As of October 7, 2026, ESDC reports average LMIA processing times of 9 business days for the Global Talent Stream, 22 for Agricultural, 7 for the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, 79 for Permanent Resident, 98 for High wage and 82 for Low wage. Times are monthly averages and start once your application is complete.
Employers and foreign workers both ask the same question. How long will this take? Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has just updated its numbers. Our team at ImmigCanada breaks them down and shows you how to plan around them.
What Do the Latest LMIA Processing Times Show?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) measures how long Service Canada takes to assess an application and issue a decision once all required information has been received. The figures are average business days for LMIAs processed last month. ESDC updates the table monthly, and numbers can swing with application volume.
Figure 1: Average LMIA processing times by stream, in business days
Which Streams Moved Faster, Slower or Stayed the Same?
Most streams improved. The Global Talent Stream now averages 9 business days, down by one day. The Agricultural stream averages 22 days, down by three. The Permanent Resident stream averaged 79 days, a drop of 77 days from the previous update. That is a dramatic improvement.
Two streams moved the other way. The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program rose by one day to 7. The High wage stream rose by eight days to 98. The Low wage stream held steady at 82 days.
When Does the Processing Clock Start and Stop?
The clock starts when you submit a complete application through LMIA Online. Complete means that all required documents are provided and the employer has signed every form. Any applicable processing fee must be paid. Incomplete applications are not processed, and you are not charged the fee.
The clock stops when you receive a decision letter from Service Canada. The decision can be positive or negative. If it is positive, give a copy to the foreign worker so they can apply for a work permit.
Sourec: LMIA Application Processing Times
What Time Sits Outside the Published Numbers?
This is where many employers get caught. Minimum advertising must happen before you submit. Depending on the stream, ads must run from 14 days to 8 weeks within the three months before submission. That time is not part of the processing numbers. ESDC also advises applying as soon as possible and up to six months before the expected start date.
Convert business days to calendar time to avoid surprises. Ninety eight business days is about 20 weeks, or nearly five months. Add up to eight weeks of advertising and the real timeline grows fast.
Is Quebec Different?
Yes. For jobs in Quebec lasting more than 30 consecutive days, employers must submit to Service Canada and to Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) at the same time. The application must also use the format the province requires. Missing either step means the application is not complete.
Case Study: A Saskatchewan Welding Shop Plans Ahead
Profile. A 29 year old welder from the Philippines with a Canada job offer from a fabrication company in Regina, Saskatchewan. Express Entry CRS score of 431. The employer used the High wage stream.
What we did. Our team mapped the full timeline. We added eight weeks of advertising to the 98 business day average. We told the employer to apply as early as possible, well before the planned start date. We prepared the worker’s documents so a work permit application could follow immediately after a positive decision.
Result. The employer submitted a complete LMIA application on the first attempt. No resubmission was needed. The worker’s work permit file was ready the day the positive decision letter arrived. Early planning protected the start date.
What Is the ImmigCanada Expert View?
Eivy Joy Quito (RCIC), ImmigCanada views the update as mostly good news. The Permanent Resident stream improvement is striking. The Global Talent Stream remains the fastest path for qualifying tech roles. Still, High wage and Low wage applications remain long.
Our guidance is practical. Use last month’s figures as a guide, not a guarantee. Start early. Keep your documents complete and signed. Foreign nationals should apply for their work permit after the employer receives a positive LMIA, and check IRCC’s guidance about timing near permit expiry. A careful plan beats a rushed one.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the average number of business days Service Canada needs to assess an LMIA application and issue a decision once all required information has been received.
The Global Talent Stream averages 9 business days, down by one day from the previous update.
The High wage stream is the longest at 98 business days, an increase of eight days.
ESDC updates the table monthly. Figures can vary significantly depending on application volume.
ESDC advises applying as soon as possible and up to six months before the expected job start date.
No. Required advertising happens before submission and is not included in the processing numbers.
The worker should apply to IRCC after the employer receives a positive LMIA. IRCC guidance also points to timing rules near permit expiry, so check your dates.