Hiring foreign workers in hospitality has become harder than in almost any other sector, and not by accident. Most hotel, restaurant and tourism jobs fall in the low-wage stream of the LMIA, and that is exactly where the federal rules tightened most. Several provincial routes that used to help have also closed.
Here is what still works, and where the limits are.
Why is hospitality hit harder than other sectors?
Because most of its jobs are low-wage, and hospitality does not get the higher cap other sectors have.
For low-wage positions, an employer can have no more than 10% of its workforce at a work location in temporary foreign workers. A few sectors get a 20% cap: construction, food manufacturing, hospitals and nursing and residential care. Accommodation and food services is not one of them.
If you run a hotel or a restaurant, 10% is your ceiling.
Where can’t you apply at all?
In metropolitan areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher, low-wage LMIAs are refused.
Service Canada does not process low-wage applications for jobs located in a census metropolitan area at or above that rate. Some positions are exempt, but most hospitality roles are not. Before you plan a hiring season, check whether your location is on the list.
Which provinces still have a route for the sector?
Alberta does. British Columbia closed its route.
| Province | Status |
|---|---|
| Alberta — Tourism and Hospitality Stream | Open: 15 of 156 nominations left for 2026, as of September 23 |
| British Columbia — Entry Level and Semi-Skilled | Closed; last invitations in December 2024 |
Alberta’s Tourism and Hospitality Stream is the clearest provincial path left for the sector. It requires a positive LMIA, at least six months (780 hours) of full-time work with the employer, and an employer that belongs to an eligible industry association. The catch is the allocation: with 15 spaces left, the 2026 year is almost spent, and the last two draws asked for 71 points.
Staff your hotel or restaurant for the busy season
Discover our solutionsWhat does this mean for your hiring plan?
Plan for fewer, longer-term hires, and start earlier.
- Count your 10% before you count your vacancies. The cap is calculated per work location, so a second location does not borrow room from the first.
- Check your area’s unemployment rate before you start recruiting abroad for a low-wage role.
- If you are in Alberta, build the provincial stream into the plan from day one: the six months with you are what open it.
- Look at the higher-wage side. Chefs and supervisors can fall in the high-wage stream, where the 10% cap does not apply.
How we can help
Workvantage has spent more than 18 years recruiting for Canadian employers, hospitality included. We help you:
- Work out how many low-wage positions your locations can actually hold
- Check your area against the unemployment rule before you invest in recruitment
- Recruit and file the LMIA so the worker can later use a provincial route
You can see the roles we fill on our hospitality staffing page. If your sector has the 20% cap, our posts on construction and healthcare cover that side.
If you are planning next season, start with a free assessment and we will tell you what is realistic for your locations.
