Who's Eligible for the Global Talent Stream?

An immigration pathway designed for speed.

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.

Canada’s Global Talent Stream (GTS) is one of the fastest work permit options for specialized, high-skilled talent. It allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers in occupations where there’s a shortage in Canada, with LMIA processing times as fast as two weeks. It’s part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program but with a streamlined pathway for certain roles and employers.

The program is divided into two categories:

Category A: Designated Partner Referral

For employers who have been referred to the program by one of Employment and Social Development Canada’s designated referral partners. This pathway is for companies hiring someone with truly unique and specialized talent: skills not readily available in the Canadian labour market.

Category B: In-Demand Occupations

This is the more common route and covers roles on Canada’s global talent occupations list. The list includes tech, engineering, and creative roles such as software engineers, computer programmers, web designers, information systems analysts, mechanical engineers, and certain digital media positions.

Positions must meet or exceed the prevailing wage for that occupation and region.

Core requirements for both categories

• The employer must be a legitimate, actively operating Canadian business in good standing with ESDC

• The position must be full-time, non-seasonal, and in a high-skill occupation (typically TEER 0 or 1)

• The employer must commit to a Labour Market Benefits Plan, showing long-term benefits for Canada: for example, creating jobs for Canadians, training staff, or transferring specialized skills. ESDC monitors compliance.

• The employer must pay a $1,000 CAD processing fee per position to ESDC. This fee cannot be charged to the worker.

What happens after approval

• Once the LMIA under the GTS is approved, the worker applies for a closed, employer-specific work permit. If applying from outside Canada, processing is often two weeks.

• Family members can usually apply alongside the principal applicant for open work permits or study permits.

• The GTS is not a direct permanent residence program, but Canadian work experience in a high-skill role can lead to PR later via Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Programs.

Why is the Category B pathway highly sought out

Because it’s ideal for professionals in roles on the GTS occupations list who meet wage thresholds and can prove the skills to perform the role. This is not for entry-level hires. It’s for proven professionals whose expertise is in demand and whose impact can be felt immediately in a Canadian company.

If you have a Canadian employer ready to bring you on board in an eligible role, you could be in Canada and working within weeks, not months.

If you are ready to add 🌶️ to your 🇨🇦 immigration plan, book some time with Westdale Immigration Consulting Inc.