Canada’s Permit Delays Leave Migrants in Deep Trouble

Many migrants in Canada are now facing a serious crisis. Their work permits are expiring, and they are stuck waiting months—even over a year—for renewals. These delays are not just frustrating. They’re stopping people from working, getting healthcare, or sending their children to school.

On April 17, 2025, thousands of migrants across the country were still waiting to hear back about their work permit applications. While they wait, their lives remain in a painful pause. They can’t earn money, they can’t visit a doctor, and their children often miss out on school.

One of them is Devi Acharya. She moved to British Columbia with her husband and son in 2022. She worked hard as a housekeeper. They even bought a home. But their work permits expired while waiting for approval of a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). That document is needed for permit renewal. Without it, she couldn’t work or visit the doctor when she suffered a miscarriage. Her son, now five, also can’t attend school.

Many migrants share Devi’s struggles. The time to process key immigration papers has tripled. Some people wait over a year without hearing anything. The emotional stress and money problems are growing worse.

Why are these delays happening? It’s a mix of too many applications, unclear rules, and not enough staff to process paperwork. In the past two years, the number of work permit applications jumped sharply. At the same time, Canada’s immigration rules changed. Now, the government is stricter and more selective. That has caused confusion and more paperwork.

In March 2025, the average wait for an LMIA was 165 business days. That’s almost triple the wait in 2023. During this delay, migrants can’t legally stay unless they get the LMIA within 60 days—an impossible task now.

Experts say these backlogs are the worst they’ve ever seen. People who lose their legal status often feel forced to take unsafe, low-paying jobs. Some follow poor advice or fall into traps set by dishonest agents. Without valid permits, they can’t get healthcare or send kids to school.

This isn’t just a migrant issue. It affects Canada as a whole. These workers pay taxes and help the economy. When they’re forced out of the system, Canada also loses out. Children stop learning. Families get sick but avoid doctors. Mental health struggles grow stronger.

There’s also a growing number of undocumented people in the country. That number will likely rise if nothing changes. Once people lose status, they can't get back in easily. And life in Canada without papers is extremely hard.

The government says it's working on the problem. Officials believe the wait times will improve in six months. But there is no clear plan yet, and people are still waiting.

Advocates are urging immediate action. They want work permits to renew automatically during delays. They ask for more staff to speed up paperwork. They also want clearer rules and more support for those already working in essential jobs like healthcare and construction.

As Canada prepares for its upcoming election, the government plans to reduce the number of newcomers. Critics warn this could damage Canada’s global image as a welcoming country.