- 1011 Parsons Road SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 0X2 - CANADA
- Office # 6, Second Floor, Blook-D, Spring North Commercial, Phase-7, Bahria Town, Islamabad
1011 Parsons Road SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 0X2 - CANADA
Office # 6, Second Floor, Blook-D, Spring North Commercial, Phase-7, Bahria Town, Islamabad
1011 Parsons Road SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 0X2 - CANADA
Office # 6, Second Floor, Blook-D, Spring North Commercial, Phase-7, Bahria Town, Islamabad
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Global Talent Stream: Hire Foreign Tech Talent | Get a Free Legal Consultation
The Global Talent Stream aims to assist Canadian employers in quickly hiring foreign tech talent. Interested in leveraging the benefits of the Global Talent Stream? Fill out our contact form for a complimentary legal consultation.
Overview
The Global Talent Stream enables select skilled workers to receive a work permit within just two weeks of application. It is a key component of Canada’s Global Skills Strategy, designed to support innovative companies by ensuring rapid access to highly skilled talent.
This initiative sets a two-week processing standard for work permit applications (and temporary resident visas, if necessary) for top-tier talent. The Global Talent Stream falls under Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Category A
High-growth companies that demonstrate a need to recruit specialized talent from abroad fall under Category A of the Global Talent Stream. Employers in this category must be referred by a designated referral partner.
For employers outside of Quebec, the following organizations serve as designated referral partners:
Accelerate Okanagan
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
BC Tech Association
Burlington Economic Development Corporation
Business Development Bank of Canada
Canadian Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Cape Breton Partnership
City of Brampton
City of Hamilton’s Economic Development Office
City of Mississauga
Communitech Corporation
Council of Canadian Innovators
Economic Development Winnipeg
Edmonton Economic Development
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Genesis (Newfoundland)
Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service
Government of Alberta, Alberta Labour
Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology
Government of Manitoba, Manitoba Education and Training
Government of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Business Inc.
Government of Ontario, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade – Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
Government of Ontario, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade – Ontario Investment Office
Government of Prince Edward Island, Island Investment Development Inc.
Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of the Economy
Halifax Partnership
Tech Manitoba
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – Accelerated Growth Service
Invest Ottawa
Invest in Canada
Kingston Economic Development Corporation
Launch Academy
London Economic Development Corporation
MaRS Discovery District
National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)
Privy Council Office, Special Projects Team
Regional Municipality of Niagara
Regional Municipality of York
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
Toronto Global
Town of Oakville
Vancouver Economic Commission
Venn Innovation
Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation
WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation
For a list of designated referral partners in Quebec for the Global Talent Stream, employers are encouraged to visit the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration website (available in French only).
Category B
Category B is for employers looking to hire certain highly skilled foreign workers for occupations found on the Global Talent Occupations List, which have been determined to be in-demand and for which there is insufficient domestic labour supply. This list may be updated periodically to respond to labour market needs.
Wages for the Global Talent Stream
Employers must agree to pay the higher of the following for positions requested under Category A:
An annual salary of at least $80,000, or the prevailing wage for that occupation if it exceeds $80,000, for the first two unique and specialized roles.
For any additional unique and specialized positions under Category A, the annual salary must be the higher of the prevailing wage or at least $150,000. ESDC states that there is no flexibility regarding wage requirements for these additional positions.
For positions under Category B, employers must pay the applicable minimum wage for the highly-skilled role as outlined in the Global Talent Occupations List.
Additionally, the wage must align with:
The wage range currently paid to existing employees performing the same job at the same location, with comparable skills and experience.
The median wage as listed on the Government of Canada’s Job Bank, which is categorized by job title or National Occupational Classification (NOC) code and by community or area.
Labour Market Benefits Plan
Employers seeking to hire skilled workers through the Global Talent Stream must collaborate with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to create a Labour Market Benefits Plan. This plan details the positive impacts that foreign talent will have on the Canadian labor market, as well as the activities the employer will undertake to promote job creation and investment in skills and training.
For employers in Category A, there is a commitment to create jobs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, which can be either direct or indirect.
Category B employers must commit to enhancing investments in skills and training for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
In addition to these mandatory benefits, employers in both categories must commit to two additional complementary benefits, supported by specific activities. These benefits might include job creation, investment in skills and training, knowledge transfer to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and/or improvements in company performance. Supporting activities may involve hiring more Canadian citizens or permanent residents, training current employees in new methods, offering paid co-op or internship programs for local students, and/or boosting revenue and investments.
If employers are applying for positions in both Category A and Category B, they must commit to one activity related to job creation and one related to skills and training, along with at least two complementary benefits. For the most up-to-date list of accepted activities to support these mandatory and complementary benefits, employers should refer to the relevant government page.
Compliance with the Labour Market Benefits Plan may be monitored, and the effectiveness of the Global Talent Stream will be evaluated.
Work Permit Exemptions
Under the Global Talent Stream, two new categories of workers are exempt from needing a work permit.
Highly skilled workers in NOC skill type 0 or skill level A occupations can work in Canada for up to 15 days within a six-month period or for 30 days within a 12-month period without obtaining a work permit.
Additionally, researchers engaged in projects at publicly funded degree-granting institutions or affiliated research organizations may enter Canada for up to 120 days in a 12-month period without requiring a work permit.
About THE MILLENNIUM IMMIGRATION for Assistance
Are you looking to hire foreign talent? THE MILLENNIUM IMMIGRATION can assist you. With over 11 years of experience, they specialize in helping workers and employers navigate Canadian immigration regulations.
To get started, please fill out our brief form to submit your question directly to our firm. One of our lawyers will reach out to arrange a complimentary telephone consultation.