Agricultural LMIA
Agriculture is treated differently from the rest of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and in the current climate that difference matters enormously. Primary agriculture is exempt from the low-wage caps and from the unemployment refusal rule that has closed low-wage hiring across most of the Fraser Valley. For farm employers in Abbotsford, this is often the only route still open.
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
- ● Workers from Mexico and eleven Caribbean countries under bilateral agreements.
- ● Maximum 8 months, between 1 January and 15 December, with a minimum of 240 hours over six weeks or less.
- ● On-farm primary agriculture on the national commodities list only.
- ● No LMIA fee, and it is the only stream exempt from the 6-month LMIA validity rule.
- ● Processing around 8 business days — the fastest in the programme.
- ● Employment contracts for Mexican and Caribbean workers were amended for the 2026 season.
Agricultural Stream
- ● Workers from any country, for production on the national commodities list.
- ● Up to 2 years for low-wage positions and up to 3 years for high-wage.
- ● No LMIA fee for the listed primary agriculture occupations.
- ● Processing around 23 business days.
- ● Employer-paid private emergency medical insurance for any period without provincial coverage, and the cost cannot be recovered from the worker.
Housing and transportation — where inspections focus
- ● Accommodation must meet CMHC standards. Off-site accommodation must be inspected within the 8 months before the LMIA is submitted; commercial accommodation rated three stars or higher is exempt.
- ● On-farm housing deductions are capped at $30 a week. Off-site rent is capped at 30% of gross monthly earnings for certain occupations.
- ● The employer pays round-trip international transportation upfront. Partial payroll recovery is permitted in some provinces but not in British Columbia.
- ● Free daily transport to and from the worksite.
- ● Records must be kept for six years.
Housing inspection reports and transportation records are the two things that come up most often in agricultural inspections. Both are straightforward to get right in advance and difficult to reconstruct afterwards.
Why the exemptions matter this year
On-farm primary agriculture is exempt from the 10% and 20% low-wage caps, and exempt from the refusal-to-process rule that blocks low-wage LMIAs in census metropolitan areas with unemployment at or above 6%. Abbotsford–Mission currently sits at 8.0%, which has closed the low-wage stream to most local employers — but not to farms.
Given how much of the Fraser Valley economy is agricultural, this is worth understanding precisely rather than approximately. Whether a particular operation and a particular role fall within "on-farm primary agriculture" and the national commodities list is a question with a definite answer, and it is worth establishing before recruitment begins.
Reviewed by a licensed RCIC · Last updated 13 August 2026. Immigration rules change often — confirm anything time-sensitive with us or on canada.ca.
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Frequently asked questions
Is agriculture affected by the unemployment refusal rule?
No. On-farm primary agriculture is exempt from the rule that blocks low-wage LMIAs in census metropolitan areas with 6% or higher unemployment. Given that Abbotsford–Mission is currently at 8.0%, that exemption is what keeps agricultural hiring viable locally.
What is the difference between SAWP and the Agricultural Stream?
SAWP is limited to workers from Mexico and eleven Caribbean countries, runs a maximum of eight months between January and December, and has the fastest processing in the programme. The Agricultural Stream is open to any nationality and allows up to two years for low-wage positions or three for high-wage. Both cover on-farm primary agriculture on the national commodities list.
Do I have to provide housing?
For SAWP, yes, and it must meet CMHC standards. Off-site accommodation needs an inspection report dated within eight months before the LMIA is submitted, unless it is commercial accommodation rated three stars or better. On-farm housing deductions are capped at $30 a week.
Can I recover travel costs from the worker?
The employer pays round-trip international transportation upfront. Partial recovery through payroll is permitted in some provinces but not in British Columbia. Daily transport to the worksite must be provided free.
Is there an LMIA fee for agricultural positions?
No fee applies to the listed primary agriculture occupations under either stream. That is one of several ways the agricultural streams are treated more favourably than the rest of the programme.
Still unsure how this applies to your case? Book an appointment with a licensed RCIC.
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