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) codeOccupationMinimum wage requirement (annual salary)Minimum wage requirement (hourly rate)
    213Computer and information systems managersprevailing wageprevailing wage
    2147Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)prevailing wageprevailing wage
    2171Information systems analysts and consultantsprevailing wageprevailing wage
    2172Database analysts and data administratorsprevailing wageprevailing wage
    2173Software engineers and designersprevailing wageprevailing wage
    2174Computer programmers and interactive media developersprevailing wageprevailing wage
    2175Web designers and developersprevailing wageprevailing 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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    Canada Study Visa

    Canada welcomes more than 350,000 students from foreign jurisdictions each year. If you intend to study at a Canadian educational institution, most foreign nationals must apply for a study permit. A study permit, once issued, allows a foreign national to study in Canada at an approved institute for the duration of the specified course or program.

    In some cases, you do not require a study permit to go to school in Canada:

    1. If the course or program you intend to study is less that 6 months in duration.
    2. If you are a family member or staff of a foreign representative to Canada.
    3. If you are a member of a foreign armed force.

    To be eligible to study in Canada:

    • You must have been accepted by a school, college, university or other educational institution in Canada.
    • You must prove that you have enough money to pay for your: 
      • tuition fees;
      • living expenses for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada; and
      • return transportation for yourself and any family members who come with you to Canada.
    • You must be a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record and not be a risk to the security of Canada. You may have to provide a police certificate.
    • You must be in good health and willing to complete a medical examination, if necessary.
    • You must satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay.

    A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) may also be required if the student is a citizen of a country from which Temporary Resident Visas are required for entry into Canada. A Temporary Resident Visa is not required for citizens of visa exempt countries.

    Working in Canada as a Student

    It is possible to work in Canada, while you are here as a student, under any Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC’s) work programs for students.
    A student may be able to work in Canada during the course of study under the following categories:

    In addition to this, spouses or common-law partners of foreign students are eligible for a work permit for the duration as the study permit.

    Upon graduation, a foreign student may apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. Under this program, the work permit may be issued for the length of the study program, up to a maximum of three years.

    Steps to Get admission to a Canadian University or College

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    Canada Visit/Tourist Visa

    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.

    As of November 10, 2016, all air travellers from visa exempt countries require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before they board a flight. This includes those who are transiting through Canada. It only includes travellers arriving by air. For more information, click here.

    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 ten (10) 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
    • Antigua and Barbuda
    • 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
    • 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 Kitts and Nevis
    • 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:

    • Colombia
    • Haiti
    • Jamaica
    • Albania
    • Algeria
    • Democratic Republic of Congo
    • Eritrea
    • Libya
    • Nigeria
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Somalia
    • South Sudan
    • Sudan
    • Tunisia
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Burma (Myanmar)
    • Cambodia
    • Egypt
    • Iran
    • Iraq
    • Jordan
    • Laos
    • Lebanon
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    • Syria
    • Vietnam
    • Yemen
    • Palestinian Authority

    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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    Canada Temporary Visa Overview

    Canada welcomes more than 35 million temporary residents each year. Unless they Canadian citizens or Canadian Permanent Residents, individuals coming to Canada for the purpose of visiting, studying or working may need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to enter Canada.

    Types of Non-immigrant Visas:

    Canada Visit Visa
    A visitor visa allows you to enter Canada as a visitor or tourist. Generally, you can stay in Canada for up to 6 months as a visitor.

    Canada Student Visa
    A Study Permit allows a foreign national to study in Canada at a specific Canadian educational institution and in a specific program.

    Canada Work Visa
    A work visa allows a foreign national with an offer of employment from a Canadian company to work in Canada on a temporary basis.

    Parents and Grandparents Super Visa
    A super visa allows parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents to remain in Canada for up to 24 months at a time without the need for renewal of their status.

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