Labour Market Impact Assessment application processing times
On this page
- Processing times
- When your application processing time starts
- When your application processing time ends
- Contact us
Processing times
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing times represent the average number of business days required for Service Canada to assess an application and render a decision once all required information has been received.
The table below, which is updated monthly, shows the average processing time by stream for the LMIAs processed last month. These figures can vary significantly from month to month based on the volume of LMIA applications received.
Consider these times to help you plan for your employment needs.
| Stream | Processing time |
|---|---|
| Global Talent Stream | 8 |
| Agricultural stream | 21 |
| Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program | 10 |
| High-wage stream | 64 |
| Low-wage stream | 58 |
| Permanent resident stream | 140 |
What to consider when submitting an LMIA application
- Consider last month's processing times
- Apply as soon as possible and up to 6 months before the expected job start date
- Consider the time required for the minimum advertising requirements that must be completed before submitting an LMIA. Depending on the stream, the advertisement must be posted for 14 days to 8 weeks in the 3 months prior to submitting the LMIA; that time isn't factored into the processing times
- Foreign nationals should apply for their work permit to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) after their employer receives a positive LMIA or within 2 weeks of their permit's expiry
When your application processing time starts
We start processing your application once you submit a complete LMIA application using LMIA Online.
An application is considered complete when:
- all required documents are provided for the stream you’re applying to
- the employer has signed all required documents
- you’ve paid the processing fee (if applicable)
- incomplete applications won't be processed, and you won't be charged the processing fee
For positions in Quebec for an employment period of more than 30 consecutive days
An application is considered complete when:
- submitted at the same time to Service Canada and Quebec's Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI) (French only)
- submitted in the format required by the provincial government
For more information, consult Hiring in the province of Quebec.
When your application processing time ends
Your application processing time ends when you receive a decision letter from Service Canada. You’ll get either a positive or negative decision on your LMIA. If your LMIA is positive, provide a copy of the decision letter to the temporary foreign workers so they can apply for a work permit.