Waiting on an LMIA in Canada? The latest numbers could change your hiring timeline.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) updated its LMIA processing times on September 10, 2026, based on applications processed during August. Almost every stream recorded a longer average wait, while the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program was the only stream to improve.
The biggest movement was in the Permanent Residence Stream, where the average processing time jumped by 70 business days to 156 business days.
For employers planning to hire foreign workers, this is more than a number on a government webpage. A longer LMIA timeline can affect recruitment, work permit applications and planned employee start dates.
Here is what the latest LMIA processing times 2026 mean for Canadian employers and foreign workers.
What Are the Latest LMIA Processing Times in Canada?
According to ESDC’s September 10, 2026 update, the average LMIA processing times for applications processed in August were:
| LMIA Stream | Average Processing Time | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Global Talent Stream | 10 business days | No change |
| Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program | 6 business days | ↓ 2 days |
| Agricultural Stream | 25 business days | ↑ 2 days |
| High-Wage Stream | 90 business days | ↑ 2 days |
| Low-Wage Stream | 82 business days | ↑ 9 days |
| Permanent Residence Stream | 156 business days | ↑ 70 days |
These are average processing times, not guaranteed decision deadlines. ESDC states that processing times can vary significantly from month to month depending on application volumes and other factors.
That means employers should use the figures as a planning benchmark—not as a promise that their LMIA will be approved within the exact number of business days shown.
Which LMIA Stream Is Fastest in 2026?
The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program currently has the shortest average processing time at 6 business days.
The Global Talent Stream follows at 10 business days. The GTS also has a specific service standard: Service Canada aims to process LMIA applications within 10 business days 80% of the time.
But faster processing does not mean every employer or occupation can use the Global Talent Stream.
The employer and position must meet the program’s requirements.
So choosing an LMIA stream based only on processing speed can create another problem: the stream must actually fit the job, employer and worker.
Why Did the Permanent Residence LMIA Stream Jump to 156 Days?
This is the number employers are likely to notice first.
The Permanent Residence Stream increased from 86 to 156 business days, a jump of 70 business days.
That is a substantial change.
However, ESDC’s published processing-time page reports the average processing time for applications processed during the previous month. It does not state that the increase was caused by one specific factor. ESDC notes that processing times can fluctuate significantly based on application volume.
So employers should avoid assuming that the 70-day increase represents a permanent backlog.
What it does show is that relying on older LMIA timelines could leave an employer with an unrealistic hiring schedule.
How Long Does a High-Wage LMIA Take in 2026?
The latest average processing time for the High-Wage Stream is 90 business days.
That represents a two-business-day increase from the previous update.
But processing is only one part of the timeline.
Employers must also complete the required recruitment and advertising before submitting the LMIA application.
For high-wage positions, employers generally need to conduct at least three recruitment activities, including advertising on Canada’s Job Bank and two additional methods that are appropriate for the occupation. The job advertisement must generally run for at least 4 consecutive weeks within the 3 months before the LMIA application.
So an employer planning around 90 business days should not assume that the employee can start 90 business days after the hiring decision.
The recruitment stage comes first.
How Long Does a Low-Wage LMIA Take?
The latest Low-Wage LMIA processing time is 82 business days, up from 73 business days.
That is a nine-business-day increase.
Low-wage positions also have specific recruitment requirements.
For many low-wage positions, employers must advertise the job for at least 8 consecutive weeks within the 3 months before submitting the LMIA application. Additional recruitment requirements also apply.
That means an employer’s real hiring timeline can be considerably longer than the published 82-business-day processing figure.
What Is the Global Talent Stream Processing Time?
The Global Talent Stream (GTS) remains one of the fastest LMIA pathways.
The latest average processing time is 10 business days.
ESDC’s service standard is also 10 business days for 80% of GTS applications, beginning on the first business day after the application is received.
The GTS is designed for employers seeking certain highly skilled global talent and includes Category A and Category B pathways.
However, employers must meet the applicable requirements before relying on GTS processing.
There can also be provincial requirements. For example, employers hiring through the GTS in British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Nova Scotia must obtain the required employer registration certificate or proof of exemption before submitting the LMIA application.
How Long Does an Agricultural LMIA Take?
The current average processing time for the Agricultural Stream is 25 business days.
That is two business days longer than the previous figure.
The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, meanwhile, improved by two business days to 6 business days.
Agricultural employers still need to satisfy recruitment requirements before applying.
For the Agricultural Stream, employers generally must conduct recruitment activities for at least 14 consecutive calendar days during the 3 months before applying.
Again, this recruitment period is separate from the published LMIA processing time.
How Early Should an Employer Apply for an LMIA?
ESDC recommends applying as early as possible.
An LMIA application can generally be submitted up to 6 months before the expected job start date.
That gives employers room to build a more realistic recruitment schedule.
A better timeline looks like this:
Recruitment and advertising → LMIA application → Service Canada processing → LMIA decision → Work permit application → IRCC processing → Worker starts employment
Trying to plan only around the LMIA processing number leaves out several important stages.
Does Advertising Time Count Toward LMIA Processing Time?
No.
The published LMIA processing times measure the time Service Canada takes to assess an application and make a decision once all required information has been received.
Mandatory recruitment happens before the application is submitted.
And the advertising requirement depends on the stream and occupation.
For example:
- High-wage positions generally require at least 4 weeks of advertising.
- Low-wage positions generally require at least 8 weeks.
- Agricultural positions generally require at least 14 calendar days.
- Some occupations and situations have different recruitment rules or variations.
So an employer should calculate the full hiring timeline, rather than simply adding 90 or 82 business days to the date of submission.
Can You Submit an LMIA Six Months Before the Job Starts?
Generally, yes.
ESDC says an LMIA application can be submitted up to 6 months before the expected job start date.
This can be especially important when processing times are increasing.
For example, an employer using the Permanent Residence Stream should not wait until the intended start date is approaching before beginning the process. With the current average at 156 business days, delaying the application could create a significant scheduling problem.
The exact timing should still account for the recruitment requirements, application preparation and circumstances of the particular position.
What Happens After a Positive LMIA?
An LMIA is not the foreign worker’s work permit.
These are separate steps.
After a positive LMIA, the foreign worker generally uses the LMIA documentation to support their work permit application to IRCC.
The LMIA decision establishes that the employment position meets the relevant labour-market requirements. IRCC then assesses the worker’s work permit application and other immigration requirements.
This distinction matters because the LMIA processing time is not the same as the work permit processing time.
Employers should therefore avoid telling a foreign worker that a “90-day LMIA” means they will definitely be authorized to work in Canada 90 business days after the LMIA application.
There are additional steps after the LMIA decision.
How Long Is a Positive LMIA Valid?
For positive LMIA decisions issued on applications received from May 1, 2024 onward, the LMIA is generally valid for up to 6 months. The foreign worker must apply for their work permit before the LMIA expires.
This creates another deadline employers need to track.
An approved LMIA does not mean the employer can ignore the expiry date.
If the worker does not apply for the work permit within the LMIA validity period, the LMIA is no longer valid and a new application may be required.
What Is Different About an LMIA for Quebec?
Quebec has additional provincial requirements.
For certain temporary foreign worker positions in Quebec, employers may need to submit the LMIA application to both Service Canada and Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI).
This means employers hiring in Quebec should account for the provincial component when planning the overall timeline.
The federal LMIA processing figure should not automatically be treated as the complete timeline for a Quebec hire.
Can LMIA Processing Times Change Again?
Yes.
In fact, ESDC explicitly describes its published figures as monthly averages and warns that they can change significantly depending on application volumes.
That means today’s number can become outdated relatively quickly.
For employers, the better approach is to monitor the official LMIA processing time update rather than relying on an old blog post, social media post or previous application timeline.
This is particularly important for businesses planning:
- Seasonal hiring
- International recruitment
- Work permit renewals
- Permanent residence-supported employment
- High-wage positions
- Low-wage positions
- Agricultural recruitment
- Global Talent Stream applications
What Should Employers Do If Their LMIA Is Taking Longer?
A longer published processing time does not automatically mean that a specific application is delayed.
The government’s figures are averages.
If an application is already submitted, employers should monitor communications from Service Canada and respond promptly if additional information is requested.
For a new application, the practical issue is planning.
Build the recruitment period into the schedule first, then account for the current LMIA processing time, followed by the worker’s work permit process.
Also make sure the selected stream is correct.
If an employer chooses the wrong stream and later needs to withdraw and reapply, that can create additional delays. ESDC states that if an employer needs to change the stream after submitting the application, they must withdraw and reapply; the processing fee is not refunded or transferred.
What Do the September 2026 LMIA Numbers Mean for Employers?
The latest figures send a clear planning message: LMIA timelines are moving, and employers should not build hiring schedules around outdated averages.
The most significant change is the Permanent Residence Stream at 156 business days, while the Low-Wage Stream has reached 82 business days and the High-Wage Stream is at 90 business days.
At the other end, the Global Talent Stream remains at 10 business days, while the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program is currently at 6 business days.
But there is no single “LMIA processing time.”
Your timeline depends on the stream, recruitment requirements, application completeness, employer circumstances and the subsequent work permit process.
Planning an LMIA-Supported Hire in Canada?
For employers hiring foreign workers, the smartest move is to build the timeline backward from the intended start date.
Start with the required recruitment period.
Then allow time for LMIA preparation and processing.
Then account for the foreign worker’s work permit application.
And keep every expiry date and document requirement on the calendar.
VisaNexa, licensed RCIC Immigration Consultants in Canada, can help employers and foreign workers understand the immigration steps connected to an LMIA-supported work permit and plan the process around current requirements.
The latest LMIA number is only the starting point. The real goal is getting the entire hiring timeline right.
