Canada Global Talent Stream (GTS)
The Global Talent Stream is a part of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which aims to help Canadian employers expedite the hiring process for foreign nationals and compete internationally. Once approved through the program, employers can quickly hire skilled foreign workers through the Global Skills Strategy.
Under the Global Talent Stream, skilled workers can expect their Canada work permits and visa applications to be processed within two weeks.
The program was launched on June 12, 2017, and Quebec introduced its own version on September 11, 2017.
The Global Talent Stream Requirements
Category A: List of ESDC Designated Partners as of August 13, 2018
Under Global Talent Category A, employers must be referred by one of the following (subject to change):
- Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
- BC Tech Association
- Business Development
- Bank of Canada
- Canadian Economic
- Development for Quebec Regions
- City of Hamilton’s Economic Development Office
- Communitech Corporation
- Council of Canadian Innovators
- Economic Development Winnipeg
- Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
- 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 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 Immigration and Career Training – Employer Services Branch
- Halifax Partnership
- ICT Association of Manitoba (ICTAM)
- Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – Accelerated
- Growth Service
- Invest Ottawa
- London Economic Development Corporation
- MaRS Discovery District
- National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)
- Privy Council Office, Special Projects Team
- Vancouver Economic Commission
- Venn Innovation
- Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation
Quebec Designated Partners
- Investissement Quebec
- Montréal International
- Québec International
- L’Association québécoise des technologies
The Global Talent Stream Requirements
Category B – What Jobs Are Covered By The Global Talent Stream?
For Category B of the Global Talent Stream, employers must hire highly-skilled foreign workers to fill positions in occupations found on the following list:
| NOC code 2016 | NOC code 2021 | Occupation | Minimum wage requirement (annual salary) | Minimum wage requirement (hourly rate) |
| 0213 | 20012 | Computer and information systems managers | prevailing wage | prevailing wage |
| 2147 | 21311 | Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) | prevailing wage | prevailing wage |
| Sub-set of 2161* | Sub-set of 21210* | Mathematicians and statisticians * Positions for actuaries or related occupations are excluded from this subset. | prevailing wage | prevailing wage |
| 2171 | 21211 – Data scientists 21220 – Cybersecurity specialists 21221 – Business system specialists 21222 – Information systems specialists 21233 – Web designers | Information systems analysts and consultants | prevailing wage | prevailing wage |
| 2172 | 21211 – Data scientists 21223 – Database analysts and data administrators | Database analysts and data administrators | prevailing wage | prevailing wage |
| 2173 | 21231 – Software engineers and designers 21211 – Data scientists | Software engineers and designers | prevailing wage | prevailing wage |
| 2174 | 21230 – Computer systems developers and programmers 21232 – Software developers and programmers 21234 – Web developers and programmers | Computer programmers and interactive media developers | prevailing wage | prevailing wage |
| 2175 | 21233 – Web designers 21234 – Web developers and programmers | Web designers and developers | prevailing wage | prevailing wage |
| 2281 | 22220 | Computer network technician | $82,000 or higher prevailing wage | $39.42 or higher prevailing wage |
| 2283 | 22222 | Information systems testing technicians | $80,000 or higher prevailing wage | $38.46 or higher prevailing wage |
| Sub-set of 5131* | Sub-set of 51120* | Producer, technical, creative and artistic director and project manager – Visual effects and video game Position requires a minimum of five years of experience in the visual effects, video game or animation industries in one or a combination of the following roles: producer, technical director, creative director, artistic director or project manager, with experience in at least one or more of the following skills relevant to the visual effects, video game or animation industries: surfacing and look development; character or simulation rigging; matte painting; or technical pipeline development and application for visual effects, video games, or animation production. | $78,000 or higher prevailing wage | $37.50 or higher prevailing wage |
| Sub-set of 5241* | Sub-set of 52120* | Digital Media and Design Position requires a minimum of five years of experience in at least one of the following digital media design skills: 3D modeling, virtual reality, augmented reality, digital media animation, levels editing for digital media design, software editing for digital media design, pipeline software development or applications relevant for digital media design. | $80,000 or higher prevailing wage | $38.46 or higher prevailing wage |
* Quebec sets its own minimum wage floors for applications from within Quebec. Consult the Quebec immigration website for more information
Processing Fee – Non-refundable $1,000 to be paid by the employer.
