Global Talent Stream (GTS)

Operated under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which is a comprehensive collection of streams created to address particular labor shortages in Canada, is the Global Talent Stream (GTS). Through expedited processing or LMIA-exempt work permits, this simplified program enables highly skilled professionals to contribute to Canada’s economic growth. Prioritizing foreign workers with advanced expertise, the Global Talent Stream focuses on specialized occupations, especially in engineering and tech-related fields.

Through this program, Canada will continue to be competitive in luring international talent to fill important positions, such as Global Talent Stream positions requiring technical know-how and innovation. Since its June 2017 introduction, the GTS has grown to be a crucial component of Canada’s immigration policy. The program, which is jointly run by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has made it easier for tens of thousands of highly qualified foreign workers to arrive. In light of Canada’s increasing need for specialized talent, the GTS is anticipated to continue to be a key component in luring elite professionals from across the globe.

Why Does Canada Need the Global Talent Stream?

The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is essential for Canada to combat labor shortages and maintain its competitiveness in the global economy.

• Address the lack of workers: Employers in Canada benefit from the GTS, particularly in rapidly expanding sectors like information technology (IT) and technology.
• Remain competitive: In order to remain competitive in the global marketplace, Canadian businesses rely on the GTS to help them hire specialized talent from around the globe.
• Diversify the workforce: Canada’s workforce is diversified, and its industries are strengthened, thanks to the GTS.
• Encourages economic expansion: The GTS promotes economic growth and keeps Canada at the forefront of innovation.

How Does the GTS Work for Employers?

A Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a requirement for the majority of immigration streams under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Through the determination of whether a Canadian worker can fill the job vacancy, an LMIA assesses whether a Canadian employer can hire a foreign worker. An employer can move forward with hiring a foreign applicant if a positive LMIA verifies that there is no qualified Canadian talent available. The preparation, submission, and approval of an LMIA application typically take months.

The Global Talent Stream, however, makes this procedure a lot easier. Through the elimination of numerous steps, the Global Talent Stream guarantees quicker LMIA processing times, allowing Canadian employers to meet their labor needs with qualified foreign workers quickly and maintain their competitiveness in the global market.

One of two specific eligibility categories must be met by Canadian employers in order to be eligible for the Global Talent Stream.

Category A: A Designated Partner Referral

Innovative Canadian employers looking for exceptional and highly specialized talent to spur growth and innovation are the target audience for Category A of the Global Talent Stream. Employers in this category must show a clear need for specialized skills that are hard to find in Canada and be referred by one of Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC) designated partners.

Eligibility Criteria for Employers in Category A

Employers must fulfill the following requirements in order to be eligible for Category A under the Global Talent Stream.

• Active Activities in Canada: The business needs to be conducting active operations in Canada.
• Emphasis on Innovation: Companies need to show that they are firmly committed to industry innovation.
• Growth-Oriented: Businesses should be ready to expand or scale up their operations.
• Specialized Roles: The business must seek to fill extremely specialized and unique roles.

How Does a Specialized and Unique Position Get Defined?

The following conditions must be fulfilled by employers looking to hire people for specialized and unique roles.

• Competitive Salary: Provide a competitive salary of at least $80,000 CAD per year or the going rate for the position, whichever is higher.
• Advanced Industry Expertise: The applicant needs to be well-versed in the field.
• Educational Background: It is preferred that you have an advanced degree in a related field.
• Specialized Experience: Five years or more of experience in the specialized field is necessary.

Because there are not many applicants with the necessary skill set, creative companies usually only hire one or two people per year for these positions.

Extra Referrals Under Exceptional Circumstances

Employers who fulfill the following requirements may be eligible for additional roles under Category A in situations where more than two referrals are needed annually.

• Labour Market Benefits Plan Commitments: The business needs to keep its end of the bargain.
• Reconfirmation by Referral Partner: For each additional position, the designated partner is required to confirm the company’s eligibility.
• Higher Wage Threshold: A minimum yearly salary of $150,000 CAD or the going rate, whichever is higher, is required for additional roles. There is strict enforcement of this wage requirement.

Category B: In-Demand Occupations

Canadian employers seeking to fill positions on the Global Talent Occupations List with highly qualified foreign workers are the target audience for Category B of the Global Talent Stream. This list makes it easier for employers to obtain a work permit LMIA for eligible international candidates by identifying in-demand professions across a range of industries where there is a lack of domestic talent.

Certain Occupations Fall Under Category B

The occupations listed below are classified as Category B, which reflects Canada’s need for skilled workers in creative IT and engineering domains:

• Managers of Information and Computer Systems (20012)
• Civil Engineers (21300)
• Engineers in electrical and electronic systems (21310)
• Mining Engineers (21330)
• Aerospace Engineers (21390)
• Computer engineers (with the exception of designers and software engineers) (21311)
• Statisticians and Mathematicians (a subset of 21210) excluding actuaries
• Scholars of Data (21211)
• Experts in cybersecurity (21220)
• Experts in Business Systems (21221)
• Experts in Information Systems (21222)
• Designing websites (21233)
• Data administrators and analysts (21223)
• Engineers and Designers of Software (21231)
• Programmers and Developers of Computer Systems (21230)
• Programmers and Software Developers (21232)
• Web programmers and developers (21234)
• Web developers and designers (21233 21234)
• Technicians and Technologists in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (22310)
• Computer Network Technicians (22220)
• Technicians for Information Systems Testing (22222)

How Does the Global Talent Stream Work for Foreign Workers?

It is critical for foreign workers to realize that they are not eligible to apply directly to the Global Talent Stream. Only Canadian employers are permitted to apply for this program, which is employer-driven and lists the foreign workers or workers they plan to hire.

Therefore, getting a job offer from a Canadian employer who meets the requirements is the first step in obtaining a Global Talent Stream work permit. Knowing the Differences Between the Two Global Talent Streams, employers in Canada have two options for applying to the Global Talent Stream.

• Category A: For employers looking to hire specialized and unique talent who have been referred by the Global Talent Streams designated partners.
• Category B: Employers who are hiring for positions on the Global Talent Occupations List.

Check to see if you fit the criteria for unique and specialized talent (Category A) or if your profession is listed on the Global Talent Occupations List (Category B) if you are a foreign worker hoping to be eligible for this program.

The Procedure for Applying for GTS

The application process must be started by your potential employer because foreign workers are not allowed to apply directly. This is the way it operates.

1. Employer Application: Your employer sends an application along with information about you and the position to the Global Talent Stream.
2. Positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA): The employer will obtain a positive LMIA if the application is accepted.
3. Work Permit through LMIA: Applying for a Canadian work permit is done through the LMIA. Within 10 business days, applications submitted through the Global Talent Stream are normally processed.

Wage Requirements for the Global Talent Stream

To guarantee equitable remuneration for competent foreign workers, employers taking part in the Global Talent Stream are required to adhere to stringent wage standards. The highest wage option among the following must be paid by employers.

1. Regarding Category A:

• Specialized and Distinct Positions: The first two positions require employers to pay at least $80,000 CAD per year or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher.
• Additional Positions: The yearly compensation for any additional special and specialized positions under Category A must be at least $150000 CAD or the going rate, whichever is higher. o Note: Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) does not allow for additional positions to be accommodated in its enforcement of this wage requirement.

2. For Positions Classified as Category B:

• Highly Skilled: Employers who hire through the Global Talent Stream are required to pay the minimum hourly rate specified for occupations with wage floors.
• Pay that is Comparable: The salary must be within the range that the employer pays current workers with comparable years of experience, skills, and roles in the same location.
• The Median Wage: The offered salary must be equal to or higher than the median wage as determined by the job title or National Occupational Classification (NOC) code, the community or area, and the Government of Canada’s Job Bank.

Labour Market Benefits Plan

Employers who want to use the Global Talent Stream to hire skilled workers must work with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to develop a Labour Market Benefits Plan.

This plan outlines the initiatives the employer will put in place to support job creation and skill development, as well as the beneficial contributions that foreign talent will bring to the Canadian labor market.

Required Advantages by Type

• Employers in Category A: They must pledge to create jobs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Both direct hiring and indirect employment opportunities may fall under this category.
• Employers in Category B: In order to improve the domestic workforce, they must pledge to invest in the education and training of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Complimentary Benefits

All employers participating in the Global Talent Stream program must pledge to provide at least two supplementary benefits with specific activities to support them in addition to the required benefits.

The following are some instances of complementary benefits.

• Creating jobs.
• Greater funding for staff training and skill development.
• Transfer of knowledge to permanent residents and citizens of Canada.
• Enhanced business performance.

The following are some actions that employers can take to support these benefits.

• Hiring more permanent residents or citizens of Canada.
• Presenting fresh training initiatives to existing staff members.
• Offering local students paid co-ops or internships.
• Increasing investments and company revenue.
• A combination of Category A and Category B applications.

The following conditions must be fulfilled by employers who hire under both Category A and Category B.

• Make a commitment to one job-creation-related activity.
• Assign one task to benefit from investments in skills and training.
• Comply with their Labour Market Benefits Plans minimum requirements for two complementary benefits.
• The official government website has an up-to-date and comprehensive list of activities that are permitted under the Labour Market Benefits Plan.

Monitoring and Compliance

In order to make sure that their Labour Market Benefits Plan is being followed, employers who take part in the Global Talent Stream program may be observed. Through this monitoring, the program’s effectiveness is evaluated, and employers are held to their promises to improve Canada’s labour market.

Exemptions for Work Permits

Two new types of workers are no longer required to obtain a work permit, thanks to the Global Talent Stream. Highly qualified researchers and professionals can contribute to Canada’s economy and innovation without having to go through the conventional work permit LMIA process, thanks to these exemptions.

1. Highly Qualified Employees

The following circumstances now allow highly skilled workers to work in Canada in occupations classified by the National Occupational Classification (NOC) as Skill Type 0 (management-level roles) or Skill Level A (professional-level roles).

• Within six months or 15 days.
• 30 days over a 12-month span.

It is easier for Canadian employers to swiftly bring in international expertise because these workers can accept temporary assignments without obtaining a work permit.

2. Researchers

The work permit requirement does not apply to researchers working on projects at publicly funded degree-granting institutions or affiliated research institutions.

For What Reasons Are They Qualified to Work in Canada?

120 days over the course of a year. This exemption encourages cooperation between Canadian institutions and foreign specialists while promoting the expansion of breakthrough research and innovation. Canada hopes to expedite access to international talent by implementing these Global Talent Stream exemptions, which will allow institutions and employers to take advantage of specialized knowledge and skills without having to deal with the lengthy LMIA process associated with traditional work permits.

How CWC Can Help?

Helping employers and skilled workers navigate the Global Talent Stream (GTS) application process is our area of expertise at CWC. We help Canadian companies decide whether they qualify for GTS Categories A and B and assist foreign workers with clarification on the GTS job categories and eligibility requirements. Get started by getting in touch with us right now for a FREE assessment!