Finding work in Canada and obtaining a work permit as a foreign worker is not an easy task. The process of finding temporary foreign workers is lengthy and complicated for Canadian businesses. As a result, most employers only look for talent outside of Canada when their industry has a severe labor shortage.
The Global Talent Stream (GTS) makes it easier for high-growth Canadian employers to meet their labor needs by speeding up the processing of work permits for foreign workers hired by eligible businesses. We explain what the Global Talent Stream is, how employers can be eligible for it, and how you can apply for a work permit and move to Canada to work in this article.
In this piece:
- The Global Talent Stream (GTS): What is it?
- Requirements for employers to be eligible under Category A of the Global Talent Stream
- Requirements for employers to be eligible under Category B of the Global Talent Stream
- What is the GTS application processing fee?
- Can I work in Canada as part of the Global Talent Stream?
- Pay under the Global Talent Stream
- Can companies hire people under the GTS without first obtaining an LMIA?
- How to apply for a work permit under GTS after receiving a job offer
- The processing period for work permits under the Global Talent Stream
- How long will my GTS work permit remain valid?
The Global Talent Stream (GTS): What is it?
A Canadian immigration program known as the Global Talent Stream (GTS) enables certain highly skilled foreign workers to obtain a Canadian work permit within two weeks of applying. The Global Talent Stream, a component of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program, expedites the work permit application process for selected foreign job candidates, enabling rapidly expanding Canadian businesses to meet their labor requirements.
There are two categories in the Global Talent Stream:
- A category: for innovative businesses that have already identified a qualified foreign worker to hire and are looking to fill a specialized position. Only businesses that have been referred by a GTS-designated partner can apply under Category A.
- B category: for businesses looking to fill skilled positions on the Global Talent Occupations List maintained by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Computer engineers, civil engineers, mathematicians, managers of computer and information systems, database analysts, and others are among the jobs on this list as of December 2022.
A Labour Market Benefits plan that outlines the positive impact foreign talent will have on the Canadian labor market must be developed by all employers seeking to hire temporary foreign workers under the Global Talent Stream. To reduce their long-term reliance on foreign labor, the employer ought to also lay out in this plan how they intend to increase job creation and invest in skill development and training.
Eligibility requirements for employers in the Global Talent Stream’s Category A
An employer must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible to hire foreign workers under Category A of the Global Talent Stream:
- have Canadian operations.
- Focus on innovation with the potential for expansion.
- be referred to ESDC by a designated partner, such as TECHNATION, Invest Canada, or the Business Development Bank of Canada, among others.
- You should already have a potential candidate for the position if you are looking to hire a highly skilled foreign worker for a specialized position that is one of a kind.
- Under the GTS, try to only hire one or two temporary foreign workers each year. Only two eligible company referrals are accepted annually by ESDC.
- Commit to hiring citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
- An annual salary of at least $80,000 or the equivalent of the prevailing wage, whichever is higher, should be paid to foreign workers hired under the GTS.
Eligibility requirements for employers in the Global Talent Stream’s Category B
Under the GTS, only businesses with strong growth potential and referrals are eligible to hire foreign workers. However, an employer’s eligibility for Category B is determined by the jobs for which it wants to hire workers.
Employers in Category B of the Global Talent Stream are required to:
- Be looking to hire skilled foreign workers for an in-demand occupation for which there is insufficient local talent supply if you operate in Canada. The Global Talent Occupations List must include this job.
- To lessen your long-term reliance on foreign talent, commit to increasing investment in skill development and training for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
- If no wage floor has been defined, pay foreign workers hired through GTS wages equal to or greater than the Global Talent Occupations List’s minimum hourly wage floor or the government’s Job Bank’s median wage for the position.
What is the GTS application processing fee?
Global Talent Stream charges a $1,000 application processing fee per position. The employer is responsible for paying this fee, which cannot be deducted from the hired foreign worker. Note: Your work permit application fee is not included in this fee; rather, it only covers the employer’s GTS application processing costs.
Can I work under the Global Talent Stream in Canada?
If you fall into:
a job in Category B of the Global Talent Occupations List
If you work in a job that is in high demand and is on the Global Talent Occupations List, there are probably a lot of Canadian employers looking for skilled workers from outside Canada. The ESDC maintains the Global Talent Occupations List, which includes jobs in Canada for which there is insufficient local talent. This list is updated regularly to meet the needs of the job market.
For these positions, any Canadian employer can apply to the GTS if they meet certain fundamental requirements, such as committing to paying fair wages, creating a Labour Market Benefits Plan, and receiving a Labour Market Impact Assessment.
a role that is singular and specialized (Category A)
Since there are no pre-defined occupations in Category A of the Global Talent Stream, finding employment may be more challenging. You may find fewer eligible businesses looking for specialized talent because employers must be referred to ESDC to hire under Category A of the GTS. However, as long as the position is unique and specialized, this category can be utilized by employers to hire foreign workers in any field.
Roles that are unique and specialized are those that call for:
- advanced understanding of the sector
- a high level of expertise in a specific area of interest to Canadian employers, and
- five years or more of expertise in a chosen field.
After completing a rigorous recruitment process, employers can only apply Category A of the Global Talent Stream. In most cases, you’ll have to pass several rounds of interviews and a resume review to be chosen. After the employer’s GTS application is approved, you will not know if you are eligible for expedited work permit processing.
Pay for positions in the Global Talent Stream
Hiring through the Global Talent Stream requires firms to guarantee that international workers receive at least the going rate for that particular occupation. The highest of the following is known as the prevailing wage:
One benefit of getting employed through the Global Talent Stream is that you will receive at least the median income for your occupation in addition to an accelerated work visa process.
- The salary the company pays existing workers (foreign or domestic) in similar roles, or
- The salary the company pays existing workers (foreign or domestic) in similar tasks, or
- The lowest possible hourly income for the profession is listed on the Global Talent Occupations List (if accessible).
All other foreign workers hired under the GTS can anticipate earning an annual salary of $80,000 or more, except the jobs listed under NOC 51120 (producer, technical, creative, and artistic director, and project manager – Visual effects and video games), NOC 21233, and NOC 21234 (web designers and developers), which have a lower minimum wage floor. Bonuses, commissions, profit-sharing, and other types of income that are not guaranteed are not included in this.
In addition, to guarantee that the salaries of foreign skilled workers hired under the GTS remain in line with the prevailing wage requirements, employers are required to conduct an annual review.
Under the GTS, do employers need an LMIA to hire?
Before employing temporary foreign workers under the Global Talent Stream, Canadian businesses must obtain a favorable Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) issues LMIAs to find out how hiring foreign workers will affect the local labor market. A positive LMIA indicates that hiring a foreign worker will not harm the Canadian job market and that there is a shortage of skilled local talent in that field. The employer will be required to provide evidence of any local recruitment efforts for this position for the LMIA application.
An LMIA that is valid for up to three years can be applied for by Global Talent Stream hiring employers, depending on the company’s labor requirements.
How to obtain a work permit following a GTS job offer
You will need to apply for a work permit once your Canadian employer sends you a formal job offer or employment contract and a copy of their positive LMIA. Employer-specific work permits for foreign workers hired through the Global Talent Stream can be processed in two weeks.
As soon as your employer sends you the LMIA decision letter, you should apply for a work permit. The work permit application must be completed online, and you must pay the applicable processing fees. Before submitting your work permit application, it is recommended that you complete the following tasks to avoid delays:
- Make an appointment and determine whether or not a medical exam is required.
- If required, collect police certificates.
- Obtain official translations of any necessary documents that are not in English or French.
Ensure that you submit your biometric results within two weeks of applying for the work permit if biometrics are required for your application.
Processing times for work permits under the Global Talent Stream
You are eligible for expedited work permit processing if you have been selected for a job in Canada under the Global Talent Stream. The GTS typically processes work permits within ten business days or two weeks.
However, your work permit application’s actual processing time may vary depending on the total number of applications in process, your application’s completion status, and the ease with which IRCC can verify your information.
What is the validity period for my GTS work permit?
The Global Talent Stream may grant work permits that are valid for up to three years. However, your employer’s request for the length of time you will be employed and the validity of the Labour Market Impact Assessment they receive will determine the validity of your work permit. Your work permit may be extended beyond three years in exceptional circumstances when the employer provides sufficient justification for a longer employment period.
As a foreign worker hired under the Global Talent Stream, you have the chance to gain work experience in Canada and put your skills to use assisting a cutting-edge Canadian company in its expansion. In addition, having lived in Canada can make it simpler for you to later be eligible for permanent residency there.
