IRCC has extended the grace period for concurrent processing of in-Canada work permit extensions from 60 days to 90 days. Workers whose permits expire within two weeks, and whose employer has already filed a complete LMIA application, can keep working legally while IRCC waits for Employment and Social Development Canada to decide. No final decision is made until the 90 days pass.
What Changed for Temporary Foreign Workers in 2026?
Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program just got a little more forgiving. IRCC has updated its operational instructions for Labour Market Impact Assessment review under the TFWP. The grace period for concurrent processing has grown from 60 days to 90 days.
In plain terms: workers who applied to extend their work permit, but whose employer’s LMIA has not been finalized yet, get more breathing room. IRCC will now hold these files for 90 days before making a final call, instead of rushing a refusal.
For our clients at ImmigCanada, this is welcome news. Many hardworking newcomers lose sleep over gaps in status caused by slow employer paperwork. A longer grace window means fewer families forced into limbo.
Who Qualifies for Concurrent LMIA Processing in Canada?
Not everyone can use this exception. Applications must be filed inside Canada, and three conditions apply together.
First, the worker’s current permit must expire in two weeks or less at the time of filing. Second, the employer must have already submitted a complete LMIA application, with enough lead time that a decision could realistically be reached. Third, no decision on that LMIA can have been made yet.
IRCC has been clear that employers should not file an LMIA at the last minute and expect concurrent processing as a fallback. Officers assess these situations on an exceptional basis, not as a routine option.
Source: Labour Market Impact Assessment Review
What Happens While IRCC Waits for the LMIA Decision?
Once the application is accepted for concurrent processing, IRCC allocates the processing fee and holds the file. No final determination is made on the work permit until the 90-day window has elapsed, or until ESDC delivers its LMIA decision, whichever comes first.
Applicants are encouraged to enter the tracking code CPTS2026 in the intended occupation field. This code exists purely for internal tracking. It does not influence the officer’s actual decision on the case.
Does the 90 Day Window Guarantee Approval?
No, and this is where many applicants get confused. The grace period buys time. It does not change the underlying legal requirements under section R203 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
If the LMIA eventually comes back negative, or the employer’s job offer no longer holds up, the work permit extension can still be refused after the 90 days. The extended window simply prevents a premature refusal while a legitimate LMIA is still moving through ESDC’s process.
What Should Employers and Workers Do Right Now?
Timing matters more than ever. Employers should file LMIA applications well ahead of a worker’s permit expiry, factoring in ESDC’s published processing times for that specific stream.
Workers should never wait until the final two weeks to check their file status. A proactive review with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant can catch a gap before it becomes a crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions
IRCC now allows 90 days from the date it receives an eligible extension application, up from the previous 60-day window, before making a final decision when the LMIA is still pending.
No. Your work permit must be within two weeks of expiry at the time of filing for this exception to apply.
It is a tracking code entered in the intended occupation field to flag files that require concurrent processing. It has no bearing on the actual decision.
IRCC discourages this. Late LMIA filings intended to trigger concurrent processing are reviewed on an exceptional basis only, and are not treated as routine.
Your work permit extension will typically be refused as well, since a positive LMIA is a mandatory part of a complete application under section R10.
No. This exception applies specifically to extension applications filed inside Canada under section R199.
Yes. Confirming that all three conditions are met, and that supporting documents are complete, gives your file the strongest possible chance while it sits in IRCC’s queue.
If your work permit is approaching expiry and your employer’s LMIA is still pending, do not wait until the final days. Book a consultation with ImmigCanada’s Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants and let us confirm your eligibility for concurrent processing before your status is at risk.