Employers utilizing the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) experienced extended wait times for Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) across various streams in August, with some delays increasing by over two months.
The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program was the only stream that saw an improvement, with processing times decreasing by a modest two days.
Insights into LMIA Processing Time Changes
Several factors influence the duration of an LMIA application in processing, such as the specific stream, file completeness, and the volume of applications awaiting assessment.
LMIA processing times are exclusive of the mandatory advertising period that employers must fulfill before submission, which can range from 14 days to eight weeks based on the stream.
The table below illustrates the month-over-month alterations in processing times from July to August:
| TFWP Stream/Program | August 2026 | July 2026 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Talent Stream | 10 days | 10 days | — |
| Agricultural Stream | 25 days | 23 days | +2 days |
| Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program | 6 days | 8 days | -2 days |
| High-wage Stream | 90 days | 88 days | +2 days |
| *Low-wage Stream | 82 days | 73 days | +9 days |
| Permanent Resident Stream | 156 days | 86 days | +70 days |
After a prolonged decline in LMIA processing times for the permanent resident stream, the latest update revealed an increase in wait times.