This stream allows Canadian companies/employers to expedite the hiring of foreign workers to fill specialized occupations when Canadians are not available for specific positions. The Global Talent Stream encourages employers to commit to “Increase Diversity in the Workplace” through their Labour Market Benefit Plan.” Employer(s) are required to pay $1,000 CAD processing fee for each position requested under this stream. There are two categories (Category A & Category B) under this stream.
This stream is designed for innovative firms in Canada that are referred to Employment and Social Development Canada by a designated referral partner and that need unique and specialized foreign nationals to scale-up and grow. The list of designated referral partners for the Global Talent Stream includes the following organizations (as of July 2020):
Ontario
Quebec
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Eligibility criteria for company/employer
- The company must be operating in Canada.
- The company has a focus on innovation.
- The company has a willingness and is capable of growing or scaling up.
- The company is seeking to fill a unique and specialized position, and
- Has identified a qualified foreign worker for potential hire into that unique and specialized position.
A unique and specialized position is indicated by
- At least $38.46 per hour ($80,000 annual base salary), or equivalent to the prevailing wage for the occupation if it is higher. Note that employers must offer the equivalent of both the hourly wage rate and annual base salary at minimum, and
- Advanced knowledge of the industry, and
- Advanced degree in an area of specialization of interest to the employer, and/or
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in the field of specialized experience.
In general, an innovative company that is eligible to be referred to Category A should also be seeking to fill a very limited number of unique and specialized positions (for example, 1 or 2 positions per year) on the basis that very few specialized individuals exist with the unique skill-set required for the positions being requested under Category A of the Global Talent Stream.
In certain exceptional circumstances, ESDC may consider accepting more than 2 referrals for an innovative company per calendar year (resetting on January 1) to Category A provided the company has been successful in meeting its Labour Market Benefits Plan commitments to date under the Global Talent Stream. The circumstances under which multiple referrals to Category A (in other words, more than 2 referrals) could be accepted are outlined below:
- For each additional position requested by the innovative company to Category A, the designated referral partner has reconfirmed to ESDC that the employer meets the eligibility criteria for Category A and has also provided its assessment of the additional unique and specialized position being requested, and
- The annual wage for the additional position being requested by the innovative company under Category A per calendar year, is at least $72.11 CAD per hour ($150,000 CAD annual base salary), or equivalent to the prevailing wage for that occupation if it is higher. Note that employers must offer the equivalent of both the hourly wage rate and annual base salary at minimum. There is no flexibility in the application of the wage requirement for additional positions being requested under Category A
Category B
This stream is designed for Canadian companies who wants to hire highly skilled foreign workers for occupations found on ESDC’s Global Talent Occupations List, which have been determined to be in-demand and for which there is insufficient domestic labour supply.
Occupations currently included in Global Talent Occupations List
- Computer and information systems managers (0213)
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (2147)
- Mathematicians and statisticians (2161)
- Information systems analysts and consultants (2171)
- Database analysts and data administrators (2172)
- Software engineers and designers (2173)
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers (2174)
- Web designers and developers (2175)
- Computer network technicians (2281)
- Information systems testing technicians (2283)
- Producer, technical, creative and artistic director and project manager – Visual effects and video game (5131)
- Digital media designers (5241)
How GSP Immigration Can Help ?
- The LMIA rules, regulations and requirements are subject to frequent changes. These changes deal with different categories of jobs, duration, exemptions etc. Continuous research, attention to detail and painstaking hard work is required to obtain a positive LMIA. We help in assessment of our client’s profile and advice them on their eligibility to get an LMIA.
- We also assist our clients/employers with the advertisement posting.
- We help Canadian employers for applying Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application and legally representing them before ESDC during the procedure
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Note: Under the FSTP, the employment offer can be made by up to two employers
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The foreign worker is awarded 50-200 CRS points (based on NOC code) for LMIA based job offer.
Global Talent Stream (GTS)
application
This LMIA is used to support permanent residency application of foreign national. Here employer hires the skilled foreign national only after their immigration application is processed and permanent residency is approved. This option does not have a processing fee.
LMIA to support both permanent residency & work permit application
If employers wish to hire skilled foreign national temporarily while their application for permanent residence is being processed by IRCC. Then employer can apply for a dual intent LMIA. This option requires paying the processing fee. These dual intent LMIAs can be used to support the foreign nationals’ application to IRCC for a:
- Permanent resident application; and
- Temporary work permit
Important Points
- The employer is not required to submit a transition plan under this stream.
- LMIA can be applied under both (high-wage & low-wage) streams.
- The job offer must be for at least one year of full-time work under NOC 0, A or B.
How GSP Immigration Can Help ?
- The LMIA rules, regulations and requirements are subject to frequent changes. These changes deal with different categories of jobs, duration, exemptions etc. Continuous research, attention to detail and painstaking hard work is required to obtain a positive LMIA. We help in assessment of our client’s profile and advice them on their eligibility to get an LMIA.
- We also assist our clients/employers with the advertisement posting.
- We help Canadian employers for applying Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application and legally representing them before ESDC during the procedure.
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