Quebec updates list of professions eligible for expedited LMIA processing
Quebec has released an updated list of occupations that can benefit from expedited Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
Following this update on February 24, 2026, which has removed many IT and engineering professions, there are now just 60 occupations eligible for this simplified LMIA processing across all regions of Quebec—down from the previous 76.
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Quebec has implemented a 30-day grace period for previously eligible occupations absent from the updated list, spanning from February 24 to March 26, 2026.
The list of occupations eligible for expedited LMIA processing is updated annually by Quebec, with the current list set to remain valid until February 23, 2027.
Which occupations are eligible for expedited processing?
The following occupations are eligible for expedited LMIA processing:
| Occupation | 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 |
*These occupations are only eligible for simplified LMIA by the specific title or designated listed, as specific designations have unique tasks. You can check the official National Occupational Classification (NOC) system for more details on specific designations by NOC code.
Occupations that have been bolded are also eligible for two-week LMIA processing through the Global Talent Stream of the TFWP.
The following codes are new additions in 2026:
| Occupation | NOC code |
|---|---|
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| Electrical power line and cable workers | 72203 |
| Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 |
The following occupations are no longer eligible for simplified LMIA processing:
| Occupation | NOC code |
|---|---|
| Medical administrative assistants | 13112 |
| Information systems specialists | 21222 |
| Database analysts and data administrators | 21223 |
| Software engineers and designers | 21231 |
| Software developers and programmers | 21232 |
| 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 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 |
| Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 |
| 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 |
About the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Quebec
Unlike other provinces and territories, Quebec has special authority over the TFWP within the province due to the Canada-Quebec Accord, giving it greater control over labour market decisions.
To hire a worker in Quebec under the TFWP, employers must submit an LMIA and get joint authorization from the Quebec government and the federal government.
To work in Quebec, TFWP permit holders must first obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) before applying to the federal government for a work permit.
In 2026, the province aims to process between 43,400–63,700 CAQs through the TFWP.
As of December 2025, those applying for a CAQ under the TFWP, with three years of work experience accumulated in Quebec, must demonstrate a spoken French-language proficiency of NCLC 4.
Quebec implemented a three-year grace period to the above implementation for foreign workers already in Quebec, while certain individuals (e.g., agricultural workers) are exempt.
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