Canada’s Global Talent Stream (GTS) is a
fast-track initiative designed to attract and retain highly skilled foreign
workers for specialized roles in key industries. Launched as part of the Global
Skills Strategy in 2017, the GTS streamlines the work permit process for
eligible individuals, enabling them to secure their permits within two weeks.
This program recognizes the critical role
skilled talent plays in driving innovation and economic growth. By connecting
Canadian employers with top talent from around the world, the GTS empowers
companies to:
● Fill critical skills gaps: Access a wider pool of qualified
candidates when local talent is unavailable.
● Boost innovation and competitiveness: Drive growth by tapping
into diverse expertise and perspectives.
●
Enhance global reach:
Expand international partnerships and collaborations.
Since its inception, the GTS has yielded
impressive results:
● Over 1,100 Canadian employers have successfully utilized the
program to recruit talent.
●
Nearly 40,000 foreign
workers have obtained work permits through the GTS, contributing to Canada’s
workforce.
The GTS offers a unique advantage for both
employers and skilled professionals, making it a key driver of Canada’s ongoing
economic success.
Global Talent Stream Categories
The Global Talent Stream operates through two
distinct categories:
Category A: Designed for innovative Canadian
companies, particularly those in STEM fields, research sectors, startups, or
specializing in niche products or services. To access this category, companies
must be referred by a designated partner recognized by the program.
Category B: Open to all Canadian companies
seeking to hire workers in predefined in-demand occupations. This category
features an extensive list of eligible positions, including various engineering
disciplines, web design, IT specialties, and many more. Companies in this
category do not require a referral.
Choosing the right category:
● Companies unsure about their eligibility or requiring in-depth
support can benefit from utilizing a designated referral partner for Category A
access.
●
Companies confident in
their hiring needs for listed occupations can directly apply through Category
B.
Global Talent Stream Program
Requirements
Eligibility:
The Global Talent Stream program operates
through two distinct categories, each with specific requirements.
Category A:
● Canadian Business: Applicant must be a registered and operating
Canadian business.
● Innovation Focus: Must demonstrate a strong focus on innovation
through its activities.
● Growth Potential: Must possess the willingness and capability to
grow or scale up.
● Referral: Requires a referral from a designated partner
recognized by the program.
● Financial Capacity: Must have the financial resources to support
the foreign worker’s salary.
●
Eligibility List: Must
not be on the list of ineligible employers.
Job Offer:
● Specialization: The position offered must be unique and
specialized within its field.
● Salary: The base annual salary must meet or exceed the higher of
two thresholds:
○ $80,000 minimum: Applies to the first two positions offered.
○
Prevailing Wage:
Determined by the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code, industry,
and location in Canada. For subsequent positions, the minimum salary is
$150,000 or the prevailing wage bracket, whichever is higher.
Foreign Worker:
● Industry Expertise: Must possess advanced knowledge of the
relevant industry.
● Qualifications: Must hold an advanced degree in the area of
specialization or have at least 5 years of relevant experience.
●
Admissibility: Must be
admissible to Canada, free from any grounds for inadmissibility as outlined by
Canadian immigration law.
Key Points:
● Prevailing wage is determined by the NOC code and location in
Canada.
● Additional information on NOC codes can be found at https://noc.esdc.gc.ca/.
●
Information on
inadmissibility factors can be found at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/inadmissibility/reasons.html.
Global Talent Stream Program
Eligibility – Category B:
Eligibility for Category B of the Global Talent
Stream:
● Canadian Business: Applicant must be a registered and operating
Canadian business.
● Public Service: Must provide a good or service directly to the
Canadian public.
● Financial Capacity: Must have the resources to support the
foreign worker’s salary.
●
Eligibility List: Must
not be on the list of ineligible employers.
Job Offer:
●
Predefined Occupations:
The position must be listed within the approved Global Talent Occupations List.
(Link provided: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/global-talent/requirements.html#h20*)
Foreign Worker:
● Qualifications: Must possess relevant education and work
experience in the specific field.
●
Admissibility: Must be
admissible to Canada, free from any grounds for inadmissibility as outlined by
Canadian immigration law.
Application Process:
● Streamlined Workflow: Once the foreign worker is identified, the
application can be prepared and submitted within a few business days.
● Processing Time:
○ First-time Applicants: Processing takes approximately 3 weeks
for companies without a recent approved GTS application.
○
Repeat Applicants:
Companies with a recent approved application can expect a processing time of 2
weeks.
GTS Foreign Worker Compensation
Guidelines: Ensuring Competitive Wages
Wage Requirements:
The Global Talent Stream has different wage
requirements based on the two main categories:
Category A:
● First Two Positions: The highest annual salary between $80,000
and the prevailing wage for the occupation and location must be paid.
●
Subsequent Positions:
The annual salary must be either $150,000 or the prevailing wage bracket for
the occupation and location, whichever is higher.
Category B:
● Most Occupations: The annual salary must be at the prevailing
wage bracket for the occupation and location.
●
Certain Occupations:
For specific occupations, the annual salary may need to be the highest between
$80,000 and the prevailing wage.
Determining Prevailing Wage:
●
Refer to the Canada’s
Job Bank website for prevailing wage information by occupation and location:
[link to Job Bank wage search].
Additional Considerations:
● Wages offered to foreign workers should be competitive compared
to those earned by Canadian citizens and permanent residents in the same
occupation, location, with similar skills and experience.
●
Even if it exceeds the
prevailing wage, the offered salary should fall within the range of comparable
Canadian salaries for the position.
GTS Employer Obligations and
Healthcare Provision: Clarifying Expectations
The Global Talent Stream program outlines
specific obligations for Canadian employers who hire foreign workers through
this pathway. One key area concerns healthcare coverage.
Healthcare Benefits:
It’s important to understand that
company-provided benefits, including extended health insurance, are subject to
individual company policies. Some companies may require a probation period
before enrolling new employees, while others offer immediate access.
Mandatory Requirement:
Regardless of your company’s internal policies,
the Global Talent Stream program mandates that Canadian employers secure and
pay for private health insurance for the foreign worker. This coverage must
meet specific criteria:
● Coverage Start Date: The insurance must be active and valid on
the foreign worker’s first day of employment in Canada.
● Emergency Medical Care: The coverage must provide for emergency
medical care during any period where the foreign worker is not covered by
provincial/territorial health insurance.
● Cost Burden: Employers are responsible for the full cost of the
private health insurance; it cannot be deducted from the foreign worker’s
salary.
●
Minimum Coverage:
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) requires a basic plan that
ensures the foreign worker is not financially responsible for medical costs in
case of illness or injury while working in Canada.
Key Takeaways:
● While your company’s health benefits program may follow internal
rules, private health insurance for the foreign worker is mandatory under the
Global Talent Stream program.
● This insurance must be active from the first day of employment
and cover emergency medical needs.
●
Employers bear the full
cost of the private health insurance.
Labour Market Benefits Plan
The Global Talent Stream program requires
employers to develop a Labour Market Benefits Plan in collaboration with
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). This plan outlines the
positive contributions foreign talent will make to the Canadian labour market
and the employer’s commitment to activities that benefit Canadians.
Category-Specific Commitments:
● Category A: Employers must commit to job creation for Canadian
citizens and permanent residents. This can be direct job creation (hiring new
employees) or indirect (supporting ecosystem businesses that create jobs).
●
Category B: Employers
must commit to increased investments in skills and training for Canadians. This
can include upskilling existing employees, offering training programs, or
collaborating with educational institutions.
Complementary Benefits:
In addition to the mandatory commitments above,
both categories require employers to choose two complementary benefits from a
defined list. These can include:
● Job creation: Hiring more Canadians, creating co-op programs for
students, etc.
● Skills and training: Investing in employee training,
collaborating with educational institutions, etc.
● Knowledge transfer: Sharing expertise with Canadian workers,
mentoring programs, etc.
●
Company performance:
Increasing revenue and investments, creating new products or services, etc.
For each benefit, the government provides a
list of acceptable activities to demonstrate your commitment. You can find the
latest list on this government page: [https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/global-talent/requirements.html]
Monitoring and Evaluation:
Employers may be monitored by ESDC to ensure
compliance with their Labour Market Benefits Plan. This helps evaluate the
program’s effectiveness and ensure its benefits for Canadian workers.
Work Permit Exemptions:
Streamlining Access for Skilled Talent
The Global Talent Stream offers two convenient
work permit exemptions for specific categories of workers:
1. Short-Term Highly-Skilled Workers:
● Individuals working in highly skilled occupations classified as
Type 0 or Skill Level A in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) may
enter Canada to work for:
○ 15 days within a 6-month period.
○ 30 days within a 12-month period.
●
No work permit is
required for these short-term engagements.
2. Researchers:
● Researchers engaged in research projects at:
○ Publicly-funded degree-granting institutions.
○ Affiliated research institutions.
● May stay and work in Canada for 120 days within a 12-month
period.
●
No work permit is
required for these research-related visits.
Benefits:
These work permit exemptions streamline the
process for qualified individuals to contribute their skills and expertise to
Canadian organizations and research initiatives.