Canada Updates LMIA Processing Times as Permanent Residence Stream Sees Major Improvement

Canada has released its latest Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing times, revealing notable changes across several immigration streams. While processing times have increased slightly for most Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) categories, the Permanent Residence (PR) stream has recorded a significant improvement, reducing waiting periods by nearly one month.

The latest figures, published by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), reflect processing data for May 2026 and provide employers and foreign workers with an updated picture of current application timelines. The department evaluates LMIA applications before employers can hire most foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Among the various streams, the Permanent Residence category experienced the most encouraging development. Processing times dropped from 140 days in April to 114 days in May, representing a reduction of 26 days. The continued improvement is expected to benefit employers seeking to support permanent residence applications for skilled foreign workers while also helping prospective immigrants move through the process more efficiently.

In contrast, processing times for most Temporary Foreign Worker Program streams increased modestly. The Global Talent Stream, which is designed to fast track highly skilled workers in key industries, now requires approximately 10 days for processing compared with eight days in the previous month. Despite the slight increase, the stream continues to meet the federal government’s established 10 day service standard.

Applications under the Agricultural Stream now require an average of 22 days, one day longer than previously reported. Similarly, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program has increased from 10 to 11 days.

The High Wage Stream remained unchanged at 64 days, maintaining stable processing times for employers hiring workers whose wages exceed provincial or territorial wage thresholds.

The Low Wage Stream experienced the largest increase among temporary worker categories, rising from 58 days to 61 days. This stream continues to face additional restrictions, as the federal government currently limits processing in regions where unemployment rates fall below six percent. Officials are expected to update the list of eligible and ineligible regions in July.

ESDC noted that the published processing times do not include the mandatory recruitment period employers must complete before submitting an LMIA application. Depending on the stream, employers are generally required to advertise positions for a period ranging from 14 days to eight weeks to demonstrate that qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents were not available to fill the position.

The Labour Market Impact Assessment remains one of the most important components of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Before most foreign nationals can apply for a work permit, employers must obtain a positive or neutral LMIA confirming that hiring an international worker will not negatively affect Canada’s labour market and that suitable Canadian workers could not be found for the position.

Once an LMIA is approved, employers provide the successful applicant with the decision letter and a formal job offer, both of which are required when submitting a work permit application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

In certain situations, eligible foreign workers may submit their work permit applications while the LMIA remains under review through concurrent processing measures introduced by the federal government. Meanwhile, employers seeking international talent continue to advertise LMIA supported positions through Canada’s Job Bank, where thousands of vacancies remain available across multiple industries.

Not all foreign workers require an LMIA. Many are eligible for LMIA exempt work permits under the International Mobility Program, which allows employers to hire certain categories of foreign nationals without undergoing the labour market assessment process.

The updated processing times come as Canada continues implementing broader immigration reforms aimed at reducing the country’s temporary resident population. The federal government plans to admit approximately 60,000 temporary foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program during 2026, significantly lower than the previous year’s target.

Government data also indicate a substantial decline in temporary foreign worker admissions during the first four months of 2026 compared with both 2025 and 2024. Admissions under the International Mobility Program have also been scaled back considerably as part of Ottawa’s efforts to manage overall immigration levels.

Immigration experts suggest that the reduction in temporary worker admissions may eventually contribute to shorter LMIA processing times if the number of applications submitted by employers continues to decline. For now, however, employers using most Temporary Foreign Worker Program streams should expect slightly longer waiting periods, while applicants pursuing permanent residence through LMIA supported pathways may benefit from significantly faster processing.