仅仅因为工签即将到期， 就自动获得concurrent processing。
IRCC的指引指出， 如果LMIA没有提前合理时间递交， 通常只有在 exceptional circumstances 下才可能允许这种处理方式。
IMM 5710需要使用CPTS2026代码
按照IRCC目前的操作指引， 符合这一程序的申请人 在填写IMM 5710时， 应当在 “Intended occupation” 一栏填写：
CPTS2026
这个代码主要用于IRCC内部识别和追踪相关申请， 并不代表申请自动符合条件， 也不会决定工签是否最终获得批准。
90天并不是额外的90天合法身份
这一点非常容易产生误解。
所谓“90天”， 指的是IRCC可以暂时不对工签申请作出决定， 等待申请人补交positive LMIA。
它并不意味着IRCC另外给予申请人 90天temporary resident status， 也不代表工签一定会获批。
换句话说： 这是一个processing arrangement， 而不是额外的移民身份。
如果在允许的期限内仍然无法提交positive LMIA， 工签申请可能因为缺少必要文件而被拒绝。
这次调整并不代表LMIA全面放宽
2026年8月的这两项变化， 对部分雇主和外国工人来说确实比较有帮助。
对小型雇主而言， 新的low-wage cap计算方式 可能使部分员工人数较少的工作地点 至少可以获得1个或2个low-wage TFW名额。
对正在等待LMIA结果、 而现有工签又即将到期的境内外国工人来说， 90天的holding period 也提供了更长的处理缓冲时间。
但是， 这些变化并不代表Temporary Foreign Worker Program 的整体要求被放宽。
雇主仍然需要满足所有适用的：
- 工资要求；
- 招聘和广告要求；
- 雇主资格要求；
- business legitimacy要求；
- low-wage或high-wage stream相关规定；
- 以及最终工签审批要求。
实务上应该注意什么？
对正在考虑LMIA的雇主而言， 最重要的是尽早规划。
如果已经有外国员工的工签即将到期， 雇主不应该等到最后几周才开始准备LMIA。
对拥有多个门店或营业地点的企业， 则应该分别检查每一个work location的员工人数， 再判断low-wage cap如何适用。
对外国工人而言， 即使可以使用90天的concurrent processing安排， 也仍然需要同时考虑自己的合法身份、 maintained status、 当前工签条件以及LMIA最终结果。
What Changed in Canada’s LMIA Rules in August 2026?
Two important LMIA-related changes were introduced in August 2026.
One affects how the low-wage LMIA cap is calculated for small employers, while the other gives certain in-Canada work permit applicants more time to submit a positive LMIA.
The two main changes are:
- The low-wage LMIA cap for small employers is calculated based on a particular work location.
- Certain in-Canada work permit applications may be held for up to 90 days while IRCC waits for a positive LMIA.
1. Low-Wage LMIA Cap for Small Employers Is Calculated by Work Location
Effective August 18, 2026, when an employer has fewer than 10 employees at a particular work location, the low-wage cap is calculated as though that location had 10 employees.
This means:
- In industries subject to the standard 10% cap, the employer may generally hire one low-wage temporary foreign worker.
- In designated industries subject to the 20% cap, the employer may generally hire up to two low-wage temporary foreign workers.
- Full-time and part-time employees, as well as certain approved LMIA positions that have not yet been filled, may be included in the workforce calculation.
- A part-time employee is counted as 0.5 of an employee.
Why “At a Given Work Location” Matters
The important wording in the requirement is “fewer than 10 employees at a given work location.”
This suggests that employers operating from multiple locations may need to assess the low-wage cap separately for each work location, rather than simply using the company’s total workforce across Canada.
2. LMIA-Related Work Permit Applications May Be Held for Up to 90 Days
Effective August 21, 2026, certain foreign workers in Canada may submit an employer-specific work permit application before the employer receives a decision on its LMIA application.
IRCC may hold the work permit application for up to 90 days while waiting for the applicant to provide a positive LMIA.
The previous holding period was 60 days.
General Conditions for Concurrent Processing
The applicant must generally meet all of the following conditions:
- The applicant is eligible to apply for a work permit from within Canada under section 199 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
- The applicant’s current work permit will expire within two weeks.
- The employer has already submitted a complete LMIA application.
- The LMIA application was submitted sufficiently in advance and could reasonably have been decided based on the published processing time.
- No decision has been made on the LMIA when the work permit application is submitted.
Employers Should Not Wait Until the Last Minute
If an employer waits until shortly before the worker’s status expires to submit the LMIA application, IRCC will generally allow concurrent processing only in exceptional circumstances.
Employers should therefore plan the LMIA process well in advance of the foreign worker’s work permit expiry date.
CPTS2026 Code on IMM 5710
Applicants following this procedure should enter the code CPTS2026 in the “Intended occupation” field of form IMM 5710.
This is an internal tracking code and does not determine whether the work permit application will be approved.
The 90-Day Period Is Not Additional Legal Status
Importantly, the 90-day holding period does not provide an additional 90 days of temporary resident status.
It also does not guarantee approval of the work permit.
The 90-day period is a processing arrangement. It allows IRCC to delay making a decision while waiting for the positive LMIA.
If the applicant does not provide a positive LMIA within the permitted period, the work permit application may be refused for failing to include a required document.
These Changes Do Not Mean the LMIA Program Has Been Generally Relaxed
The August 2026 changes provide two limited but potentially helpful measures: a clearer and potentially more favourable low-wage cap calculation for small employers, and a longer holding period for certain in-Canada work permit applications awaiting an LMIA decision.
However, employers and applicants must still meet all applicable requirements concerning wages, recruitment, employer eligibility, business legitimacy and work permit issuance.