IRCC's October 28 instructions say officers will not decide eligible concurrent-processing work permit applications until the employer's LMIA is decided.
On October 28, 2026, IRCC updated its officer instructions so that officers no longer make a decision on work permit applications eligible for concurrent processing until a final decision has been made on the employer's Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This is a change to IRCC's operational instructions, not a new law, and it matters most to workers in Canada whose permit is about to expire while their employer's LMIA is still pending with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
What changed
Concurrent processing lets a worker in Canada apply for a new work permit before the employer's LMIA has been decided. IRCC's instructions have changed twice this year:
| Date | What IRCC's program delivery update says |
|---|---|
| August 21, 2026 | The grace period for work permit extension applications requiring concurrent processing was extended from 60 to 90 days, and a new process was added for applicants to flag that their application needs concurrent processing. |
| October 28, 2026 | Officers no longer make decisions on applications eligible for concurrent processing until a final decision has been made on the LMIA. Information on the LMIA statuses officers can see was also added. |
Who is eligible for concurrent processing
According to the updated instructions (page dated October 28, 2026), the hold applies to work permit applications made from inside Canada where the applicant shows that:
- their current work permit expires in two weeks or less;
- the employer has already submitted a complete LMIA application, with enough lead time measured against ESDC's published processing times; and
- no decision has yet been made on that LMIA.
Who is not covered
The instructions say employers should not submit an LMIA immediately before the worker's work permit application and expect concurrent processing; such requests are assessed only on an exceptional basis. Applications made from outside Canada, and workers whose employer has not yet filed an LMIA, are outside this process.
This change does not replace the LMIA. A work permit that requires an LMIA still depends on ESDC's decision. The October 28 update changes when IRCC decides the work permit, not whether a positive LMIA is needed.
What the instructions do not say
The updated page lists the LMIA statuses officers can see (positive, negative, revoked, suspended, closed and pending), but it does not spell out step by step what happens to a held work permit application when the LMIA comes back negative or is closed. If that happens to you, get advice on your options before your status situation changes.
What to do next
If your permit expires soon and your employer's LMIA is pending:
- Confirm with your employer that the LMIA was submitted complete and on time, and keep the file number.
- Apply for your new work permit before your current permit expires, and follow IRCC's instructions for flagging concurrent processing (the instructions mention a tracking code entered in the occupation field).
- Check current wait times with our processing times tool and read our earlier explainer on the August 2026 LMIA changes.
- See our work permit services if you need help with timing or a refusal risk.
Processing times are estimates and can change, and no outcome is guaranteed. Read the official IRCC program delivery update and the updated LMIA review instructions.
Not sure how this applies to your situation? A licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) can review your profile with you.
