Canada
Canada visa salary thresholds
Canadian work permits use the TEER-banded prevailing wage set by ESDC and the LMIA system. Express Entry has no salary floor, but PNP streams and LMIA-based work permits do.
Last checked 1 June 2026. Every figure is mapped to a primary government source and re-verified over time; recorded changes appear in the changelog.
What salary do you need for a skilled-work visa in Canada?
The main skilled-work salary floor in Canada is CA$75,000 / year (LMIA — High-wage stream floor (indicative)), effective 27 June 2025. Occupation-specific going rates may bind higher.
Verified against ESDC — Provincial/territorial median wages on 1 June 2026.
Threshold table
| Route | Amount | ~USD | In force since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
LMIA — High-wage stream floor (indicative) Indicative full-time proxy for ESDC's High-wage LMIA stream, which requires a wage at or above the provincial/territorial median hourly wage. The median thresholds were raised on 27 June 2025 — e.g. Ontario CA$36.00/hour, BC CA$36.60/hour (≈CA$75,000 full-time). Exact cut-offs vary by province. | CA$75,000 / year | $54,000 | 2025-06-27 | ESDC — Provincial/territorial median wages |
Low-wage stream floor (2024 reforms) Low-wage positions pay below the provincial median hourly wage. The stream was restricted in November 2024 to cap foreign-worker ratios at 10% in most industries. | Not applicable | — | 2024-11-08 | ESDC — Temporary Foreign Worker Program reforms |
Provincial Nominee — typical employer-driven floor Indicative across employer-driven PNP streams. Actual thresholds vary: Ontario OINP targets CA$60,000+ for general skilled streams, BC PNP Skilled Worker uses regional wage rates. | CA$50,000 / year | $36,000 | 2025-01-01 | IRCC — Provincial Nominee Program |
Start-up Visa — settlement funds (not salary) Settlement funds requirement for a single Start-up Visa applicant, not a salary (CA$15,263 for one person; scales per family member). Note: the Start-up Visa closed to new applications on 31 December 2025; permanent-residence applications already in the queue are accepted until 30 June 2026. | CA$15,263 / year | $11,000 | 2025-01-03 | IRCC — Start-up Visa eligibility |
How often this changes
Canada's TFWP was tightened on 8 November 2024 (low-wage cap, accelerated processing removed for high-wage stream); the high-wage provincial median thresholds were raised again on 27 June 2025. The Start-up Visa closed to new intake on 31 December 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary to qualify for a work visa in Canada?
Canadian work permits use the TEER-banded prevailing wage set by ESDC and the LMIA system. Express Entry has no salary floor, but PNP streams and LMIA-based work permits do.
How often do Canada salary thresholds change?
Canada's TFWP was tightened on 8 November 2024 (low-wage cap, accelerated processing removed for high-wage stream); the high-wage provincial median thresholds were raised again on 27 June 2025. The Start-up Visa closed to new intake on 31 December 2025.
Does meeting the headline threshold guarantee approval?
No. Headline floors are one of several criteria. Most jurisdictions also apply an occupation-specific going rate, character and health checks, and — for sponsored routes — employer/sponsor compliance. Failing any one of these can lead to refusal even where salary is above the threshold.
Related
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.