LMIA Wait Times Rise Across Most TFWP Streams

Employers across Canada faced longer Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing times in August 2026, with most Temporary Foreign Worker Program streams recording increases.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), which reviews LMIA applications, released its August processing figures on September 10. The department measures processing time by the average number of business days needed to assess an application.

Permanent Resident Stream Sees Biggest Increase

The sharpest change came in the permanent resident stream. Average processing time rose to 156 business days in August, up from 86 days in July. The 70-day increase was the largest monthly jump among all streams in the latest update.

The low-wage stream also became slower, increasing from 73 days in July to 82 days in August. That was a nine-day rise. Processing times for the low-wage stream have increased 70.8 per cent since early 2026.

The high-wage stream reached 90 days, compared with 88 days in July. This marked a new high for the year. The agricultural stream also increased slightly, moving from 23 days to 25 days.

Only the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program improved. Its average wait fell from eight days to six days. The Global Talent Stream remained unchanged at 10 days, allowing ESDC to continue meeting its service standard for that stream.

Processing Times Do Not Include Recruitment Period

LMIA timelines can vary depending on the program stream, the completeness of an application and the number of files waiting for review.

The published processing times do not include the advertising period employers must complete before applying. Depending on the stream, that recruitment period can range from 14 days to eight weeks.

Low-wage LMIA processing is also restricted in regions where unemployment reaches six per cent or higher. The affected-region list is updated quarterly, with the next revision scheduled for October 10.

Employers using the Temporary Foreign Worker Program generally need a positive or neutral LMIA before a foreign worker can apply for a work permit. The assessment confirms that required recruitment efforts were made and that hiring a temporary foreign worker is not expected to negatively affect Canada’s labour market.

Once an LMIA is approved, the employer provides the worker with the decision letter and job offer needed for the work permit application. Foreign nationals have six months from the LMIA issue date to apply.

Temporary Foreign Worker Admissions Decline

The federal government plans to admit 60,000 workers through the TFWP in 2026, down from a target of 82,000 in 2025.

During the first six months of 2026, 23,190 temporary foreign workers entered Canada. That was 42.1 per cent fewer than during the same period in 2025 and 55.7 per cent fewer than in 2024.

The International Mobility Program has also seen its target reduced, from 285,750 admissions in 2025 to 170,000 in 2026. From January to June, 74,940 workers entered through the LMIA-exempt program.

Ottawa says lower temporary resident levels are part of its plan to bring temporary residents below five per cent of Canada’s population by 2027.