Warehouse jobs in Canada with visa sponsorship are some of the most searched entry routes for foreign workers because they do not need a degree. Grocery, retail, e-commerce and courier networks run large distribution centres that need order pickers, forklift operators, shippers and receivers all year.
The catch is location. Since 2024, Canada refuses to process most low-wage LMIA applications in big cities with high unemployment, and that list changes every three months. This guide shows official hourly pay by city and by role, where sponsorship is still possible, the training that raises your wage, the companies and agencies to contact, the real costs and a step-by-step plan.
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In this guide
Warehouse Jobs in Canada at a Glance
| Item | 2026 figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Material handlers (NOC 75101) median | C$22.00/hour (about C$45,800 a year) | Job Bank |
| Shippers and receivers (NOC 14400) median | C$22.50/hour | Job Bank |
| Usual work permit | Employer-specific permit backed by a low-wage LMIA | IRCC |
| LMIA processing fee | C$1,000 per position, paid by the employer | ESDC |
| Work permit fee | C$155 plus C$85 biometrics | IRCC fee list |
| Key limit | No low-wage LMIAs in metro areas with 6%+ unemployment | ESDC |
Annual figures assume 2,080 hours. Job Bank wages were updated on November 19, 2025 and are benchmarks, not job offers.
Types of Warehouse Jobs and What the Work Involves
Order picker and packer
Picking items with a handheld scanner, packing orders and labelling parcels. This is the most common entry role in e-commerce and grocery distribution centres.
Forklift and reach-truck operator
Moving pallets, loading trailers and putting stock away in high racking. Forklift operators are classified with material handlers and usually earn toward the upper end of the range.
Shipper and receiver
Checking deliveries against paperwork, recording stock in the warehouse management system and preparing outbound shipments. It is a separate occupation (NOC 14400, TEER 4) with slightly higher pay.
Warehouse supervisor
Leading shifts, planning labour and tracking productivity and safety. Supervisors sit in a higher skill level (NOC 12013, TEER 2), which can matter for permanent residence.
Cold storage and freezer worker
Work in refrigerated warehouses for grocery and food plants, often with extra pay. Warehouses that belong to food manufacturers can fall under exempt sectors for LMIAs.
Warehouse Pay in Canada by Role
| Job (NOC) | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material handler, picker, forklift (75101) | C$16.55 | C$22.00 | C$30.29 |
| Shipper and receiver (14400) | C$17.00 | C$22.50 | C$31.00 |
| Warehouse supervisor (12013) | C$19.90 | C$28.85 | C$45.00 |
Hourly, C$. Sources: Job Bank wages for material handlers, shippers and receivers and supply chain supervisors, national figures.
Shift premiums, overtime and benefits
Night, weekend and freezer shifts often add a premium per hour, and overtime rules are set by each province. Larger employers may offer group health and dental insurance, a pension plan and paid training. For an LMIA job, the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is the Job Bank median for the area or what it pays its Canadian staff in the same job, whichever is higher.
Warehouse Pay by City and Where Sponsorship Is Possible
This table combines Job Bank median wages for material handlers in each region with the unemployment rate ESDC applies to that metro area for LMIA applications submitted from October 9, 2026 to January 7, 2027. Where the rate is 6% or higher, low-wage LMIAs are not processed unless the employer is in an exempt sector.
| City | Median /hr | Jobless rate | Low-wage LMIA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | C$21.00 | 7.5% | Paused |
| Montréal | C$21.00 | 7.2% | Paused |
| Vancouver | C$22.00 | 7.0% | Paused |
| Calgary | C$22.00 | 6.4% | Paused |
| Edmonton | C$22.00 | 7.6% | Paused |
| Ottawa | C$22.00 | 7.9% | Paused |
| Halifax | C$20.00 | 6.1% | Paused |
| Winnipeg | C$21.00 | 5.9% | Open |
| Victoria | C$22.00 | 5.8% | Open |
| Saint John (NB) | C$22.00 | 5.5% | Open |
| Thunder Bay | C$22.00 | 4.6% | Open |
| Québec City | C$22.23 | 4.3% | Open (Quebec rules) |
Sources: Job Bank material handler wages and ESDC refusal-to-process table. The table is updated every three months; the next update is January 8, 2027. Towns outside metro areas are not affected by this measure.
In practice, your best chances are smaller cities and towns, metro areas below 6% unemployment, and warehouses run by exempt sectors such as food manufacturing. Each work location is also limited to 10% low-wage foreign workers (20% in food manufacturing and construction).
Companies Hiring Warehouse Workers in Canada
These are large, verified Canadian employers with distribution networks. Being listed does not mean they currently sponsor foreign workers; apply through their official websites and ask whether each vacancy is open to applicants who need a work permit.
| Company | Warehouse work | Official website |
|---|---|---|
| Loblaw Companies | Grocery and pharmacy distribution | loblaw.ca |
| Sobeys | Grocery distribution | sobeys.com |
| Metro Inc. | Grocery distribution, Quebec and Ontario | metro.ca |
| Canadian Tire Corporation | Retail distribution centres | corp.canadiantire.ca |
| Walmart Canada | Retail and e-commerce fulfilment | walmartcanada.ca |
| Purolator | Courier hubs and terminals | purolator.com |
Recruitment and staffing agencies
| Agency | Focus | Official website |
|---|---|---|
| Randstad Canada | Industrial and warehouse | randstad.ca |
| Adecco Canada | Warehouse and logistics | adecco.ca |
| ManpowerGroup Canada | Industrial and distribution | manpower.ca |
| Job Bank | Government job board | jobbank.gc.ca |
Important: under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, staffing agencies that place workers with other businesses are not employers and cannot get an LMIA for those placements (ESDC). Agencies mostly help people who already have work authorization. The warehouse that hires and pays you must be the employer on the LMIA.
Forklift Licence, Safety Training and Courses
Forklift certification
Canada has no single national forklift licence. Provincial workplace safety laws require operators to be trained and competent, so employers issue a certificate after a course with classroom and practical evaluation. Training is usually equipment-specific (counterbalance, reach truck, order picker) and needs periodic refreshers. Many employers pay for it after hiring; certification from your home country helps your CV but usually has to be redone in Canada.
WHMIS and dangerous goods
Workers who handle hazardous products need WHMIS training, and shippers who prepare dangerous goods for transport need a Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) training certificate. Both are short courses that make you more employable.
First aid and other certificates
Standard First Aid with CPR from providers such as St. John Ambulance or the Canadian Red Cross, plus experience with warehouse management systems (SAP, Manhattan, Oracle) and RF scanners, can push you into lead hand or inventory control roles.
Work Permits for Foreign Warehouse Workers
| Route | How it works | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Low-wage LMIA work permit | Employer gets a positive LMIA, then you apply for an employer-specific permit | Most warehouse jobs; up to 1 year per LMIA |
| High-wage LMIA | Wage at or above the provincial median threshold | Mostly supervisors and managers |
| Rural Community Immigration Pilot | Designated employer in a participating community | PR route; occupations set by community |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | Designated employer in Atlantic Canada | TEER 0–4 only; material handlers are TEER 5 |
What the employer must provide
For low-wage LMIA jobs the employer must pay round-trip airfare, ensure suitable and affordable housing (costing under 30% of your pre-tax income), buy private health insurance until provincial coverage starts and register you for workplace safety insurance. It cannot charge you recruitment fees or recover the LMIA fee (your rights as a temporary foreign worker).
Visa Costs, Insurance and Professional Help
| Cost | Who pays | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LMIA processing fee | Employer only | C$1,000 per position |
| Work permit processing | You | C$155 |
| Biometrics | You | C$85 |
| Immigration medical exam | You | Set by the panel physician |
| Police certificates and translations | You | Varies by country |
| Airfare (low-wage LMIA jobs) | Employer | Round trip |
Health insurance
Some provinces have a waiting period before public health coverage starts. For low-wage LMIA workers the employer must pay for private emergency health insurance during that time; families may want extra private cover for dependants.
Immigration consultants and lawyers
Only a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) listed with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, a Canadian lawyer or a Quebec notary may charge for immigration advice. Check the licence number before paying, ask for a written retainer and never pay anyone to “buy” an LMIA.
How to Apply for Warehouse Jobs in Canada: Step by Step
- Gather proof of experience: reference letters on letterhead with dates, weekly hours, duties and equipment used.
- Write a Canadian-style resume (no photo or date of birth) that lists forklift types, scanners, WMS software and safety record.
- Target the right cities: towns outside metro areas, metro areas below 6% unemployment and food-industry warehouses.
- Apply on employer careers pages and Job Bank, which has a section for jobs open to foreign workers.
- Interview and get a written offer naming the legal employer, wage, hours, location and housing.
- Employer applies for the LMIA after advertising the job; wait for the positive decision and a copy of the approval.
- Apply for your work permit online, give biometrics and complete a medical exam if requested. Check processing times.
- Travel and start work only for the employer, job and location on your permit.
Permanent Residence Options for Warehouse Workers
Material handlers are TEER 5, so Express Entry (the Canadian Experience Class needs TEER 0–3 work) is not realistic. More practical routes are Provincial Nominee Programs with streams for semi-skilled workers, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot where your occupation is on the community’s list, and the Atlantic Immigration Program if you move into a TEER 4 role such as shipper and receiver. Being promoted to supervisor (TEER 2) opens more options.
Cost of Living and Accommodation
Plan for a first-and-last-month rent deposit in many provinces, transit passes, winter clothing and safety boots. Many distribution centres are on city edges with night shifts, so ask about staff shuttles or car-pools. Compare rents in the CMHC Rental Market Report before you accept a job: C$22 an hour goes further in Winnipeg or Saint John than in Toronto or Vancouver.
Scam Warning: Fake Warehouse Job Offers
- Anyone selling an LMIA, job offer or “guaranteed work permit” – charging workers recruitment fees is illegal.
- Offers from “agencies” claiming they will be your LMIA employer for placements at other companies.
- Job offers without an interview, or with a salary far above Job Bank rates.
- Requests to pay fees by gift card, crypto or money transfer to a private person.
- Unlicensed consultants. Learn the warning signs on IRCC fraud and scams.
Canadian Embassy Contacts
Work permit applications are submitted online; missions do not sell job offers or visas. Use these contacts only for general enquiries.
| Country | Mission | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | High Commission of Canada, 13010G Palm Close, Diplomatic Drive, Abuja | +234 209 461 2900 |
| India | High Commission of Canada, 7/8 Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi | +91 11 4178 2000 |
| Ghana | High Commission of Canada, 42 Independence Avenue, Accra | +233 302 21 15 21 |
| Philippines | Embassy of Canada, RCBC Plaza Tower 2, Makati City | +63 2 8857 9000 |
FAQs: Warehouse Jobs in Canada With Visa Sponsorship
How much do warehouse workers earn per hour in Canada?
Which companies hire warehouse workers in Canada?
Can I get an LMIA for a warehouse job in Toronto or Vancouver?
Do I need a forklift licence to work in a Canadian warehouse?
How much does a Canadian work permit cost?
Can a recruitment agency sponsor me for a warehouse job?
Do I need an immigration consultant?
Can warehouse workers get permanent residence in Canada?
Conclusion
Warehouse jobs in Canada with visa sponsorship are realistic when you target the right locations and employers. Check the latest refusal-to-process table, focus on smaller cities and exempt sectors, get forklift and safety training, and deal only with real employers and licensed consultants.
Next, read our food processing and factory jobs guide or browse Warehouse & Logistics and Jobs in Canada.
Disclaimer: ConvertKind Jobs publishes independent career guides. We are not an employer, recruiter, immigration adviser or law firm, and we never charge fees. Nothing here guarantees a job, sponsorship or visa. Rules, salary thresholds and fees change often, so always confirm on the official government website before you apply.