Quebec Updates 2026 Expedited LMIA Processing List for Temporary Foreign Workers
Key Changes to the Occupation List and Transition Period
Quebec assesses its labour market demands annually to determine which professions warrant a simplified LMIA application process. The February 24 update introduces a noticeable contraction in the scope of eligible roles.
New Additions:
Three new occupation codes have been added to the list for 2026:
| Occupation Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| Electrical power line and cable workers | 72203 |
| Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 |
Removed Occupations:
In response to shifting market dynamics, Quebec has removed 19 occupations from the expedited processing list. These removals are heavily concentrated in the IT, engineering, medical support, and certain trades and transport sectors. The following occupations are no longer eligible for simplified LMIA processing:
- IT & Data: Information systems specialists (21222), Database analysts and data administrators (21223), Software engineers and designers (21231), Software developers and programmers (21232).
- Engineering & Technology: Mechanical engineers (21301), Chemical technologists and technicians (22100), Land survey technologists and technicians (22213), Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians (22302), Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (22312).
- Healthcare: Medical administrative assistants (13112), Veterinarians (31103), Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (31112), Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals (31303).
- Trades, Transport & Others: Cooks (63200), Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers (72204), Insulators (72321), Transport truck drivers (73300), Heavy equipment operators (73400), Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction (73402).
Grace Period: For occupations that previously qualified for expedited processing but were removed in this update, the Quebec government is providing a 30-day grace period (from February 24 to March 26, 2026) to allow employers to finalize and submit applications that are currently underway.
The 60 Occupations Eligible for Expedited Processing
As of the latest update, there are exactly 60 occupations eligible for simplified LMIA processing across all regions of Quebec. The complete list is as follows:
| Occupation Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 |
| Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators | 72411* |
| Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers | 72410* |
| Bricklayers | 72320 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 |
| Carpenters | 72310 |
| Food service supervisors | 62020* |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102* |
| Bakers | 63202* |
| Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 22300 |
| Civil engineers | 21300 |
| Concrete finishers | 73100 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 |
| Crane operators | 72500 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 |
| Electrical power line and cable workers | 72203 |
| Electrical mechanics | 72422 |
| Elevator constructors and mechanics | 72406 |
| Supervisors, food and beverage processing | 92012 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| Glaziers | 73111 |
| Early childhood educators and assistants | 42202* |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401 |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 |
| Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 21321 |
| Industrial electricians | 72201 |
| Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 |
| Floor covering installers | 73113 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors | 72100 |
| Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment) | 22311 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) | 73112 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers | 72301 |
| Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers | 73102 |
| Elementary school and kindergarten teachers | 41221 |
| Psychologists | 31200 |
| Butchers - retail and wholesale | 63201* |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| Roofers and shinglers | 73110 |
| Secondary school teachers | 41220 |
| Sheet metal workers | 72102 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 |
| Social workers | 41300 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| Ironworkers | 72105 |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 22310 |
| Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians | 22301 |
| Tilesetters | 73101 |
| Water and waste treatment plant operators | 92101 |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 |
Important Notes:Occupations marked with an asterisk (*) are only eligible for the simplified LMIA under specific titles or designated roles, as these designations carry unique task requirements. Employers are encouraged to consult the official National Occupational Classification (NOC) system for precise details on specific designations by NOC code.Per policy guidelines, certain professions that fall under the Global Talent Stream of the TFWP are also eligible for an expedited two-week LMIA processing timeframe.
Understanding the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Quebec
Thanks to the Canada-Quebec Accord, Quebec holds a unique position among Canadian provinces and territories, exercising special authority over the TFWP within its borders. This grants the province enhanced control over immigration decisions related to its localized labour market.
Dual Authorization and the CAQ Process
To legally hire a foreign national in Quebec under the TFWP, employers must secure a joint authorization. This entails submitting an LMIA and receiving approval from both the provincial Quebec government and the federal Canadian government. Furthermore, before applying to the federal government for a work permit, TFWP candidates must first successfully obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ).
2026 Quotas and Language Requirements
For the 2026 calendar year, Quebec has set a target to process between 43,400 and 63,700 CAQs through the TFWP.
Additionally, as part of the province's ongoing efforts to protect the French language, a new regulation took effect in December 2025: Foreign workers applying for a CAQ under the TFWP who have accumulated three years of work experience in Quebec must now demonstrate spoken French-language proficiency equivalent to NCLC level 4. To facilitate this shift, Quebec introduced a three-year grace period for foreign workers already residing in the province, while specific demographics (such as agricultural workers) remain exempt from this requirement.
Friendly reminder: There are many pathways to immigrate to Canada. We recommend first using UNA AI to generate an objective and neutral immigration plan, so you can gain an initial understanding of the possible immigration pathways and their requirements, and then choose to proceed with one-on-one consultations with a licensed Canadian immigration consultant partnered with UNA.
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