ESDC's August 2026 LMIA processing times show waits rising under nearly every Temporary Foreign Worker Program stream — the permanent resident stream jumped 70 days, the largest single-month increase of the year.
If you're an employer waiting on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), the wait got longer almost across the board in August. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) published its August 2026 LMIA processing times on September 10, 2026, and the permanent resident stream jumped 70 days — from 86 to 156 days — the largest single-month increase across any Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) stream all year. Only the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program improved, and only by two days.
ESDC reviews and approves LMIA applications before a foreign national can apply for a work permit through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Its processing times are published monthly and measure the average number of business days needed to assess an application, excluding the mandatory advertising period employers must complete first (14 days to 8 weeks, depending on the stream).
| TFWP stream/program | August 2026 | July 2026 | Change |
|---|
| Global Talent Stream | 10 days | 10 days | No change |
| 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 |
A 70-day jump in a single monthly update is unusual on its own, but it's especially notable because the permanent resident stream had been on a months-long downward trend before this release reversed it. Employers using this stream — typically hiring workers who already hold, or are on track for, a path to permanent residence — went from one of the faster LMIA categories to easily the slowest of the year in one update.
The low-wage stream posted the second-largest move, and its trajectory is now clear: at 82 days, it's up 71% since February 2026, when it was closer to 48 days. The high-wage stream, for positions paying at least 20% above the relevant provincial or territorial median wage, climbed to its highest point of the year at 90 days. The agricultural stream, at 25 days, is nearly double its February reading.
Only the Global Talent Stream held completely flat, continuing to meet its 10-day service standard — the one part of the LMIA system built to move fast for specialized, in-demand roles, and the only one still doing so.
If you're an employer using the permanent resident stream: budget for roughly 5 months of LMIA processing alone, on top of the advertising period and the work permit application that follows. If your hire is time-sensitive, this is the stream to plan around most conservatively right now.
If you're using the low-wage stream: the 71% increase since February isn't a one-off — it's part of a sustained climb. Low-wage LMIA processing is also subject to a federal moratorium in regions where unemployment reaches 6% or higher; that regional list is updated quarterly, with the next revision due October 10, 2026. Check whether your region is affected before you apply.
If you're a foreign worker waiting on an employer's LMIA: once ESDC approves it, you have six months from the issuance date to apply for your work permit. Some applicants can use concurrent processing measures to submit a work permit application before the LMIA decision arrives, which can offset some of the added wait — ask your employer whether your case qualifies.
If you're using the Global Talent Stream: nothing has changed for you. It remains the fastest and most predictable route in the entire LMIA system.
Tip
The federal government is deliberately shrinking the Temporary Foreign Worker Program this year — a target of 60,000 TFWP admissions for 2026, down from 82,000 in 2025 — as part of a plan to bring temporary residents below 5% of the national population by 2027. Fewer admissions should eventually mean fewer LMIA applications and lighter processing queues, but this update shows that hasn't happened yet. Don't assume a smaller program means a faster one until the processing-time data actually shows it.
Canada admitted 23,190 temporary foreign workers in the first six months of 2026 — 42.1% fewer than the same period in 2025 and 55.7% fewer than 2024. The International Mobility Program, which doesn't require an LMIA, saw an even steeper cut: its 2026 admissions target fell to 170,000 from 285,750 in 2025, and actual admissions in the first half of the year were down 12.1% year-over-year. Both programs are shrinking by design, but LMIA processing times climbing at the same time suggests ESDC's capacity hasn't kept pace with even the smaller volume of applications still coming in.
LMIA and Work Permit Guide | Low-Wage LMIA Freeze Update | Work Permit Guide
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. Always verify information with official IRCC sources and consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or licensed immigration lawyer for advice specific to your situation.