Maple News reports that Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) released its May 2026 processing time update for Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs). The update shows movement across LMIA streams, with most Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) streams recording longer wait times, while the permanent resident (PR) stream improved noticeably.
When comparing May 2026 with April 2026, LMIA processing times rose for most TFWP streams. The PR stream was the only one to record a reduction in wait times.
Specific changes included: Global Talent Stream up from 8 days in April to 10 days in May (+2 days); Agricultural Stream from 21 to 22 days (+1); Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program from 10 to 11 days (+1); High-Wage Stream stable at 64 days; Low-Wage Stream from 58 to 61 days (+3); Permanent Resident Stream from 140 days to 114 days (-26).
ESDC notes that its published LMIA processing times do not account for the minimum advertising requirements prior to submission, which range from 14 days to eight weeks depending on the stream.
The low-wage stream remains constrained to regions with unemployment at 6% or higher; the list of eligible regions is updated quarterly, with the next update scheduled for July 10. The current eligible-region list remains in effect until then.
What this means for employers and applicants: planning should account for longer lead times in most streams, even as improvements in the PR stream may alter timelines for permanent residence pathways linked to LMIA-backed job offers. Employers should remain mindful of regional employment conditions and advertising requirements that influence LMIA processing.