Concurrent Processing for LMIA Work Permits: What You Need to Know

But if the position requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or, in Quebec, a CAQ, that job offer alone isn’t enough. A complete work permit application includes an approved LMIA or CAQ attached.  

So even though the role is waiting for you, you can’t apply for a work permit until you have the LMIA/CAQ. That gap between having the offer and receiving the government approval is where things can get stressful. 

This is where concurrent processing can help. When your work permit is about to expire and the LMIA or CAQ is still in process, you can submit your work permit under the principle of concurrent processing. But this comes with risks you need to be aware of.  

What Is Concurrent Work Permit Processing? 

In most cases, a worker must wait for a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), or, in Quebec, a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), before submitting a work permit application. 

Concurrent processing is an exception to that rule. It allows certain workers inside Canada to apply for a work permit while the LMIA and CAQ, if needed, is still in processing. This allows the worker to maintain their status in Canada and potentially continue working in Canada.  

This option is only available in very specific circumstances. 

When Can You Use Concurrent Processing? 

You may qualify if: 

• You are applying from inside Canada, and 

• You have an LMIA (and CAQ) in processing 

• Your current work permit will expire within 14 days of the date you apply 

If your work permit expires in more than 14 days, you cannot use concurrent processing. You must either: 

• Wait until the LMIA or CAQ is approved before applying for a work permit, or 

• Wait until you are within the 14-day expiry window to submit your work permit application. 

What Must Be Included in a Concurrent Work Permit Application 

When applying under concurrent processing, you cannot simply submit a basic application and wait. You must include clear proof that the LMIA or CAQ process is underway. 

You need to submit: 

• Proof of a Valid Job Offer (a signed employment contract, or a written offer of employment from your employer) 

• Proof the LMIA or CAQ Application was submitted by your employer.  

You must include one of the following: 

•  A copy of the LMIA application sent to Service Canada 

• A copy of the CAQ application sent to Quebec’s immigration ministry 

• A receipt or confirmation number if the request was submitted online 

You must also complete the “Details of Intended Work in Canada” section of your work permit application and provide: 

• The date the LMIA or CAQ request was submitted 

• The office it was sent to 

• The employer’s name 

• The confirmation number of the application, if available. 

Missing documentation or information could result in a refusal. 

The Risk of Refusal 

If you submit a work permit application under concurrent processing, you must provide proof of the approved LMIA or CAQ within 60 days of the date IRCC receives your work permit application. 

That 60-day deadline is counted in calendar days, not business days. 

If the approved LMIA or CAQ is not provided within that window, your work permit application can be refused. If that happens, your maintained status ends on the date of refusal. This can leave you without authorization to work and potentially out of status. 

This is where concurrent processing carries real risk, especially given current LMIA processing times. 

As of February 2026, LMIA processing times are approximately: 

• High-wage LMIA: 60 business days 

• Low-wage LMIA: 48 business days 

60 business days translate to roughly 81 to 83 calendar days. That already exceeds the 60-calendar-day deadline to provide the approved LMIA after submitting the work permit application. 

In practical terms, this means a last-minute LMIA submission is unlikely to lead to a work permit approval. If the LMIA is filed too close to the work permit expiry, it will not be approved in time, and the work permit application will likely be refused. 

To reduce risk, the LMIA should generally be submitted at least three months before the work permit expiry, if not earlier, depending on the stream and current processing trends. 

This means concurrent processing cannot be a last-minute decision. It is not a backup plan for delayed filings or rushed LMIA submissions. It only works when timing has already been managed carefully.  

A refusal means your maintained status ends immediately on the date of refusal. 

If you were continuing to work under maintained status while waiting for a decision, you must stop working right away. From that point forward, you no longer have authorization to work and may need to apply for restoration to regain legal status in Canada. 

Concurrent processing can be a useful option when a work permit is about to expire and an LMIA or CAQ is still pending. But it is not a shortcut, and it is not without risk. 

The 60-calendar-day deadline to submit the approved LMIA or CAQ is strict. With current LMIA processing times often exceeding that window in calendar days, careful advance planning is essential. A rushed or last-minute LMIA submission will likely result in refusal. 

However, when timing has been managed well in advance and the LMIA is already well underway, concurrent processing can be a powerful tool to help protect status and avoid disruptions to employment.