Maple News reports that Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) released its LMIA processing-time update for June 2026 on July 9, showing longer waits for the high-wage and low-wage streams of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
From May to June 2026, the main changes were as follows: the high-wage stream rose to 79 days from 64 days (+15), while the low-wage stream increased to 71 days from 61 days (+10). The permanent resident stream declined from 114 days to 99 days (-15).
Other streams moved in the opposite direction. The Global Talent Stream shortened from 10 days to 9 days, and the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program decreased from 11 days to 9 days. The Agricultural stream remained unchanged at 22 days.
Overall, the permanent resident stream now sits at just over 14 weeks, marking a notable improvement from the 38-week backlog reported in November 2025. ESDC notes that LMIA processing times are influenced by the specific stream, the completeness of applications, and current volumes.
Maple News will continue to monitor LMIA developments and report on how these timing shifts affect employers and prospective temporary workers.