Work Permits Update — July 16, 2026
Thursday, July 16, 2026
LMIA processing times rose for most Temporary Foreign Worker Program streams in May 2026, but the permanent resident stream dropped sharply from 140 days to 114 days — a 26-day improvement.
As of April 1, 2026, employers hiring low-wage workers must now advertise job postings for 8 consecutive weeks (up from 4 weeks) within 3 months before submitting an LMIA application.
The Global Talent Stream LMIA processing time remains very fast at 10 days, while High-Wage and Low-Wage streams sit at 64 and 61 days respectively as of May 2026.
What You Should Do
- If you are an employer planning to hire a low-wage foreign worker, start your job advertising immediately — you must run ads for 8 consecutive weeks before submitting your LMIA. Keep detailed records of all postings (dates, platforms, responses) as ESDC requires proof of recruitment.
- If your LMIA application is under the Permanent Resident stream, note that processing is now approximately 114 days (as of May 2026). Plan your timelines accordingly and check the latest ESDC processing times at canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/processing-times.html.
- If you need the fastest LMIA route and your position qualifies, apply under the Global Talent Stream — current processing is 10 days. Confirm eligibility at canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/global-talent.html.
- Employers with low-wage LMIA applications already in progress: verify your advertising records meet the new 8-week requirement that took effect April 1, 2026. Applications with only 4 weeks of advertising may be non-compliant.
Sources
Topics Covered
LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Expansion: May 2026 LMIA processing data shows the Permanent Resident stream improved by 26 days to 114 days, while most other streams saw slight increases. The Global Talent Stream remains at 10 days.
LMIA Low-Wage Advertising Reform: Effective April 1, 2026, the mandatory job advertising period for low-wage LMIA applications doubled from 4 to 8 consecutive weeks, requiring employers to begin recruitment significantly earlier.
More Work Permits Updates
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Work Permits Update — July 6, 2026
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