Global Talent Stream

The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is a fast-track pathway under Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program that allows Canadian employers to bring in highly skilled foreign workers with significantly shorter processing times. It is part of the broader Global Skills Strategy, a federal initiative aimed at helping innovative businesses access global talent quickly and competitively.

Unlike standard LMIA streams, the GTS offers a service standard of 10 business days for LMIA processing by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), along with a two-week work permit processing target by IRCC. These timelines apply when the application is complete and the worker meets eligibility requirements. The program became permanent in 2023 after launching as a pilot in 2017.

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Who Is the Global Talent Stream For?

The GTS is designed for two groups:

Employers: Canadian companies that need to hire highly skilled foreign workers in technology, engineering, research, or other specialized fields where domestic talent is unavailable or insufficient.

Workers: Foreign nationals with advanced skills in occupations listed on the Global Talent Occupations List, or individuals with unique expertise who are referred through a designated partner organization.

This stream is not intended for general labour positions or entry-level roles. It targets high-skill, high-demand positions, particularly in STEM, digital media, and innovation-driven industries.

Category A: Unique and Specialized Talent

Category A is for innovative Canadian companies that have been referred to the GTS by a designated referral partner. These referral partners include organizations such as the National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), the Business Development Bank of Canada, and certain provincial innovation agencies.

To be eligible, the referral partner must confirm that the employer meets the following criteria:

• Innovation capacity: The company can demonstrate it is an innovative firm with the ability and willingness to scale up or grow.
• Unique talent need: The position requires a worker with specialized skills that are not readily available in Canada.
• Wage floor: The employer must offer a minimum annual salary of $80,000 (or approximately $38.46 per hour), or the prevailing wage for the occupation, whichever is higher. For a third position or beyond under Category A, the salary floor increases to $150,000 per year.

Category A does not require the position to appear on a specific occupations list. It is open to any occupation where the worker's skills are genuinely unique and will generate economic benefits for Canada.

Category B: In-Demand Occupations

Category B does not require a referral. It is available to any Canadian employer hiring for a position that appears on ESDC's Global Talent Occupations List. This list is reviewed and updated periodically based on labour market conditions.

Occupations commonly found on this list include software engineers, computer programmers, information systems analysts, web developers, data scientists, and certain engineering and biotech roles. Each occupation may carry a specific wage floor that the employer must meet or exceed.

For Category B, the offered wage must fall within the prevailing wage range for the occupation in the specific work location. Employers can verify the prevailing wage through the Government of Canada's Job Bank.

Labour Market Benefits Plan (LMBP)

All employers applying through the GTS must develop a Labour Market Benefits Plan in collaboration with ESDC. The LMBP is a binding commitment that outlines activities the employer will undertake to create lasting, positive impacts on the Canadian labour market.

The commitments are divided into two parts:

Mandatory benefit:

• Category A employers must commit to creating jobs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
• Category B employers must commit to increasing skills and training investments for Canadians and permanent residents.

Complementary benefits: In addition to the mandatory benefit, employers must commit to at least two complementary activities. Examples include co-op or internship placements, participation in industry training programs, knowledge transfer initiatives, increased diversity and inclusion efforts, or investment in research and development.

ESDC conducts annual progress reviews of your LMBP to assess whether you are meeting your commitments. Employers who fail to deliver on their plan may face difficulties obtaining future GTS LMIAs or other compliance consequences under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

If you have already submitted an approved LMBP and are applying for additional positions, you may not need to submit a new plan, but updates or additions to the existing LMBP may be required.

How to Apply for the Global Talent Stream

The GTS application process involves both the employer and the worker. Here is how it works in practice:

Step 1: Confirm your category. Determine whether you qualify under Category A (with a referral from a designated partner) or Category B (position on the Global Talent Occupations List). If the occupation is on the list, it will be processed as Category B regardless of whether you have a referral.

Step 2: Check the wage. Verify that the offered salary meets or exceeds the applicable wage floor for the category and the prevailing wage for the occupation and location. Use the Government of Canada's Job Bank to confirm this.

Step 3: Prepare the Labour Market Benefits Plan. Work with ESDC to draft your LMBP with measurable, realistic commitments. This document is reviewed as part of the LMIA decision.

Step 4: Submit the GTS LMIA application. Use the LMIA Online portal through your Job Bank for Employers account. Submit the completed application along with the LMBP, the offer of employment, supporting business documents, and the $1,000 LMIA processing fee per position. Applications can be submitted up to six months before the expected start date.

Step 5: Receive the LMIA decision. ESDC targets a service standard of 10 business days from the date the complete application is received. A positive LMIA confirms that hiring the foreign worker will not negatively affect the Canadian labour market.

Step 6: Worker applies for a work permit. Once the employer receives a positive LMIA, the foreign worker can apply for a work permit through IRCC. To qualify for the two-week processing standard under the Global Skills Strategy, the application must be complete, include all required documents, and include certified translations of any documents not in English or French.

Step 7: Arrival and employment. After the work permit is approved, the worker can travel to Canada and begin employment under the terms and conditions outlined in the LMIA and job offer.

Global Talent Stream Processing Time and Fees

One of the main advantages of the GTS is its processing speed compared to standard LMIA streams.

LMIA processing: ESDC targets 10 business days from receipt of a complete application. This service standard is expected to be met 80% of the time. Incomplete applications or requests for additional information will extend this timeline.

Work permit processing: IRCC targets two-week processing for work permits submitted under the Global Skills Strategy, provided the application is complete and the worker meets all eligibility requirements. This standard is also expected to be met 80% of the time.

GTS LMIA processing fee: $1,000 per position, paid by the employer. This fee is non-refundable, even if the application is withdrawn or refused. It cannot be recovered from the foreign worker.

Work permit fee: $155, paid by the worker. An additional $100 open work permit holder fee may apply in certain situations, plus $85 for biometrics if required.

Key Differences Between the GTS and a Standard LMIA

If you are already familiar with the LMIA process, you may be wondering how the GTS differs.

No recruitment advertising requirement: Unlike other Temporary Foreign Worker Program streams, employers applying through the GTS are not required to advertise the position on Canada's Job Bank or other platforms before applying. This removes one of the most time-consuming steps of the standard LMIA.

Faster processing: Standard high-wage LMIA applications can take several weeks or months. The GTS targets 10 business days for the LMIA and two weeks for the work permit.

Labour Market Benefits Plan instead of Transition Plan: Standard high-wage LMIA applications require a Transition Plan showing how the employer will reduce reliance on foreign workers. The GTS replaces this with the LMBP, which focuses on creating positive outcomes for the Canadian labour market.

Dedicated service channel: GTS applicants receive personalized, high-touch assistance from ESDC throughout the assessment process.

Spousal and Family Work Permits

Spouses and common-law partners of GTS work permit holders may be eligible for an open work permit, allowing them to work for any employer in Canada without restriction. They can apply at the same time the primary applicant submits their work permit application.

Eligibility for spousal open work permits has been subject to recent policy changes. As of early 2025, spousal work permit eligibility depends on the occupation level of the primary work permit holder. For GTS workers, who typically hold positions classified under TEER 0 or TEER 1, spousal eligibility is generally maintained. However, you should confirm the most current rules on the IRCC website before applying.

Pathways to Permanent Residence After the Global Talent Stream

A GTS work permit is a temporary permit tied to a specific employer. It does not automatically lead to permanent residence. However, skilled work experience gained in Canada through the GTS can strengthen your eligibility for several permanent residence programs.

Express Entry: Canadian work experience gained on a GTS permit may qualify you for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), one of the three programs under Express Entry. CEC requires at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): Several provinces offer immigration streams for foreign workers with valid job offers or work experience in the province. Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta all have streams that may apply to workers on employer-specific permits.

Category-based Express Entry draws: IRCC has introduced category-based selection rounds targeting workers in specific fields, including STEM occupations. Workers with GTS-related experience may benefit from these targeted rounds.

If you are considering a long-term stay in Canada, planning your permanent residence strategy early can help you make the most of the experience you gain while on a GTS work permit.

Common Mistakes in Global Talent Stream Applications

The GTS process is faster than most LMIA streams, but it still requires careful preparation. Mistakes at any stage can lead to delays, refusals, or compliance issues.

Misclassifying the category: Submitting a Category A application for a role that appears on the Global Talent Occupations List will result in the application being assessed under Category B requirements. If those requirements are not met, the application may be refused.

Incomplete LMBP commitments: Vague or unrealistic commitments in the Labour Market Benefits Plan can raise concerns during the assessment. ESDC expects measurable, specific activities with clear timelines.

Wage misalignment: Offering a salary below the prevailing wage or the applicable wage floor is one of the most common reasons for a negative LMIA decision. Always verify the current wage requirements before submitting.

Incomplete work permit applications: The two-week processing standard only applies to complete applications. Missing documents, untranslated materials, or incomplete forms will remove the application from the expedited processing stream.

Not indicating GTS eligibility: When applying for the work permit, the worker must answer "Yes" when asked if their employer's LMIA was issued under the Global Talent Stream. Failing to do so may result in the application being processed under standard timelines.

How SEP Immigration Can Help with the Global Talent Stream

The Global Talent Stream involves coordination between the employer, the worker, ESDC, and IRCC. Each step has its own requirements, documentation standards, and timelines. A single missing document or incorrectly completed form can turn a two-week process into a months-long delay.

At SEP Immigration, Sepehr Falahati (RCIC #R533959) and the team work with both employers and workers to prepare and submit GTS applications. This includes reviewing eligibility under Category A or Category B, drafting the Labour Market Benefits Plan, preparing the LMIA application package, and guiding the worker through the work permit submission.

If you are a Canadian employer looking to hire skilled foreign talent through the GTS, or a foreign worker with a job offer from a Canadian company, you can book a consultation to discuss your specific situation and next steps.