Canada Global Talent Stream (GTS)

The Global Talent Stream (GTS) was launched in June 2017 through a partnership between Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The GTS assists certain Canadian employers to hire highly-skilled talent from around the world enabling them to compete on an international scale. Employers who are successfully approved through the program will be able to expedite the process for hiring foreign nationals through the Global Skills Strategy.

Global Talent Stream Overview

• What is the Global Talent Stream?
• Global Talent Stream program eligibility requirements
• How to apply for the Global Talent Stream
• Global Talent Stream work permit processing time
• Labour Market Benefits Plan

FAQ

• Does the Global Talent Stream work permit have any restrictions?
• How much does it cost to come to Canada through the Global Talent Stream?
• Are there any restrictions on the Global Talent Stream work permit?
• Is the Global Talent Stream LMIA-exempt?
• Can I get permanent residence through the Global Talent Stream?

What is the Global Talent Stream?

The Global Talent Stream is one of the streams contained within Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The GTS aims to facilitate the work permit process for certain Canadian employers, enabling them to compete on an international scale.

Employers who are successfully approved through the program can expedite the process of hiring foreign nationals through the Global Skills Strategy.

The Global Talent Stream (GTS) was launched in June 2017 through a partnership between Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

The GTS accepts applications through two categories. While there are some shared eligibility requirements, each category has unique requirements as outlined below.

Program Requirements

The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is designed to assist Canadian employers with hiring highly skilled foreign talent who will enable Canadians to compete on an international scale. The GTS operates two categories, Category A and Category B. While these two categories have unique requirements, they do share a few common requirements to the GTS:

• Processing Fee: Employers applying to the GTS must submit a $1000 CAD application fee.
• Business Legitimacy: Employers applying to GTS, as with all applicants to the TFWP, must submit documentation proving the legitimacy of their business.
• Labour Market Benefits Plan: As the GTS is designed to enable Canadian companies to compete on an international scale, all employers applying to the GTS must work with ESDC to develop a Labour Market Benefits Plan demonstrating that their business activities will have a lasting impact on the Canadian labour market.

As the GTS is part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, all successful employers applying to the stream must be issued a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) prior to the official hiring of a foreign national. If an employer meets the general stream requirements, they must verify that they meet the additional requirements for the category to which they wish to apply.

Category A

In order to apply to Category A of the Global Talent Stream, an employer must have been referred to the stream by one of the GTS’s designated partners and be using the stream to hire unique and specialized talent. The following are designated partners of the GTS, authorized to refer employers to Category A:

For a person to qualify as unique and specialized talent for Category A of the Global Talent Stream, the talent is indicated by advanced knowledge of the industry, coupled with advanced education and at least 5 years of specialized experience in the field. As well, unique and specialized talent are usually paid a minimum annual salary of at least $80,000 CAD.

Category B

In order to apply for Category B of the Global Talent Stream, employers must be seeking to hire highly-skilled foreign talent to fill positions in occupations found on the Global Talent Occupations List:

Employers should note that in order to be eligible, talent must meet both the occupation required as well as the minimum wage requirement.

How to apply for the Global Talent Stream

Applying for a work permit through the Global Talent Stream is a two-step process.

First, eligible GTS candidates must receive a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). It is the responsibility of the employer to apply for and pay for the LMIA process. This may be done by the employer or a third-party representative.

Once a positive LMIA is received, the employee can apply for a Canadian work permit.

The required documents will depend on your unique profile. To ease the application process, you or your employer may wish to hire a reputable Canadian immigration attorney.

Global Talent Stream processing time

One of the main benefits of the Global Talent Stream is its expedited work permit processing time; Global Talent Stream candidates may have their permits processed in under two weeks.

Prior to applying for a work permit, Global Talent Stream employers must first receive a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This process is also expedited with an average processing time of just 8 days.

If the candidate is applying to work in Quebec, they must also apply for a Québec Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ). This application is also expedited for GTS candidates.

Labour Market Benefits Plan

All applicants to the Global Talent Stream must work with ESDC to develop a Labour Market Benefits Plan demonstrating a commitment to activities which will positively impact the Canadian labour market. Applicants through Category A must commit to the creation of jobs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. This job creation can be either direct or indirect. Applicants through Category B must commit to increasing skills and training investments for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

How much does it cost to come to Canada through the Global Talent Stream?

The total cost of coming to Canada through the Global Talent stream is between $155 – $365 CAD, depending on where you intend to work.

The processing fee for a Global Talent Stream work permit is $155 CAD.

If you will be working in Quebec, you must also pay for the Québec Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ) processing fee of $210 CAD.

The LMIA application fee is $1000 CAD and is the responsibility of the GTS employers.

Global Talent Stream work permit restrictions

Global Talent Stream work permits are closed permits. This means that GTS candidates may only work for the employer indicated on their permit.

Is the Global Talent Stream LMIA-exempt?

The GTS is not LMIA-exempt, but the LMIA process is significantly simplified. GTS employers are not required to provide proof of their efforts to recruit a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. This exemption considerably reduces the burden when submitting an LMIA application.

Can I get permanent residence through the Global Talent Stream?

The Global Talent Stream is a temporary residence program for a Canadian work permit, and not a permanent immigration program.

However, working in Canada can significantly increase one’s chances of becoming eligible for a permanent residence program. To learn more about your options for Canadian permanent residence, complete our free online assessment form today.

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