Introduction

Canada has given some foreign workers more time to provide their employer’s Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) results when they apply for a work permit from inside Canada.

Previously, eligible applicants had 60 days to provide proof of a positive or neutral LMIA. Now, IRCC gives them 90 days, adding an extra 30 days to the process.

This change can help workers whose current work permits are close to expiry while their employers wait for an LMIA decision.

What Changed?

On August 21, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated its instructions for concurrent processing.

Under the new rule, eligible foreign workers now have 90 days instead of 60 days to provide proof of their employer’s positive or neutral LMIA.

As a result, workers get additional time to complete their applications while their employers wait for the LMIA decision.

What Is Concurrent Processing?

Normally, an employer needs an LMIA decision before a foreign worker can apply for a work permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

However, concurrent processing works differently.

Eligible workers can apply for their TFWP work permit while their employer’s LMIA application is still under review.

This process can save workers valuable time, especially when their current work permits are about to expire.

Why Does the LMIA Matter?

An LMIA helps determine whether an employer needs to hire a foreign worker for a particular position.

In many TFWP cases, the employer needs a positive or neutral LMIA before IRCC can approve the worker’s application.

The LMIA also helps show that the employer could not find a suitable Canadian citizen or permanent resident for the job.

Therefore, the worker must provide the LMIA result before IRCC can finalize the work permit application.

Workers Now Get 90 Days

Previously, eligible applicants had 60 days to provide their employer’s LMIA result.

Now, IRCC gives them 90 days.

This extra 30 days can make a significant difference because LMIA applications can take several months to process.

For example, a worker may submit a work permit application while the employer waits for the LMIA. The worker can then use the additional time to receive the LMIA and add the required proof to the application.

Why Is This Important for Foreign Workers?

A worker’s current permit may expire while their employer waits for the LMIA.

Without concurrent processing, the worker might have to wait for the LMIA before submitting a new work permit application. This situation could create a gap in their work authorization.

However, concurrent processing allows eligible workers to submit their work permit applications earlier.

As a result, the process can give them a better chance of maintaining their legal ability to work in Canada.

Maintained Status Can Help Eligible Workers

Workers who apply for a new work permit before their current permit expires may benefit from maintained status.

With maintained status, eligible workers can generally continue working under the conditions of their existing permit while IRCC processes their new application, as long as they remain in Canada.

Therefore, applying on time can help workers avoid an unnecessary interruption to their work authorization.

Who Can Use Concurrent Processing?

Workers must meet specific conditions to qualify.

They must meet all of the following requirements:

• Their current work permit will expire in two weeks or less.
• Their employer has submitted a complete LMIA application.
• The employer has not yet received an LMIA decision.
• The employer submitted the LMIA application early enough that IRCC could reasonably have expected a decision before the worker’s permit reached expiry.

If a worker meets these requirements, they may qualify for concurrent processing.

What Happens After the Worker Applies?

After the worker submits the TFWP work permit application, an immigration officer holds the application for up to 90 days.

During this period, the worker can provide proof of the employer’s positive or neutral LMIA.

After the 90-day period, the officer reviews the application and makes a decision based on the information and documents available.

What Does the 30-Day Extension Mean?

Overall, the change from 60 days to 90 days gives eligible foreign workers an additional month to submit their LMIA results.

More importantly, concurrent processing allows workers to start the work permit process before their employers receive the final LMIA decision.

Therefore, this update could provide more flexibility for temporary foreign workers in Canada, particularly those whose current work permits are close to expiry and whose employers are still waiting for their LMIA results.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive advice on any of your questions regarding immigration. Get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Global. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).