Canada widens LMIA submission window to 90 days for work permit renewals

Canada has extended the window for submitting a key labour document during certain work permit renewals, giving foreign workers more room to ride out federal processing delays. Effective August 21, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will now hold eligible extension files for up to 90 days from receipt, up from the previous 60, according to a program delivery update.

What changed

The update applies to in-Canada renewals under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, where a permit is tied to a specific employer. To use concurrent processing, an applicant files their work permit extension before their current authorization expires, while their employer's Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is still pending with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

Under the old rules, applicants had 60 days to secure and submit an approved LMIA. That grace period is now 90 days. Workers who file on time keep maintained status, meaning they can continue working under the same conditions until IRCC decides the case.

Who qualifies

The longer window is not automatic. IRCC set out specific conditions:

• The extension must be filed from inside Canada when the existing permit expires in two weeks or less.
• The employer must have already lodged a complete LMIA application with ESDC, with enough lead time.
• The worker must include proof of the pending LMIA when filing the extension.

If the positive LMIA and any required Quebec Acceptance Certificate are not uploaded within the 90-day limit, IRCC warns the file can be refused for incompleteness. Filing the LMIA request at the same time as the permit application, or just days before, disqualifies an applicant from the extended window.

What it means for nomads

This is a procedural adjustment for people already working legally in Canada on employer-specific permits, not a new pathway. It matters most if you have a Canadian job offer and are navigating a renewal amid backlogs, as the extra 30 days offers a buffer against administrative delays that could otherwise interrupt your right to work.

Importantly, the change grants no new working rights to visitors, tourists, or digital nomads operating remotely on visitor status. If you are in Canada working online for clients or an employer abroad, this update does not affect you. As always with employer-tied permits, coordination with your employer is essential: make sure the ESDC application is officially filed before you submit your paperwork to IRCC, or you may lose access to the grace period entirely.

Originally reported by Stamped Nomad.