LMIA Processing Times Rise Across Canada, Causing Delays for Employer

Employers across Canada now face longer wait times for Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), a key step required before hiring many foreign workers. The increase affects most streams of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), even as the country plans to admit fewer temporary workers this year.

Officials released updated figures in early March showing that LMIA processing times grew in several categories compared with the last available data from November 2025.

High-Wage Stream Sees Largest Increase

The most significant delay appears in the high-wage stream, which applies to jobs that pay at or above the regional wage level. Processing time for this stream rose from 46 business days to 60 days, adding roughly two extra weeks to the waiting period.

Other streams also recorded smaller increases. The Global Talent Stream, which focuses on hiring workers in specialized and high-demand occupations, rose from 10 days to 12 days.

Processing time in the Agricultural Stream increased slightly as well, moving from 14 days to 15 days.

Meanwhile, the low-wage stream rose from 44 days to 48 days.

The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program remained unchanged, holding steady at 10 days, making it the only category without any increase or decrease.

The permanent resident stream still requires the longest wait, although the processing time dropped from 266 days to 244 days, marking the only improvement among the streams.

Global Talent Stream Exceeds Target

The Global Talent Stream aims to help Canadian employers hire workers in 22 in-demand occupations, particularly in technology and specialized sectors.

Officials originally designed the program to deliver decisions within 10 business days, but the latest figures show that the average wait now exceeds that target.

Processing times can shift from month to month depending on several factors. The number of LMIA applications submitted plays a major role in how quickly officials review them.

Why the LMIA Matters

Employers must secure a positive or neutral LMIA before many foreign workers can apply for a closed work permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

This document confirms two key points. First, the employer must show that they could not find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the position. Second, the government must confirm that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect the Canadian labour market.

Once an employer receives a positive LMIA, they provide the decision letter along with a job offer to the foreign worker. The worker then submits a work permit application to federal immigration authorities using that LMIA decision.

The length of time someone may work in Canada depends on the validity period of the work permit issued. That work period often follows recommendations based on the LMIA application submitted by the employer.

In some situations, applicants may file their work permit request while the LMIA application still remains under review.

Fewer Temporary Workers Expected in 2026

Canada plans to admit up to 60,000 temporary foreign workers through the TFWP in 2026, which marks a significant drop from the 82,000 workers admitted the previous year.

This reduction forms part of a broader plan aimed at keeping the number of temporary residents below five per cent of the national population by 2027.

Authorities expect that fewer admissions may eventually reduce the number of LMIA applications submitted.

The government also plans to reduce admissions through the International Mobility Program, which allows employers to hire foreign workers without requiring an LMIA. The target will fall from 285,750 admissions in 2025 to 170,000 in 2026.

Officials say these changes aim to balance labour needs while managing population growth.