Canada Work Permit: Global Talent Stream

Under the Global Talent Stream, skilled workers can expect their Canada work permits and Canada visa applications processed within two weeks. The program was launched on June 12, 2017, with Quebec unveiling its version of the program on September 11, 2017. GTS forms part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

The federal government wants to help high-growth companies bring in the talent they need quickly by cutting processing times for a Canada visa application from six months to just 10 business days.

A key element of the Global Talent Stream is that registered employers will need to commit to creating jobs for Canadians and transferring knowledge to Canadian workers, under a Labour Market Benefits Plan.

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Canada Work Permit: Global Talent StreamThe Global Talent Stream is part of a broader Global Skills Strategy to directly help Canadian businesses including start-ups, thrive.

Key Elements Of The New Global Talent Stream

  • Two-week standard for processing Canada work permit applications (and Canada visa applications when applicable) for highly skilled talent.
  • Dedicated service for companies looking to make significant job-creating investments in Canada.
  • Dropping of the work permit requirement for short-term highly skilled work (30 days or less in a 12-month period), and brief academic stays.
  • Companies applying for workers through the Global Talent Stream will have access to the new streamlined application process that will provide:
    • Client-focused service to help guide eligible employers through the application process and the development of the Labour Market Benefits Plan, with a service standard of 10 business days.
    • Eligibility for workers to have their work permit applications processed in 10 business days.

Global Talent Stream: Requirements

Category A: List of ESDC Designated Partners as of September 12, 2017

Under Global Talent Category A, employers must be referred by one of the following (subject to change)

  • Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
  • BC Tech Association
  • Business Development Bank of Canada
  • Communitech Corporation
  • Council of Canadian Innovators
  • Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
  • Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service
  • ICT Manitoba (ICTAM)
  • Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – Accelerated Growth Service
  • MaRS Discovery District
  • National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program
  • Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
  • Ontario Ministry of Economic Growth and Development
  • VENN Innovation

Quebec Designated Partners

  • Investissement Quebec
  • Montréal International
  • Quebec International

Under Category A, foreign workers must possess a unique and specialized talent to qualify for a Canada work permit, defined as:

  • Advanced knowledge of the industry.
  • Highly paid position with a salary of usually $80,000 or more.

EITHER

  • Advanced degree in an area of specialization of interest to the employer

OR

  • Minimum of five years of experience in the field of specialized experience.

Category B: GTS Global Talent Occupations List

For Category B of the Global Talent Stream, employers must hire highly-skilled foreign workers to fill positions in occupations found on the following list:

National Occupations Classification (NOC) code Occupation Minimum wage requirement (annual salary) Minimum wage requirement (hourly rate)
213 Computer and information systems managers prevailing wage prevailing wage
2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) prevailing wage prevailing wage
2171 Information systems analysts and consultants prevailing wage prevailing wage
2172 Database analysts and data administrators prevailing wage prevailing wage
2173 Software engineers and designers prevailing wage prevailing wage
2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers prevailing wage prevailing wage
2175 Web designers and developers prevailing wage prevailing wage
2241* Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians $81,000 or higher prevailing wage $38.94 or higher prevailing wage
2283* Information systems testing technicians $78,000 or higher prevailing wage $37.50 or higher prevailing wage
Sub-set of 5131* Position requires a minimum of five years of experience in the visual effects, video game or animation industries in one or a combination of the following roles: producer, technical director, creative director, artistic director or project manager, with experience in at least one or more of the following skills relevant to the visual effects, video game or animation industries: surfacing and look development; character or simulation rigging; matte painting; or technical pipeline development and application for visual effects, video games, or animation production. $75,000 or higher prevailing wage $36.06 or higher prevailing wage
Sub-set of 5241* Digital Media and Design

Position requirse a minimum of five years of experience in at least one of the following digital media design skills: 3D modeling, virtual reality, augmented reality, digital media animation, levels editing for digital media design, software editing for digital media design, pipeline software development or applications relevant for digital media design.

 $80,000 or higher prevailing wage $38.46 or higher prevailing wage

* Quebec sets its own minimum wage floors for applications from within Quebec. Consult the Quebec immigration website for more information

Processing Fee

Non-refundable $1,000 to be paid by the employer.

Labour Market Benefits Plan

A key requirement for GTS is the Labour Market Benefits Plan (LMBP).

Developed with ESDC, it must show how hiring a foreign worker will help a company either create jobs for or transfer skills to Canadians. It also allows the ESDC to track a company’s progress.

The LMBP features mandatory and complementary benefits.

Under Category A, the mandatory benefit is creating jobs, whether directly or indirectly, for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Under Category B, the mandatory benefit is to increasing skills and training investments for Canadians and permanent residents.

The LMBP must also provide two complementary benefits, which cannot be the same as the mandatory benefit. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Job creation,
  • Investment in skills and training,
  • Transferring knowledge,
  • Enhanced company performance and
  • Implementing best practices or policies as an employer for your workforce.

Global Talent Stream: General Requirements

Business Legitimacy

Employers must provide evidence they are actively engaged in the business needing the temporary worker. The business must provide a good or service related to the job offer.

Employers new to TFWP must submit one document as proof. Returning employers are not required to re-submit documents, but may be asked for additional proof.

Allowable documents include a Canadian business licence, legal incorporation forms, tax documents and attested documents. For a full list, click here.

Recruitment

Employers are encouraged to actively seek to hire Canadians and permanent residents before looking abroad for workers. A description of how this has been done will be requested.

Wages

Wages must match the prevailing amount paid to Canadians and permanent residents for the same position.

Job Duties and Working Conditions

Workers hired under TFWP must only do the job they were hired for. Foreign workers are covered by the same laws that protect Canadians and permanent residents. Exploitation of a foreign worker violates Canadian law.

Provincial and territorial laws cover standards such as:

  • Hours of work (including overtime)
  • Compensation
  • Working conditions
  • Termination of employment

Workplace Safety

Foreign workers must be covered by provincial or territorial workplace safety insurance where required by law. Any private plan must match or better the terms of the provincial or territorial plan.

Language Restriction

A job can only require English or French when advertised. If other languages are essential, justification is required at the application stage.

Unionized Positions

For positions covered by a union, the foreign worker must be treated the same as Canadians and permanent residents also covered by that union, in terms of wages and terms and conditions.

Employer Compliance

Employers must comply with all general requirements of the TFWP.

Employers in Quebec

As of September 11, 2017, Quebec employers are able to take full advantage of the Global Talent Stream. The key difference is that Quebec employers must submit their application simultaneously to ESDC and the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion.

Watch the full livestream video here:

Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.

Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.

Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.

 

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What is an Electronic Travel Authorization? (Audio)

An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a new requirement for foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries arriving in Canada by air, whether to visit the country directly or to pass through in transit.

An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a new requirement for foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries arriving in Canada by air, whether to visit the country directly or to pass through in transit.

Do I need an Electronic Travel Authorization?

You need an eTA if you are travelling to Canada by air from a visa-exempt country. A full list of visa-exempt countries is available here.

The following are exempt from requiring an eTA:

  • Those who have already obtained a valid visa to enter Canada.
  • Anyone entering by land or sea.
  • Armed Forces visiting Canada on official duty.
  • Students who have a valid Canadian study permit dated on or after August 1, 2015.
  • Flight crew, civil aviation inspectors, accident investigators.
  • Temporary Foreign Workers who have a valid Canadian work permit date on or after August 1, 2015.
  • French citizens who live in and are travelling from St. Pierre and Miquelon.
  • Persons entering from the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon, while holding valid status in Canada.
  • Accredited diplomats.
  • Canadian citizens and dual citizens (provided you are travelling on a Canadian passport)
  • Canadian permanent residents (you need your PR card or point of entry documentation)
  • US citizens (US permanent residents, or green card holders, DO require an eTA when travelling by air)

Latest Canada eTA News

Special Case: Brazilian, Romanian and Bulgarian Nationals

As of May 1, 2017, Brazilians, Romanians and Bulgarians who have held a Canada visa in the last 10 years, or currently hold a US visa, do not require a visa to travel to Canada by air.

Citizens of all three countries do need an eTA to travel to Canada by air.

Citizens of all three countries still require a Canada visa to cross the border by car, bus, train or boat.

Special Case: Mexican Nationals

Mexicans were granted the right to travel to Canada without a visa as of December 1, 2016. They therefore require an eTA to travel by air.

Mexicans with a visa still valid from before December 1, 2016 do not require an eTA.

How do I get an Electronic Travel Authorization?

You can apply for an eTA through the Canadian federal government website.

Before you apply, you will need:

  • Valid passport
  • As a US permanent resident, you can apply with:
    • Valid US refugee travel document (I-571)
    • Valid permit to re-enter the US (I-327)
  • Credit card to pay the $7 fee
  • Valid email address

To apply for an eTA click here.

When should I apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization?

The Canadian government advises you to apply as soon as you know you travel itinerary.

However, an eTA can be obtain at the last minute via a smartphone. All you need is an internet connection. The email authorization often only takes a few minutes to come through.

There is no requirement to print an eTA. It is electronically linked to your passport or travel document.

How long is an Electronic Travel Authorization valid for?

An eTA can be valid for five years, or until your passport or travel document expires.

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Visa de Estudios de Canadá

Canadá recibe más de 350,000 estudiantes de jurisdicciones extranjeras cada año. La mayoría de extranjeros deberán aplicar a un permiso de estudios si planean estudiar en una institución educativa canadiense,  Una vez emitido, un permiso de estudios permite a un extranjero estudiar en Canadá en un instituto aprobado durante la duración del curso o programa especificado.

En algunos casos, no se necesita un permiso de estudios para asistir a una escuela en Canadá.

  1. Si el curso o programa que planea seguir dura menos de 6 meses.
  2. Si usted es familiar o personal de un representante extranjero en Canadá.
  3. Si usted es miembro de una fuerza armada extranjera.

Para ser elegible para estudiar en Canadá:

  • Usted deberá haber sido aceptado por una escuela, facultad, universidad u otra institución educativa en Canadá.
  • Usted deberá probar que tiene suficiente dinero para pagar su:
    • matrícula;
    • gastos de manutención de usted y sus familiares que vienen a Canadá con usted; y
    • transporte de regreso de usted y sus familiares que vienen a Canadá con usted; y
  • Usted deberá ser un ciudadano que respete la ley sin antecedentes criminales y no ser un riesgo de seguridad para Canadá. Puede que se le solicite proporcionar un certificado policial.
  • Usted deberá tener buena salud y estar dispuesto a pasar por un examen médico, si fuera necesario.
  • Usted deberá asegurar a un funcionario de inmigración que usted dejará Canadá al terminar su permanencia autorizada.

Puede que una Visa de Residente Temporal (TRV por sus siglas en inglés) también sea necesaria si el estudiante es ciudadano de un país del que se requiere Visas de Residencia Temporal para entrar a Canadá. No se requiere Visa de Residencia Temporal a ciudadanos de países exentos de visa.

Trabajar en Canadá como Estudiante

Es posible trabajar en Canadá mientras se encuentre aquí como estudiante, bajo cualquiera de los programas de trabajo para estudiantes del Departamento de Ciudadanía e Inmigración (CIC).
Un estudiante puede trabajar en Canadá durante el transcurso de sus estudios bajo las siguientes categorías:

Además, los cónyuges y parejas de facto de los estudiantes extranjeros son elegibles para un permiso de trabajo durante la duración del permiso de estudios.

Después de la graduación, un estudiante extranjero puede aplicar para un permiso de trabajo bajo el Programa de Permiso de Trabajo Post-Graduación. Bajo este programa, se puede emitir el permiso de trabajo durante la duración del programa de estudios, hasta un máximo de tres años.

Pasos para obtener admisión en una Universidad o Instituto canadiense

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Visita Canadá/Visa de Turista

A visitor means a person who is lawfully in Canada, or seeks to come into Canada for a temporary purpose (such as work, study or visit) and who is not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or the holder of a minister’s permit.

Every visitor, unless exempted, must apply for and obtain a visa before appearing at a Port of Entry (POE). All visitors who are required to obtain a visa must be in possession of the visa when they appear at a POE.

The Canadian visitor visa application involves a two-step process:

First Step: The foreign national must first submit a visit visa application to the responsible Canadian visa office in the country or region where they reside. At this time, the applicant may need to attend an interview where the visa officer will verify the applicant’s reasons for visiting Canada, the applicant’s ability or willingness to leave Canada within the visa validity date and the applicant’s overall admissibility to Canada.

Second Step: Once a visit visa has been issued, the applicant may land in Canada. At the port of entry an immigration officer will question the applicant to ensure admissibility.

A visitor visa may be for single entry or multiple entry use. Single entry visas may be issued up to six months before the expected date of travel. The maximum validity date for multiple entry visitor visas is up to five (5) years or one month prior to the expiry date on the passport/re-entry visa, whichever is earlier. POE officers will routinely grant entry for a period of six months to a person requesting entry as a visitor.

A foreign national who has an immigrant visa already in process is not prohibited from applying for a temporary resident visa.

Determine whether you require a visitor visa to visit Canada: 

Citizens of the following countries and territories require a Visa to VISIT or TRANSIT Canada:

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

A

  • Afghanistan
  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan

B

  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Belarus
  • Belize
  • Benin
  • Bhutan
  • Bolivia
  • Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi

C

  • Cambodia
  • Republic of Cameroon
  • Cape Verde
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Chile
  • People’s Republic of China
  • Colombia
  • Comoros
  • Congo, Democratic
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Republic of the Costa Rica
  • Cuba
  • Czech Republic

D

  • Djibouti
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic

E

  • East Timor
  • Ecuador
  • Egypt
  • El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia

F

  • Fiji

G

  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Georgia
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Guyana

H

  • Haiti
  • Honduras

I

  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Israel (only Israeli citizens holding valid Israeli “Travel Document in lieu of National Passport”)
  • Ivory Coast

J

  • Jamaica
  • Jordan

K

  • Kazakhstan
  • Kenya
  • Kiribati
  • Korea, North
  • Kosovo
  • Kuwait
  • Kyrgyzstan

L

  • Laos
  • Lebanon
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Lithuania (holders of non-biometric passports only)

M

  • Macao S.A.R.
  • Macedonia
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives Islands
  • Mali
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Micronesia, Fed. States
  • Moldova
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar (Burma)

N

  • Namibia
  • Nauru
  • Nepal
  • Nicaragua
  • Niger
  • Nigeria

O

  • Oman

P

  • Pakistan
  • Palau
  • Palestinian Authority
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Poland (holders of non-biometric passports only)

Q

  • Qatar

R

  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Rwanda

S

  • St. Lucia
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines (St. Vincent)
  • Sao Tomé e Principe
  • Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of
  • Senegal
  • Serbia
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • South Sudan
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sudan
  • Surinam
  • Swaziland
  • Syria

T

  • Taiwan (except holders of the ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that includes their personal identification number)
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
  • Tuvalu

U

  • Uganda
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Uruguay
  • Uzbekistan

V

  • Vanuatu
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam

Y

  • Yemen

Z

  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

||||

Additional requirements for citizens of certain countries:

If you are a national of a country or territory listed below, you will need to appear in person to have your fingerprints and photograph (biometric information) taken when you apply for a:

  • temporary resident visa,
  • study permit, or
  • work permit.

CIC will start to collect this information from people on a mandatory basis in September 2013. By December 2013, biometric screening will be mandatory for all temporary resident applicants who are a national of a country or territory listed below. The following are the proposed dates when mandatory collection of biometric information will begin:

September 2, 2013:

  • Colombia
  • Haiti
  • Jamaica

October 15, 2013:

  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Eritrea
  • Libya
  • Nigeria
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Somalia
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Tunisia

December 7, 2013:

  • Afghanistan
  • Bangladesh
  • Burma (Myanmar)
  • Cambodia
  • Egypt
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Jordan
  • Laos
  • Lebanon
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • Syria
  • Vietnam
  • Yemen
  • Palestinian Authority

These dates are subject to change. Visit this website in spring 2013 to confirm when this will take effect for you.

||||

Citizens of the following countries and territories are visa exempt:

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

Other exemptions:

Citizens of British dependent territories: You do not need a visa to visit or transit in Canada if you are a citizen of a British dependent territory who derives their citizenship through birth, descent, registration or naturalization in one of the British dependent territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena or the Turks and Caicos Islands.

British National (Overseas): You do not need a visa to visit or transit in Canada if you hold a British National (Overseas) passport issued by the United Kingdom to persons born, naturalized or registered in Hong Kong.

British Subjects: You do not need a visa to visit or transit in Canada if you hold a British Subject passport issued by the United Kingdom which contains the observation that the holder has the right of abode in the United Kingdom.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: You do not need a visa to visit or transit in Canada if you hold a valid and subsisting Special Administrative Region passport issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

Holy See: You do not need a visa to visit or transit in Canada if you hold a passport or travel document issued by the Holy See.

Taiwan: You do not need a visa to visit or transit in Canada if you hold an ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that includes your personal identification number.

Israel: You do not need a visa to visit or transit in Canada if you hold a national Israeli passport.

Lithuania: You do not need a visa to visit or transit in Canada if you hold a biometric passport (e-passport) issued by Lithuania.

Poland: You do not need a visa to visit or transit in Canada if you hold a biometric passport (e-passport) issued by Poland.

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Resumen de Visa Temporal de Canadá

Canadá recibe más de 35 millones de residentes temporales cada año. A menos que sean ciudadanos canadienses o residentes permanentes canadienses, las personas que vienen a Canadá con el propósito de visitar, estudiar o trabajar pueden necesitar una Visa de Residencia (TRV, por sus siglas en inglés) del Departamento de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de Canadá (CIC) para ingresar a Canadá.

Tipos de visas de no-inmigrante:

Resumen de Visa de Visita a Canadá

Una visa de visitante le permite ingresar a Canadá como visitante o turista. Generalmente, usted puede permanecer en Canadá hasta 6 meses como visitante.

Visa de Estudiante de Canadá
Un Permiso de Estudios permite a los extranjeros estudiar en Canadá en una institución educativa canadiense específica y en un programa específico.

Visa de Trabajo de Canadá
Una visa de trabajo permite a un ciudadano extranjero con una oferta laboral de una empresa canadiense trabajar en Canadá de manera temporal.

Supervisa para Padres y Abuelos
Una supervisa permite a los padres o abuelos de ciudadanos o residentes permanentes canadienses permanecer en Canadá hasta 24 meses a la vez, sin la necesidad de la renovación de su estatus.

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