LMIA processing times climb for low-wage and high-wage streams of TFWP
Processing times for Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) have increased for the high-wage and low-wage streams of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
On the other hand, three streams saw LMIA wait times decline—most notably the permanent resident stream, which fell by about two weeks.
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ESDC, the federal department responsible for reviewing LMIA applications, released its latest LMIA processing time update on July 9, reflecting June 2026 figures.
How have LMIA processing times changed from May to June?
Several variables affect how long an LMIA takes to process, including the stream selected, the completeness of the submitted application, and current application volumes.
The table below compares ESDC's processing times for June against those previously reported for May.
| TFWP stream/program | May 2026 | June 2026 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global talent stream | 10 days | 9 days | -1 days |
| Agricultural stream | 22 days | 22 days | — |
| Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program | 11 days | 9 days | -2 days |
| High-wage stream | 64 days | 79 days | + 15 days |
| Low-wage stream | 61 days | 71 days | +10 days |
| Permanent resident stream | 114 days | 99 days | -15 days |
The greatest increase seen in ESDC’s June LMIA update was under the TFWP’s high-wage stream (over two weeks), after remaining stable at 64 days since April 2026.
The low-wage stream, under which the government does not process LMIAs in census metropolitan areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher, was the only other stream to see an increase in wait time, and now sits at a 10+ week wait time.
All other streams saw declines in LMIA wait time, except the agricultural stream, through which employers can hire workers for up to 24 months.
The LMIA processing time for the permanent resident stream dropped most significantly, continuing its steady decline; it now sits at just over 14 weeks—a significant improvement compared to its 38-week wait time in November of 2025.
The figures in the table above exclude the minimum advertising period employers must complete beforehand, which ranges from 14 days to eight weeks depending on the stream.
The role of LMIAs in the hiring of temporary foreign workers
Before a foreign national can apply for an employer-specific work permit under the TFWP, the Canadian employer must first obtain a positive or neutral LMIA from ESDC.
This confirms that the employer could not, despite best efforts, find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the role, and that the hiring of a foreign worker is not expected to negatively affect the Canadian labour market.
Employers must fulfill specific criteria before they can submit an LMIA application, including meeting advertising timelines and recruitment method requirements.
After a neutral or positive LMIA is issued, the employer must provide the temporary foreign worker with the LMIA decision letter and a job offer letter—foreign nationals will need these when they submit a work permit application to the immigration department.
ESDC recommends a work duration based on labour market impact, but Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes the final decision on the work permit expiry date when assessing the worker’s application.
An LMIA is generally valid for up to six months; the temporary foreign worker must apply to IRCC for a work permit before the LMIA expires or the LMIA will no longer be valid.
Foreign nationals seeking an LMIA-supported role can check the Canada Job Bank, which at the time of this writing has 5,700+ job postings from employers that have already received an LMIA or submitted an application for one.
In certain cases, foreign nationals may be able to apply for a work permit under the TFWP even if their employer has yet to receive an LMIA under IRCC’s concurrent processing measures.
Canada’s temporary foreign worker admissions
The federal government has set a target of 60,000 temporary foreign worker admissions through the TFWP this year, a 22,000 reduction from its 2025 target (82,000).
From January to April 2026, 14,655 workers entered Canada under the program, marking a 25.6% drop from the same period in 2025 and a 53.6% drop from 2024.
The decrease reflects Ottawa's broader plan to bring the temporary resident share of Canada's population below 5% by 2027.
Lower TFWP admissions could gradually ease pressure on LMIA processing by reducing the volume of LMIA applications being submitted and approved.
The International Mobility Program, which facilitates LMIA-exempt work permits, has also been scaled back—with planned admissions falling from 285,750 in 2025 to 170,000 in 2026. IMP admissions were down 15.3% between January and April 2026 compared with 2025, and 69.4% compared with 2024.
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