Canada Releases May 2026 LMIA Processing Time Update

Employment and Social Development Canada has released its latest Labour Market Impact Assessment processing time update for May 2026. The update was issued on June 9, 2026, and shows changes across several Temporary Foreign Worker Program streams.

Most LMIA streams saw a slight increase in processing times. However, the permanent resident stream improved significantly, with processing time reduced by nearly one month.

What Are the Latest LMIA Processing Times?

The processing time for an LMIA application depends on the stream selected, whether the application is complete, and the current number of applications being processed by ESDC.

The latest comparison between April 2026 and May 2026 processing times is as follows:

The permanent resident stream was the only stream that saw a reduction in LMIA processing time. This stream continues to show strong improvement month over month.

The high-wage stream remained unchanged at 64 days. All other streams experienced small increases.

Important Note About Advertising Requirements

The published LMIA processing times do not include the time required to meet minimum advertising requirements before submitting the application.

Depending on the stream, employers may need to advertise the position for 14 days to eight weeks within the three months before submitting the LMIA application.

This means employers should plan ahead, as the full preparation and processing timeline may be longer than the published ESDC processing time.

Low-Wage Stream Processing Time Increases

The low-wage stream saw the largest increase among the streams, rising from 58 days in April to 61 days in May.

The Government of Canada currently processes low-wage LMIAs only in regions where the unemployment rate is 6% or higher. The list of ineligible regions is updated every quarter, with the next update expected on July 10, 2026.

Employers planning to hire through the low-wage stream should carefully check whether their region remains eligible before submitting an LMIA application.

Global Talent Stream Reaches 10-Day Standard

The Global Talent Stream processing time increased from 8 days to 10 days.

This means the stream is now processing exactly within the government’s 10-day service standard. The Global Talent Stream is designed to help eligible employers hire highly skilled foreign workers more quickly.

Why Is an LMIA Important?

An LMIA is an important document for many Canadian work permit applications under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Before a foreign worker can apply for an employer-specific work permit, the Canadian employer usually needs to obtain a positive or neutral LMIA from ESDC.

The LMIA confirms two main points:

1. The employer was unable to find a suitable Canadian citizen or permanent resident for the job.
2. Hiring a foreign worker is not expected to negatively affect the Canadian labour market.
   
   

Once the LMIA is approved, the employer provides the foreign worker with the LMIA decision letter and a job offer. These documents are then included in the work permit application submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Work Permit Duration and LMIA Validity

The length of time a foreign worker may work in Canada depends on the validity of the LMIA-supported work permit.

This work period is separate from the LMIA validity period. The work permit duration is based on the employment period recommended by ESDC during the LMIA process.

In some cases, IRCC’s concurrent processing measures may allow a foreign worker to submit a work permit application while the employer is still waiting for the LMIA decision.

LMIA-Supported Jobs on Canada Job Bank

Foreign workers may also search for LMIA-supported jobs through Canada’s Job Bank.

These jobs may be posted by employers who have already received an LMIA or who have submitted an LMIA application. At the time of the update, the Job Bank had nearly 5,400 available job postings connected to LMIA-supported employment.

LMIA-Exempt Work Permits

Not all Canadian work permits require an LMIA.

Some foreign workers may qualify for an LMIA-exempt work permit under the International Mobility Program. These work permits are available in specific situations where Canada has broader economic, cultural, or international agreement interests.

Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Admissions in 2026

The Government of Canada plans to admit 60,000 temporary foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in 2026.

This is 82,000 fewer than the 2025 admissions target.

Between January and April 2026, Canada admitted 14,655 workers under the TFWP. This represents:

• A 25.6% decrease compared to the same period in 2025
• A 53.6% decrease compared to the same period in 2024
  
  

This reduction is part of Canada’s broader plan to lower the temporary resident population to less than 5% of the total population by 2027.

A decrease in TFWP work permit approvals may also lead to fewer LMIA applications being submitted by employers. This could help reduce processing times in the future.

International Mobility Program Admissions Also Reduced

The International Mobility Program has also seen a major reduction in planned admissions.

Canada’s planned IMP admissions decreased from 285,750 in 2025 to 170,000 in 2026.

Between January and April 2026, Canada admitted:

• 15.3% fewer IMP workers compared to the same period in 2025
• 69.4% fewer IMP workers compared to the same period in 2024
  
  

This shows that Canada is reducing admissions across both LMIA-based and LMIA-exempt work permit categories.

Final Thoughts

The latest LMIA processing time update shows mixed results for Canadian employers and foreign workers.

Most LMIA streams experienced small delays, while the permanent resident stream improved by 26 days. Employers should carefully review the latest processing times, advertising requirements, and regional eligibility rules before starting the LMIA process.

Foreign workers should also understand whether their job offer requires an LMIA or whether they may qualify for an LMIA-exempt work permit under the International Mobility Program.

For employers and workers, proper planning remains essential to avoid delays in the Canadian work permit process.