Temporary Residence - Global Talent Stream

The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and was created to expedite the processing of work permits for high-skilled workers in specialized positions. In most cases, for a foreign worker to work in Canada, a Canadian employer must obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). This document is used to assess whether hiring a foreign worker for a specific position will have a positive or neutral impact on the local labour market. With GTS, the processing of the LMIA, which normally takes months, is shortened to only 10 days, and the work permit can be issued in as little as two weeks, meaning the position can be filled quickly. There are two categories under GTS: 

Category A – An employer obtains a referral from one of the stream’s designated referral partners (a list is available). To qualify, the company must be innovative and seek to fill a position which is high-skilled and requires unique and specialized knowledge to grow the business.  

Category B – An employer wishes to hire a foreign worker whose job description matches one of the listed in-demand occupations on ESDC’s Global Talent Occupations List, focused primarily on information technology and software.  Currently, they include (subject to change):

1.    Computer and information systems managers (NOC 2006: 0213 / NOC 2021: 20012)

2.   Computer engineers (except software engineersand designers) (NOC 2006: 2147 / NOC 2021: 21311)

3.    Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2006: 2171 / NOC 2021: 21221)

4.    Database analysts and data administrators (NOC2006: 2172 / NOC 2021: 21223)

5.    Software engineers and designers (NOC 2006: 2173 / NOC 2021: 21231)

6.    Data Scientists (NOC 21211)

7.    Computer programmers and interactive media
developers (NOC 2006: 2174 / NOC 2021: 21230)

8.   Software developers and programmers (NOC 21232)

9.   Web developers and programmers (NOC 21234)

10.  Web designers and developers (NOC 2006: 2175 / NOC 2021: 21234)

11.  Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 22310)

12.  Computer network technicians (NOC 2006: 2281 / NOC 2021: 22220)

13.  Information systems testing technicians (NOC 2006: 2283 / NOC 2021: 22221)

14.  Producers, technical, creative and artistic directors, and project managers in visual
effects and video games (NOC 2006: 5131 / NOC 2021: 51120) – subsets with restrictions

15.  Digital media designers (NOC 2006: 5241 / NOC 2021: 52112) – subsets with restrictions

Dependents of foreign workers in these categories are eligible to obtain work or study permits at the same time, also benefiting from expedited processing. This program provides many benefits to the employer, the applicant, and their families, and we can ensure your application is well-prepared to avoid hurdles and delays.