Hiring a temporary foreign worker requires a realistic schedule. Before fixing a start date, employers should account for recruitment, preparation, Service Canada’s LMIA assessment and, where required, the worker’s separate IRCC work permit application.
This guide explains the latest ESDC processing table available when checked on October 6, 2026, and how employers and workers can use it to plan.
Check the latest official processing times
ESDC updates its LMIA processing time table monthly. Check the latest official figures for your application stream. The figures in this blog reflect the source dates shown and do not update automatically.
Check the latest LMIA processing times
Latest published LMIA processing times
ESDC’s page, updated September 10, 2026, reports the following averages for applications processed in August 2026. The figures are business days and vary by stream. They are historical averages, not guaranteed completion dates. [1]
| LMIA stream | Average business days |
| Global Talent Stream | 10 |
| Agricultural stream | 25 |
| Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program | 6 |
| High-wage stream | 90 |
| Low-wage stream | 82 |
| Permanent resident stream | 156 |
Business days should not be read as calendar days. For rough planning, 90 business days is 18 five-day workweeks before accounting for statutory holidays. That conversion is illustrative and does not predict a particular decision date.
When the processing clock begins and ends
Service Canada starts processing a complete LMIA application submitted through LMIA Online. Required documents, signatures and any applicable fee must be in place. The published period ends with the decision letter and excludes pre-submission advertising and the worker’s separate work permit processing. [1]
For positions in Quebec lasting more than 30 consecutive days, completeness also depends on the required simultaneous submission to Service Canada and Quebec’s immigration ministry. [1]
Recruitment adds time before submission
Under the general high-wage requirements, advertising must run for at least four consecutive weeks within the three months before submission. The current general low-wage requirement is at least eight consecutive weeks within that period. At least one required recruitment activity must continue until the LMIA decision. Variations may apply. [2, 3]
For example, an employer beginning low-wage recruitment today should budget for the required advertising period before adding LMIA assessment time. Keep dated advertisements, recruitment results and records of applications received. A complete recruitment record helps explain why the position remains unfilled.
Choose the correct stream for the position
For high-wage and low-wage applications, compare the offered wage with the current provincial or territorial threshold. Alberta’s threshold for applications received from July 17, 2026 is $37.50 per hour. The offered wage must also satisfy the occupation’s prevailing wage requirements. Changing wages simply to avoid program requirements may result in a negative decision. [4]
The Global Talent Stream has its own eligibility rules. Category A involves a designated referral and unique, specialized talent; Category B covers occupations on the Global Talent Occupations List. A shorter published average does not make every job eligible. [5]
Permanent resident stream and dual intent applications
The permanent resident stream average concerns the employer’s LMIA assessment, not the worker’s permanent residence decision. Employers may request a qualifying dual intent LMIA to support both a temporary work permit and permanent residence. These remain separate immigration decisions. [6]
Before selecting this route, review the job offer, employer eligibility and worker’s immigration pathway together. The purpose of the application should guide the choice; the shortest number in a table should not.
An expiring work permit needs early planning
A pending LMIA alone does not extend a worker’s permit. IRCC allows an extension application without the new LMIA only when the current permit expires in less than two weeks and the required supporting evidence is supplied. The missing LMIA must be submitted within 90 days of IRCC receiving the application; otherwise refusal may follow. [7]
This creates a practical timing issue: an LMIA average measured in business days may exceed IRCC’s 90-day document window. Employers and workers should begin the process early rather than assume a pending LMIA will keep an extension application open indefinitely.
Building a workable hiring schedule
Work backwards from the proposed start date. Confirm stream eligibility and recruitment rules, prepare the employer evidence, allow for the LMIA assessment and plan the worker’s next application. ESDC advises applying as early as possible, up to six months before the expected start date. [1]
For an existing employee, review the permit expiry at the same time. For a worker abroad, avoid treating an LMIA decision as permission to start work in Canada. Leave room for additional requests and discuss a contingency staffing plan before the vacancy becomes urgent.
Frequently asked questions
Are LMIA processing times calendar days
No. ESDC publishes average business days. Recruitment and work permit stages must be considered separately. [1]
Does a positive LMIA guarantee a work permit
No. The worker must meet the applicable IRCC requirements; the LMIA and work permit are separate decisions.
Can I use the Global Talent Stream just because it is faster
Only if the employer and position meet that stream’s specific eligibility requirements. [5]
Does the permanent resident stream figure tell me when PR will be approved
No. It is an LMIA assessment figure. IRCC’s permanent residence processing is separate. [6]
What should I do if the employee’s permit expires soon
Review the LMIA and extension timelines immediately, including the less-than-two-week filing condition and 90-day missing-document requirement. [7]
Book a consultation with HV Global Immigration
We can review your application stage, documents and deadlines, and help you plan the next step. Book a consultation for a detailed assessment of your circumstances.
403-421-0007 | [email protected] | www.hvglobal.ca
Harish Sharma | Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant | R534969
Official sources
2. ESDC high-wage program requirements
3. ESDC low-wage program requirements
4. ESDC wage thresholds and stream selection
5. ESDC Global Talent Stream requirements
