A delayed government decision can leave a foreign worker uncertain about what happens next. For some workers in Canada, that concern may now be reduced. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has removed the 90-day limit for holding eligible work permit applications while an employer's Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is pending.
The revised instructions came into effect on October 28, 2026. Immigration officers will now wait for the LMIA decision before making a final decision on these work permit applications.
Why Was the 90-Day Limit Removed?
Earlier, IRCC could hold an eligible application for only 90 days while waiting for the employer's LMIA result. If the assessment took longer, officers could proceed with the work permit decision, potentially leading to refusal.
That deadline has now been removed. The change addresses a problem caused by delays that workers themselves cannot control.
Which Workers Qualify?
The relief is meant for foreign workers already in Canada who are applying under the concurrent processing arrangement.
Their existing work permit must expire within two weeks or less. Their employer must also have submitted a complete LMIA application early enough for a decision to have reasonably been expected before the permit expired.
Workers who apply for an extension before their current permit expires may continue working under their existing conditions while maintaining their status, provided they meet the requirements.
