<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-05-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001108320</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SMTC CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SMTX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001325533</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Red Oak Partners, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>654 BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 5</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10012</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001423093</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sandberg David</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>654 BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 5</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10012</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock ($.01 par value)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.1724</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2500592</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By the Bear Market Opportunity Fund, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Red Oak Partners is the investment advisor to Bear Market Opportunity Fund, L.P., the direct owner of the subject securities, and exercises investment control over the subject securities. David Sandberg is the managing member of Red Oak Partners and is the portfolio manager of the Bear Market Opportunity Fund, L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Red Oak Partners, LLC (the &quot;General Partner&quot;) serves as a general partner of Pinnacle Fund LLLP, a Colorado limited liability limited partnership (&quot;Pinnacle&quot;), the direct owner of the subject securities. David Sandberg is a limited partner of Pinnacle, the managing member of the General Partner and an investment advisor to Pinnacle.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Red Oak Partners, LLC (the &quot;General Partner&quot;) serves as the general partner of The Red Oak Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the &quot;Fund&quot;), the direct owner of the subject securities. David Sandberg is the managing member of the General Partner and the Fund's portfolio manager.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Each Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of all securities reported herein, except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein, if any, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that such Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the shares for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David Sandberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
