LMIA wait times improve for select Temporary Foreign Worker Program streams
Employment and Social Development Canada released updated Labour Market Impact Assessment processing times for April 2026 on May 15, showing significant movement across most Temporary Foreign Worker Program streams. The permanent resident stream saw wait times drop by 104 days, while the low-wage stream experienced a 10-day increase to 58 days.
The permanent resident stream, despite recording the sharpest improvement, still carries the longest processing time among all TFWP categories at 140 days—down from 244 days in February 2026. This stream allows Canadian employers to hire foreign nationals who hold valid permanent residence applications and need work authorization while their immigration cases proceed. The February baseline represented a near-record high for this category, making the April reduction particularly notable for employers sponsoring workers with pending PR files.
Processing times varied widely by stream in the April data. The Global Talent Stream dropped to 8 days from 12, bringing it back within ESDC's 10-day service standard for expedited applications from employers hiring highly skilled workers in designated occupations. The Agricultural Stream climbed to 21 days from 15, adding nearly a week for on-farm primary agriculture employers. The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program held steady at 10 days. High-wage stream applications—for positions paying above the provincial or territorial median wage—rose modestly to 64 days from 60. Low-wage stream applications, restricted to regions with unemployment rates at or below 6 percent, increased the most among active streams, reaching 58 days from 48.
"LMIA applications under the Global Talent Stream are once again being processed within ESDC's 10-day service standard," the release states.
The changes affect distinct employer groups. Agricultural employers using the standard Agricultural Stream face longer waits than those accessing the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, which remains the fastest non-expedited option. Employers in low-unemployment regions hiring below the wage threshold—such as food service, hospitality, and retail operators—now wait nearly two months for LMIA decisions, up from six weeks in February. Companies eligible for the Global Talent Stream, typically technology firms and employers in innovation sectors, continue to see the fastest turnaround. Employers sponsoring foreign workers with permanent residence applications in progress benefit from the 104-day reduction but still face the longest overall wait.
Employers awaiting LMIA decisions should monitor ESDC's quarterly updates, as processing times shift with application volume and departmental capacity. Foreign nationals whose employers have submitted LMIA applications can check eligibility for concurrent work permit processing through IRCC, which allows certain applicants to file work permit applications before the LMIA decision arrives. The Canada Job Bank lists over 4,700 positions from employers who have obtained or applied for LMIAs, providing a searchable database for foreign nationals seeking LMIA-backed employment.
Via CIC News