Canada expands farm worker visa program and raises foreign worker wages for 2026

Canada is preparing to make thousands of LMIA‑approved farm worker positions available in 2026, offering foreign applicants visa sponsorship, competitive hourly pay of roughly CAD 15‑22, free or subsidised accommodation, and a pathway to permanent residence. The roles span crop picking, livestock, greenhouse, and related agricultural work across provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec.

At the same time, the Canadian government has revised the minimum wage thresholds used in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Effective 17 July 2026, the benchmarks rise by about 4 percent, altering how employers classify jobs into the high‑wage or low‑wage streams of the LMIA process. Positions that meet the new thresholds remain in the high‑wage stream, while those below are placed in the low‑wage stream, which carries additional compliance requirements. Employers are urged to align wage offers with genuine market rates to avoid refusals.