Processing Times For Labour Market Impact Assessment Application
Service Canada is committed to providing all Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) applicants with a positive client experience, and understands that the program, through its various delivery streams, is key to addressing labour shortages in Canada, and meeting the needs of Canadian businesses.
Processing times of Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications can vary depending on the number of applications received by TFWP. While we are committed to processing all LMIA applications as quickly as possible, you can help reduce processing times by:
- submitting your application using the LMIA Online Portal
- ensuring your LMIA application is complete before it is submitted
Note: Incomplete applications will not be processed or returned (you will not be charged the service fee, if one was required).
- ensuring that the signing authority has signed all required documents
- responding promptly to Service Canada requests for additional information or documentation
Starting April 3rd, 2023, the TFWP is transitioning from paper to online LMIA applications. Get a head start and use the LMIA Online Portal today!
LMIA Online applications:
- the LMIA Online Portal is a reliable and secure electronic tool. It allows Canadian employers and third party representatives (on behalf of employers) to submit an LMIA application to Service Canada.
- the LMIA Online Portal allows you to:
- submit a LMIA application 24 hours a day and 7 days a week
- complete or return to an LMIA application before submitting it to Service Canada
- upload supporting documents
- securely pay LMIA fees, if applicable
- view correspondence and decision letters issued by Service Canada
- get real-time updates on the status of your application
- review previously submitted applications
- access and follow the status of your application when a third party representative is submitting an LMIA application on your behalf
- to access the LMIA Online Portal, an employer and a third party (if applicable) must have a valid Job Bank account for Employers for authentication purposes
- make sure you have a Job Bank account, if you don’t have one, sign up now
- once your Job Bank account(s) is/are created, you will be able to complete an LMIA application via the LMIA Online Portal. If you need support creating an Employer account on Job Bank, you can call 1-855-852-8317 (Monday to Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm ET)
- if you have applied through the LMIA Online Portal, you can confirm the status of your application at any time by logging into your LMIA Online account
The table below identifies the average processing times across all processing centres in Canada and represents the average time it takes to process a complete application from when it is received by Service Canada to when the decision letter is sent to you. Please consider the average processing times below to help you plan for your employment needs.
Note: For positions located in Quebec for an employment period of more than 30 consecutive days, you must also submit a complete application to Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI). Only when both the MIFI and Service Canada have received your application can it be processed. For more information, refer to this page when hiring in the province of Quebec.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is responsible for the issuance of work permits once you have received a positive decision on your LMIA application. Also remember to consider the processing times associated with the issuance of work permits by IRCC.
| Application type | Average processing time |
|---|---|
| Global Talent Stream | 10 business days |
| Agricultural stream | 18 business days |
| Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program | 11 business days |
| Permanent residence stream | 17 business days |
| In-home caregivers | 25 business days |
| High-wage stream | 34 business days |
| Low-wage stream | 36 business days |
To obtain immediate assistance with your LMIA application, please contact the Employer Contact Centre from Monday to Friday, between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm, Eastern time:
Canada and the United States:
- toll-free: 1-800-367-5693
- TTY: 1-855-881-9874
Outside Canada and the United States:
- 506-546-7569 (collect calls accepted)
