LMIA Processing Times Are Rising Across Almost Every Stream

Employers relying on Labour Market Impact Assessments to hire foreign workers are facing longer waits in 2026. Service Canada's latest processing time data shows increases across nearly all TFWP streams, raising concerns for businesses that need workers in place before the spring and summer seasons.

Which Streams Are Affected

The high-wage stream, the low-wage stream, the agricultural stream, and the Global Talent Stream have all seen processing time increases compared to late 2025 benchmarks. The Global Talent Stream, which had been a flagship for fast processing at two weeks, has seen times edge upward as application volumes have grown.

Why Times Are Increasing

Several factors are converging. The volume of LMIA applications surged in late 2025 as employers tried to lock in workers before the permit expiry wave of early 2026. Service Canada is also applying more rigorous review criteria following the federal crackdown on LMIA fraud that led to the removal of job offer points from Express Entry last year. Applications are receiving more scrutiny, which takes more time.

What Employers Should Do

File earlier than you think you need to. If your worker's permit expires in July, filing in March is not too early under current conditions. Ensure your application is complete and free of errors at the time of submission, as requests for additional documents reset the clock. Employers in healthcare and agriculture should request priority processing designation where applicable.

Low-Wage LMIA Resumptions

Service Canada resumed processing low-wage LMIAs in eight major census metropolitan areas in January 2026 after a freeze tied to elevated local unemployment rates. This resumption has added to overall application volumes and is a contributing factor in the rising times across streams.