How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Foreign Worker in Canada? (2026)
As of September 2026, the main government fee for a Canadian employer is CAD $1,000 per position for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), or CAD $230 for an LMIA-exempt job offer submitted through the IRCC Employer Portal. Workers pay CAD $155 for a work permit plus $85 for biometrics, and CAD $1,590 each for the principal applicant and spouse when they apply for permanent residence. The Atlantic Immigration Program and the Rural Community Immigration Pilot have no employer fee and need no LMIA.
On this page
- LMIA fee
- $1,000 per position (employer only)
- Employer compliance fee
- $230 per LMIA-exempt offer
- Work permit
- $155 per person
- Open work permit
- $155 plus $100 holder fee
- Biometrics
- $85 per person; $170 family maximum
- PR (economic), principal
- $990 plus $600 RPRF = $1,590 (since Apr 30, 2026)
- AIP and RCIP designation
- Free
Fees the employer pays
All amounts in Canadian dollars, as of September 2026, from the IRCC fee list and ESDC:
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LMIA processing fee | $1,000 per position | High-wage, low-wage, and Global Talent Stream. Not refundable if withdrawn, cancelled, or refused. Cannot be paid by or recovered from the worker |
| LMIA fee exemptions | $0 | On-farm primary agriculture positions; caregivers for home care of a person with medical needs; childcare caregivers hired by families with gross annual income of $150,000 or less |
| Employer compliance fee | $230 per offer | Paid in the IRCC Employer Portal for LMIA-exempt offers (intra-company transfers, CUSMA, Francophone Mobility, PNP nominee permits, and others) |
| Employer compliance fee, group of 3+ performing artists | $690 | Group rate |
| AIP or RCIP designation | $0 | No cost to become designated |
Whether LMIAs used only to support a permanent residence application are exempt from the $1,000 fee was not confirmed for this page; check ESDC's page for that stream.
Fees the worker (or employer, if it chooses) pays
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit processing | $155 per person | Employer-specific or open |
| Open work permit holder fee | $100 | Added to the $155 (total $255), for example for eligible spouses |
| Group of 3+ performing artists | $465 | Group work permit rate |
| Biometrics | $85 per person; $170 family maximum; $255 for groups of 3+ performing artists | Usually once every 10 years |
| Restore status as a worker | $401.25 | Plus the new permit fee, if the worker lost status |
| PR processing fee, principal (economic programs incl. Express Entry, PNP, AIP, RCIP) | $990 | Rose from $950 on April 30, 2026 |
| Right of permanent residence fee (RPRF) | $600 | Principal and spouse; rose from $575 |
| PR, spouse or partner | $990 + $600 = $1,590 | |
| PR, each dependent child | $270 | No RPRF |
| Business PR programs, principal | $1,895 + $600 = $2,495 |
Employers may choose to pay work permit and PR fees as a hiring benefit. They must pay the LMIA fee and any recruitment costs themselves.
Extra costs in the low-wage stream
If the wage is below the provincial median plus 20% (for example, below CAD $36.92 an hour in Ontario from July 17, 2026), the low-wage stream applies, and the employer must also:
- Pay round-trip transportation for the worker to and from Canada
- Make sure suitable, affordable housing is available, costing the worker less than 30% of pre-tax income
- Buy private health insurance covering emergency care until provincial coverage starts
- Advertise for 8 weeks (since April 1, 2026), including youth outreach, before applying
Agricultural and SAWP employers also provide inspected housing. See the LMIA guide for the threshold in every province.
Provincial nominee program fees
Provinces charge the worker an application fee for a nomination. Examples as of September 2026, from the provinces' sites: Ontario $1,500 outside the Greater Toronto Area and $2,000 inside; British Columbia $1,750; Alberta $1,500 plus a $135 expression of interest fee; Nova Scotia $1,000 once selected; Saskatchewan $500; PEI $300; New Brunswick $250. Employer registration is usually free. Fees change often, so confirm with the province. See PNP employer streams.
Worked examples
Government fees only, in CAD, as of September 2026. Legal, recruitment, and relocation costs are extra.
| Scenario | Employer pays | Worker pays |
|---|---|---|
| High-wage LMIA, one worker | $1,000 | $155 + $85 = $240 |
| Low-wage LMIA, one worker | $1,000 + round-trip airfare + health insurance | $240 (housing must be affordable) |
| Global Talent Stream hire with spouse | $1,000 | $240 (worker) + $255 + $85 (spouse open permit) = $580 |
| Intra-company transfer or CUSMA | $230 | $240 |
| On-farm primary agriculture LMIA | $0 LMIA fee; housing and travel costs | $240 |
| AIP or RCIP hire, single applicant | $0 | $1,590 + $85 = $1,675 (PR) |
| Express Entry or PNP, family of four (2 adults, 2 children) | $0 federal | $1,590 × 2 + $270 × 2 + $170 = $3,890 (PR) |
Other costs to budget for
- Professional help. Fees for a lawyer or a licensed consultant (RCIC) vary widely. Only licensed representatives may charge for immigration advice. See how to verify a lawyer or consultant.
- Advertising on paid job boards beyond Job Bank.
- Licensing and credential recognition for regulated jobs such as nursing, trades, and engineering, which can take months.
- Relocation, temporary housing, and settlement support, which AIP and RCIP employers commit to.
- Staff time for record keeping and inspections over 6 years.
How time adds to cost
| Route | Main time driver |
|---|---|
| High-wage LMIA | 4 weeks of ads plus ESDC processing |
| Low-wage LMIA | 8 weeks of ads plus ESDC processing; refused in 26 of 41 metro areas for July 10 to October 8, 2026 |
| Global Talent Stream | About 10 business days for the LMIA |
| LMIA-exempt | Work permit processing only |
| AIP, RCIP, PNP | Designation or registration, endorsement or nomination, then IRCC |
Check current IRCC times on our processing times tool. Low-wage refusal areas are listed on the refusal areas page.
What you can never charge a worker
- The LMIA fee
- Recruitment fees, whether you or a third-party recruiter would collect them
- Costs of a job offer, designation, endorsement, or nomination support
Charging these can lead to fines of up to $100,000 per violation, bans, and public listing. See Canada employer compliance. Workers who are asked to pay should read our scam protection guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an LMIA cost in 2026?
CAD $1,000 per position, as of September 2026, paid by the employer. On-farm primary agriculture positions and some caregiver positions are exempt.
What is the employer compliance fee?
A CAD $230 fee employers pay in the IRCC Employer Portal when they submit an offer for an LMIA-exempt work permit, such as an intra-company transfer or CUSMA professional.
How much does a Canadian work permit cost?
CAD $155 per person, plus $85 for biometrics. Open work permits add a $100 holder fee.
How much are permanent residence fees after April 30, 2026?
For economic programs, CAD $990 processing plus a $600 right of permanent residence fee for the principal applicant and for a spouse ($1,590 each), and $270 per dependent child.
Is there a fee to become an AIP or RCIP designated employer?
No. IRCC says there is no cost to become a designated employer under either program.
Can we ask the worker to repay the LMIA fee if they quit?
No. The LMIA fee cannot be paid by or recovered from the worker under any arrangement.
Official sources
- IRCC: Fee listircc.canada.ca
- IRCC: Fee changes (April 30, 2026)ircc.canada.ca
- ESDC: High-wage stream requirements (LMIA fee)canada.ca
- ESDC: Low-wage stream requirementscanada.ca
- ESDC: Wage thresholdscanada.ca
General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.