Processing Delays for Labour Market Impact Assessment Applications

Processing Delays for Labour Market Impact Assessment Applications

On October 29, 2018, Employment and Social Development Canada (Service Canada) announced what we had long suspected... they are experiencing delays in the processing of Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications.

Unfortunately, Service Canada does not publish its current processing times online. However, based on our recent experiences and those of some of our colleagues, the current processing times for LMIA applications could be as long as the following:

  • Alberta: 5 - 6 months
  • Ontario: 1 - 2 months
  • Manitoba: 4 months
  • Quebec: 4 months

Please note that these processing times do not apply to LMIA applications under the Global Talent Stream or those subject to expedited processing.