LMIA Processing Times and Fees: Complete Guide for 2025

The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is your gateway to hiring foreign workers or securing a Canadian work permit. But here’s what most resources won’t tell you upfront: processing times vary dramatically based on factors that go far beyond the “standard” timelines you’ll find on government websites.

At AVID, we’ve guided hundreds of employers and workers through successful LMIA applications. This guide combines official government data with real-world insights from our seasoned experts—because knowing the official timeline is just the starting point.

Current LMIA Processing Overview

What this means for you: LMIA processing times are not set in stone. They fluctuate based on application volume, seasonal demands, and regional processing capacity.

National Processing Averages (June 2025)

The current processing times reflect significant improvements from the backlogs experienced in 2023-2024, but regional variations remain substantial:

• High-wage positions: 8-12 weeks (down from 16+ weeks in 2023)
• Low-wage positions: 12-16 weeks (seasonal peaks can extend to 20+ weeks)
• Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program: 4-6 weeks (priority processing maintained)
• Global Talent Stream: 10-14 business days (expedited track)

Recent Processing Trends

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has implemented several efficiency measures since early 2024, including enhanced digital processing systems and increased staffing in high-volume regions. However, applications submitted during peak periods (March-May for seasonal work, September-November for permanent positions) still experience longer processing times.

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Many applicants assume “processing time” begins when they submit their application. It actually begins when ESDC confirms your application is complete. Incomplete submissions can add 2-4 weeks before processing even starts.

LMIA Processing Time Breakdown by Category

High-Wage Positions (Above Provincial Median Wage)

Current processing time: 8-12 weeks

High-wage LMIA applications generally move faster because they require less extensive labour market testing. However, specialized positions often face additional scrutiny:

What really happens behind the scenes: ESDC officers prioritize high-wage applications because they’re considered lower risk for wage suppression and worker exploitation. Your application gets assigned to officers with specialized knowledge in professional occupations.

If you’re in tech, healthcare, or engineering, here’s what to watch for:

• Professional regulatory body requirements can add complexity
• Skills assessments may require additional documentation
• Some provinces process tech applications faster due to dedicated immigration streams

Low-Wage Positions (At or Below Provincial Median Wage)

Current processing time: 12-16 weeks

Low-wage applications face more rigorous labour market testing and compliance requirements:

What this means for you: ESDC conducts enhanced reviews of recruitment efforts, wage rates, and working conditions. Officers may request additional evidence of recruitment attempts or clarification on job duties.

Common red flags that lead to delays:

• Vague job descriptions that don’t match NOC requirements
• Recruitment periods shorter than 4 weeks
• Wage rates that don’t meet provincial standards
• Insufficient evidence of Canadian recruitment efforts

Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP)

Current processing time: 4-6 weeks

SAWP applications receive priority processing due to time-sensitive agricultural seasons:

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: Submit SAWP applications 8-10 weeks before your anticipated start date, not the minimum 6 weeks. This buffer accounts for potential delays and gives you flexibility for worker arrival planning.

Regional Processing Variations

Processing times vary significantly by province and territory:

Fastest processing regions:

• Atlantic Canada: Generally 2-3 weeks faster than national averages
• Northern territories: Priority processing for most streams

Slower processing regions:

• Ontario and British Columbia: High application volumes create backlogs
• Alberta: Oil and gas sector applications may face additional scrutiny

LMIA Fee Structure and Payment Analysis

Government Filing Fees (2025)

The LMIA application fee structure is straightforward, but payment timing and methods can impact your processing:

Standard LMIA Application: $1,000 CAD per position requested

What most applicants don’t realize: The fee is per position, not per application. If you’re requesting 5 identical positions, you’ll pay $5,000. However, if you’re requesting positions with different job duties or wage levels, each variation requires a separate application.

Payment Methods and Processing

Accepted payment methods:

• Certified cheque or money order
• Online payment through the ESDC portal (recommended)
• Wire transfer for international applicants

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Payment delays are a common cause of processing delays. Online payments process within 24-48 hours, while mailed payments can add 5-10 business days to your processing time.

Fee Exemptions and Special Cases

Certain employers qualify for fee exemptions:

Eligible for fee exemption:

• On-farm primary agriculture employers hiring through SAWP
• Employers hiring caregivers under specific programs
• Some research institutions and academic employers

What this means for you: Even if you qualify for an exemption, you must still submit the exemption request with supporting documentation. This process can add 1-2 weeks to your initial processing time.

Refund Policies and Conditions

LMIA fees are generally non-refundable, even for negative decisions. However, refunds are possible in specific circumstances:

• Application withdrawn before processing begins
• Duplicate payments or processing errors
• Technical issues with the application system

If you’re considering withdrawing your application: Contact ESDC immediately. Refunds are only available if processing hasn’t begun, which typically means within 2-3 business days of payment confirmation.

Expedited Processing Options

Global Talent Stream (GTS)

Processing time: 10-14 business days

The GTS offers the fastest LMIA processing for eligible high-skilled positions:

Categories eligible for GTS:

• Category A: Positions referred by designated partners
• Category B: High-demand occupations in specific NOC codes

What really happens behind the scenes: GTS applications bypass standard labour market testing requirements but face intensive wage and working conditions reviews. Officers verify that compensation packages meet or exceed prevailing wage rates by significant margins.

Priority Processing Categories

Beyond GTS, certain applications receive informal priority:

Healthcare workers: Especially during critical shortages Seasonal agricultural positions: During peak planting/harvesting seasons Northern and remote positions: Due to unique labour market conditions

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: If your position falls into a priority category, clearly identify this in your cover letter and application materials. Don’t assume officers will automatically recognize the priority status.

Emergency Processing Procedures

True emergency processing is rare and strictly regulated:

Qualifying emergencies:

• Natural disasters affecting operations
• Critical infrastructure needs
• Public health emergencies

What this means for you: Emergency processing requires ministerial approval and extensive documentation. The bar is extremely high, and processing fees may be substantially higher.

Factors That Affect Your Processing Speed

Application Completeness and Quality

The single biggest factor affecting processing time is application completeness:

Common documentation gaps we see:

• Incomplete recruitment records (missing job posting screenshots, application logs)
• Vague business justification letters
• Insufficient wage documentation
• Missing regulatory compliance certificates

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Many applicants submit “draft” supporting documents, planning to provide final versions later. ESDC treats incomplete documentation as grounds for refusal, not requests for additional information.

Labour Market Conditions

Your industry and regional labour market significantly impact processing:

Faster processing industries (generally):

• Healthcare and social assistance
• Primary agriculture
• Technology and professional services

Slower processing industries:

• Retail and hospitality (higher scrutiny for wage compliance)
• Manufacturing (complex NOC classification issues)
• Construction (seasonal variation challenges)

Seasonal Demand Fluctuations

Application timing dramatically affects processing speed:

Peak application periods (expect delays):

• March-May: Seasonal and agricultural applications
• September-November: Permanent position applications
• December: Year-end hiring pushes

Optimal application timing:

• June-August: Lower volumes, faster processing
• January-February: Post-holiday efficiency gains

What this means for you: If possible, time your application submission to avoid peak periods. A June submission might process 3-4 weeks faster than a March submission, even for identical applications.

Regional Processing Capacity

ESDC processes applications at regional offices with varying capacity:

High-capacity regions (faster processing):

• Montreal: Large processing center with specialized units
• Vancouver: Dedicated tech and healthcare processing teams
• Halifax: Lower volume, consistent processing times

Capacity-constrained regions:

• Toronto: High volume creates consistent backlogs
• Calgary: Oil and gas applications require specialized review
• Winnipeg: Limited processing staff for complex applications

Strategic Planning and Timeline Management

Application Timing Strategy

Successful LMIA applications require strategic timing that accounts for multiple factors:

Minimum recommended timeline: 16-20 weeks from recruitment start to worker arrival Breakdown:

• Recruitment period: 4 weeks minimum
• Application preparation: 2-3 weeks
• ESDC processing: 8-16 weeks
• Work permit processing: 2-8 weeks (depending on country)

If you’re applying from a country with high refusal rates: Add an additional 4-6 weeks to account for potential work permit processing delays and additional documentation requirements.

Contingency Planning

Every LMIA application should include contingency planning:

Plan for processing delays: Build 25% buffer time into your hiring timeline Prepare for requests for additional information: Have supplementary documentation ready Consider alternative recruitment strategies: Maintain backup candidate pools

What really happens behind the scenes: Experienced employers submit applications in waves, staggering submissions to ensure continuous worker availability rather than trying to time single applications perfectly.

Communication with Stakeholders

Effective stakeholder communication prevents costly delays:

Key stakeholders to keep informed:

• Foreign workers (realistic timeline expectations)
• Department managers (hiring timeline adjustments)
• Legal counsel (compliance monitoring)
• Payroll and HR (preparation for new hires)

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: Establish weekly check-ins with all stakeholders during active applications. This prevents last-minute scrambles for additional documentation or approvals.