Employers planning to hire temporary foreign workers in Canada should take note of the latest LMIA processing times released by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The department updated its monthly processing statistics on August 7, 2026, with the latest figures based on applications processed in July.

The new numbers show that processing times increased for four of the six LMIA streams. The High-Wage Stream recorded the biggest increase, reaching 88 business days, while the Low-Wage Stream rose to 73 business days. Processing also increased slightly for the Global Talent Stream and Agricultural Stream.

For employers managing recruitment timelines, these changes are important because an LMIA is only one part of the temporary foreign worker hiring process. Recruitment and advertising requirements must generally be completed before an application can be submitted, and those periods are not included in ESDC’s published processing times.

Latest LMIA Processing Times for July 2026

ESDC’s latest figures show the following average processing times:

LMIA Stream	July 2026 Processing Time	Change
Global Talent Stream	10 business days	+1 day
Agricultural Stream	23 business days	+1 day
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program	8 business days	-1 day
High-Wage Stream	88 business days	+9 days
Low-Wage Stream	73 business days	+2 days
Permanent Residence Stream	86 business days	-13 days

The figures represent the average number of business days required for Service Canada to assess an application and issue a decision after receiving all required information.

Source: Labour Market Impact Assessment application processing times

They are not guarantees for individual applications. ESDC notes that processing times can change from month to month depending on application volumes and other factors.

High-Wage LMIA Processing Time Sees Largest Increase

The High-Wage Stream recorded the largest month-over-month increase in the latest update.

Processing increased by nine business days to 88 business days.

This matters for Canadian employers recruiting workers for positions that fall under the high-wage LMIA stream because the employer must account for the additional processing period when planning a worker’s potential start date.

Employers should also remember that the published processing period begins only after a complete LMIA application has been submitted.

Low-Wage Stream Processing Also Increased

The average processing time for Low-Wage Stream applications increased by two business days, reaching 73 business days.

The low-wage stream can involve additional program requirements, including recruitment and advertising obligations. Employers should therefore avoid planning their hiring timeline based solely on the 73-business-day processing figure.

The recruitment period before an LMIA application is submitted can add significant time to the overall process.

Global Talent Stream Remains the Fastest

The Global Talent Stream continues to have one of the shortest published processing times.

ESDC’s July 2026 figure is 10 business days, only one day longer than the previous monthly average.

The stream is designed to help eligible Canadian employers access highly skilled global talent when they meet the program requirements.

However, a 10-business-day average should not be interpreted as a guaranteed decision period. Employers still need to provide the required information and meet the conditions of the applicable Global Talent Stream category.

Agricultural Processing Times Remain Relatively Short

The Agricultural Stream recorded an average processing time of 23 business days, an increase of one business day from the previous figure.

The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program moved in the opposite direction, decreasing by one business day to eight business days.

For agricultural employers, these changes can be particularly relevant when hiring is tied to seasonal production schedules.

Starting the process early can help employers account for recruitment requirements, application preparation, processing and the subsequent work permit application by the foreign worker.

Permanent Residence Stream Processing Time Falls

Not every stream became slower.

The Permanent Residence Stream recorded a significant improvement, falling by 13 business days to 86 business days.

Although this is a notable decrease, employers should still use the figure as a planning reference rather than a fixed deadline.

Individual processing can vary depending on the completeness of an application and the circumstances of the position and employer.

When Does LMIA Processing Actually Begin?

One important point employers should understand is that the published processing time does not cover every step of the LMIA hiring process.

ESDC begins processing once a complete LMIA application has been submitted through LMIA Online.

An application is generally considered complete when the required documents for the relevant stream have been provided, the employer has signed the required documents and any applicable processing fee has been paid.

An incomplete application will not enter normal processing.

This distinction is important when calculating the true timeline from recruitment to the arrival of a temporary foreign worker.

Advertising Requirements Can Add Time Before Submission

Employers may also need to complete minimum recruitment and advertising requirements before submitting an LMIA application.

Depending on the stream and position, advertising requirements can range from 14 days to eight weeks during the three months before the LMIA application is submitted.

That period is separate from ESDC’s published processing time.

For example, an employer looking at an 88-business-day High-Wage Stream processing average should not assume that the entire hiring process will take exactly 88 business days. The employer may first need to complete recruitment activities, prepare the application and gather supporting documents.

This makes early planning particularly important.

When Should Employers Submit an LMIA?

ESDC recommends that employers apply as early as possible and allows applications to be submitted up to six months before the expected job start date.

This can provide employers with more time to account for recruitment, application preparation and processing.

Waiting until shortly before a planned start date can create difficulties if the application takes longer than the monthly average or additional information is required.

Employers should also coordinate the LMIA timeline with the foreign worker’s work permit application.

What Happens After a Positive LMIA?

Once Service Canada issues a positive LMIA decision, the employer provides the decision letter to the foreign worker.

The foreign national can then use the positive LMIA as part of their work permit application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), where applicable.

This means the LMIA processing time is not necessarily the end of the overall immigration process.

The worker’s work permit application has its own requirements and processing timeline.

What the Latest LMIA Update Means for Employers

The August 2026 update reinforces why employers should treat LMIA hiring as a multi-stage process rather than relying on one processing-time figure.

The latest numbers show a mixed picture. The High-Wage Stream increased to 88 business days, while the Low-Wage Stream reached 73 business days. At the same time, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and Permanent Residence Stream became slightly faster.

For employers, the practical takeaway is simple: start early, prepare a complete application and account for recruitment requirements before calculating a worker’s expected start date.

Businesses that rely on temporary foreign workers should also check the latest ESDC figures regularly because the department updates these statistics monthly.

Final Takeaway

The latest LMIA processing times show that processing speed can change significantly from one month to the next. The High-Wage Stream’s nine-business-day increase is particularly relevant for employers with upcoming recruitment needs, while the Global Talent Stream remains comparatively fast at 10 business days.

However, processing time is only one part of the hiring timeline. Advertising, application preparation, ESDC assessment and the foreign worker’s work permit application can all affect when a worker is ultimately able to begin employment in Canada.

Employers should therefore build realistic timelines around the latest official figures rather than assuming that an LMIA decision will arrive within a fixed number of days.

For businesses considering an LMIA-supported hire, professional immigration guidance can help assess the appropriate stream, recruitment requirements and application strategy before submission.

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