LMIA Processing Times Rise for Employers Hiring Through Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Canadian employers hiring foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program are facing longer Labour Market Impact Assessment processing times in most streams.

According to the latest update from Employment and Social Development Canada, LMIA processing times increased across nearly every TFWP stream in August 2026.

The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program was the only stream that recorded an improvement, with average processing time dropping by two business days.

ESDC, the federal department responsible for assessing LMIA applications, published its August 2026 processing time update on September 10, 2026.

LMIA processing times are updated every month and represent the average number of business days required to process an application.

How Did LMIA Processing Times Change in August 2026?

The time required to process an LMIA application can depend on several factors, including:

• The TFWP stream
• Whether the application is complete
• The number of applications waiting for review
• The complexity of the application
  
  

These processing times do not include the advertising and recruitment period that employers must complete before submitting an LMIA application.

Depending on the stream, employers may need to advertise the position for anywhere from 14 days to eight weeks before applying.

The following table shows the changes in average LMIA processing times between July and August 2026:

Permanent Resident Stream Sees the Biggest Increase

The most significant increase was recorded under the permanent resident stream.

Processing time increased from 86 business days in July to 156 business days in August, an increase of 70 days.

This change reversed a previous downward trend in processing times for this stream and represented the largest increase among all LMIA streams in the latest update.

Employers using this stream may therefore need to plan much further ahead when hiring foreign workers.

Low-Wage LMIA Processing Times Also Increase

The low-wage stream recorded another noticeable increase.

Average processing time rose from 73 business days in July to 82 business days in August, an increase of nine days.

According to the reported figures, low-wage LMIA processing times have increased significantly since the beginning of 2026.

Low-wage LMIA applications are also affected by federal restrictions in certain regions.

Processing of some low-wage LMIA applications may be restricted in regions where the unemployment rate reaches 6% or higher. The list of affected regions is reviewed every quarter, with the next update expected on October 10, 2026.

High-Wage Stream Reaches 90 Days

Processing times under the high-wage stream increased from 88 to 90 business days.

The high-wage stream applies to positions where the offered wage is at least 20% higher than the applicable provincial or territorial wage threshold.

The August figure represents one of the highest processing times recorded for this stream during 2026.

Employers using the high-wage stream should consider these longer timelines when planning recruitment and employment start dates.

Agricultural Stream Processing Also Slows

The agricultural stream also experienced a small increase.

Average LMIA processing time increased from 23 business days in July to 25 business days in August.

Compared with earlier months of 2026, agricultural stream processing times have increased considerably.

Employers in the agricultural sector may therefore need to submit applications well in advance to reduce the risk of staffing delays.

Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program Improves

The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program was the only major stream to record faster processing in August.

Average processing time decreased from eight business days in July to six business days in August.

This represents a modest improvement at a time when most other LMIA streams are facing longer processing periods.

Global Talent Stream Remains at 10 Days

The Global Talent Stream remained unchanged at an average processing time of 10 business days.

The stream is designed to help eligible Canadian employers hire highly skilled foreign workers in specialized or in-demand occupations.

ESDC continued to meet its 10-business-day service standard for eligible Global Talent Stream applications.

This makes the stream significantly faster than many other LMIA categories.

What Is an LMIA and Why Is It Important?

Most Canadian employers hiring foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program must first obtain a positive or neutral Labour Market Impact Assessment.

An LMIA is issued by ESDC and assesses whether hiring a foreign worker is expected to have a positive or neutral impact on Canada's labour market.

As part of the process, employers normally need to demonstrate that they made genuine efforts to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents before hiring a foreign worker.

Employers must also meet the specific requirements of the TFWP stream under which they are applying.

These requirements may include:

• Advertising the position for a required period
• Using specific recruitment methods
• Offering wages that meet program requirements
• Meeting working condition standards
• Providing information about the position and business
  
  

Once the LMIA is approved, the employer provides the foreign worker with the LMIA decision letter and a job offer.

The worker can then use these documents when applying for an employer-specific work permit.

How Long Is an Approved LMIA Valid?

Foreign workers generally have six months from the date the LMIA is issued to submit their work permit application.

Although ESDC may recommend an employment duration as part of the LMIA decision, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada makes the final decision on the length and expiry date of the work permit.

This means an approved LMIA does not itself guarantee a particular work permit duration.

Some Workers May Apply While an LMIA Is Still Pending

Certain foreign nationals already in Canada may qualify for measures allowing them to submit a work permit application while their employer's LMIA application is still being processed.

These concurrent processing measures can be helpful in specific situations where an employer has submitted an LMIA but has not yet received a final decision.

Eligibility depends on the worker's circumstances and the applicable immigration rules.

Applicants should therefore confirm whether they qualify before relying on concurrent processing.

Workers Can Search for LMIA-Related Jobs Through Job Bank

Foreign workers interested in employment opportunities in Canada can use the Government of Canada's Job Bank.

The platform may include job postings associated with employers who have approved or pending LMIA applications.

At the time of the original report, more than 5,600 such job postings were listed.

However, a job advertisement connected to an LMIA does not guarantee that a foreign worker will receive a job offer or work permit.

Applicants must still meet the employer's requirements and Canada's immigration rules.

Canada Plans Fewer TFWP Admissions in 2026

Canada has also reduced its planned number of temporary foreign worker admissions.

The federal government plans to admit approximately 60,000 workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in 2026, compared with a target of 82,000 in 2025.

During the first six months of 2026, 23,190 temporary foreign workers entered Canada.

This was:

• 42.1% lower than during the same period in 2025
• 55.7% lower than during the same period in 2024
  
  

The reduction is part of the federal government's broader plan to reduce the share of temporary residents in Canada to below 5% of the national population by 2027.

If fewer workers are admitted through the TFWP, the number of LMIA applications could also decline over time, which may eventually reduce pressure on the processing system.

International Mobility Program Admissions Also Decline

Canada has also reduced the admissions target under the International Mobility Program.

Unlike the TFWP, most workers under the IMP do not require an LMIA.

The admissions target decreased from 285,750 in 2025 to 170,000 in 2026.

Between January and June 2026, approximately 74,940 foreign workers were admitted through the International Mobility Program.

This represented a decrease of:

• 12.1% compared with the same period in 2025
• 61.1% compared with the same period in 2024
  
  

These reductions show that Canada is lowering temporary worker admissions across both LMIA-based and LMIA-exempt work permit programs.

What Do Longer LMIA Processing Times Mean for Employers?

Employers relying on foreign workers should take current LMIA processing times into account when planning recruitment.

The processing period begins only after the employer has completed the required advertising and recruitment steps.

With some LMIA streams now taking several months to process, employers may need to begin the process much earlier than before.

Incomplete applications, missing documents, or failure to meet recruitment requirements can create additional delays.

Employers should therefore carefully review all TFWP requirements before submitting an LMIA application.