Global Talent Stream Canada, 2022

Global Talent Stream (GTS) is among the streams of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). It is a pilot program that was created to help Canadian companies and employers in hiring highly-skilled foreign workers with the objective of improving innovation, and to offer aid to them in keeping the most proficient workers.

Global Talent Stream pilot program was introduced in June 2017. It’s introduction was influenced by the collaboration between Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Besides, CIC Global Talent Stream facilitates foreign workers to become dedicated in improving diversity in their workplace via Labour Market Benefit Plan.

GTS does not have any minimum requirement. Canada employers and companies are only expected to employ Canada citizens and permanent residents before initiating process to hire a temporary foreign worker. Global Talent Stream applications are initiated through two (2) different categories such as;

Global Talent Stream Category A

Category A of Canada Global Talent Stream is suitable for employers who intends to employ a foreign worker to occupy a unique and specialized position. As the Canadian employer, you need to have been referred to the Global Talent Stream by one of their designated partners. In order to be eligible for Global Talent Stream program Canada, a designated referral partner needs to confirm the validity of your application to ensure that you meet the following criteria;

  • Your company must have its operations in Canada
  • There should be a vacant unique and specialized position that you want to fill. Also, you must have seen a competent foreign worker for the job
  • Your company must place special emphasis on innovation
  • Your company must have the ability to gain expansion

As a Canadian employer, your application for GTS Category A will not be processed till Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has confirmed that a designated referral partner has provided supporting evidence that you are legit and eligible. Your new Global Talent Stream application requires your swift response to Service Canada demands for more information or documents. Thus, before submitting your Global Talent Stream LMIA application, ensure that they are all complete.

Identifying a unique and specialized position for Category A of Global Talent Stream Canada

  • At least 5 years of experience in the related field
  • Jobs that demands the worker’s vast expertise
  • Job positions with a minimum hourly pay of CAD38.46 or an annual pay of CAD80,000
  • Professional certification in the area of specialization

ESDC Designated Referral Partners

Canada GTS makes it mandatory for employers to be referred by;

  1. Communitech Corporation
  2. ICT Manitoba (ICTAM)
  3. VENN Innovation
  4. Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
  5. Business Development Bank of Canada
  6. Council of Canadian Innovators
  7. Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
  8. Ontario Ministry of Economic Growth and Development
  9. MaRS Discovery District
  10. Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
  11. Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service
  12. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (Accelerated Growth Service)
  13. BC Tech Association
  14. National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program, etc.

Global Talent Stream Category B


This kind of Global Talent Stream does not need a referral. Global Talent Stream Category B is ideal for Canadian employers that want to employ highly-skilled foreign workers to occupy a job post that is among the sought-after occupations in the Global Talent Occupations List.

Global Talent Stream Occupations List

This applies to Canadian employers that are eligible for Category B of the Global Talent Stream. Canadian companies and employers are permitted to employ highly-skilled foreign workers for jobs that are present on ESDC’s Global Talent Stream Occupations List. Such Global Talent Stream jobs are considered to be greatly desired by Canadian employers with less availability of Canada citizens to take the job. GTS occupation list for Category B includes;

NOC Code 0213 – Computer and information systems managers

NOC Code 2147 – Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)

Sub-set of 2161* – Mathematicians and statisticians

NOC Code 2171 – Information systems analysts and consultants

NOC Code 2172 – Database analysts and data administrators

NOC Code 2173 – Software engineers and designers

NOC Code 2174 – Computer programmers and interactive media developers

NOC Code 2175 – Web designers and developers

NOC Code 2281 – Computer network technicians

NOC Code 2283 – Information systems testing technicians

Sub-set of 5131** – Producer, technical, creative and artistic director and project

manager (Visual effects and video game)

Sub-set of 5241*** – Digital media designers

Labour Market Benefits Plan (LMBP)

Labour Market Benefits Plan is one of the most vital requirements for Canada Global Talent Stream. LMIA is helpful to you and the Government of Canada in tracking and recognizing job creations, as well as skills and training investments that are beneficial to their economy when you hire highly-skilled workers via Global Talent Streams (GTS). It is mandatory that you collaborate with ESDC so as to create a LMBP that exhibits your determination to activities that offers advantage to the Canadian labour market. Hence, your commitment to Labour Market Benefits Plan is grouped into mandatory and complementary benefits.

Mandatory benefit is specifically for Canadian employers who have been referred by a designated partner as they want to hire a foreign worker via Category A of Global Talent Stream. It involves your commitment to offer employment to Canada citizens as your mandatory benefit. It also entails your commitment to enhance investments of skills and training investments of Canada citizens as your mandatory benefit when you are willing to employ highly-skilled foreign workers to occupy job posts in GTS Occupations List under Category B.

More so, provisions should be made for 2 complementary benefits that are different from the mandatory benefit. Such provisions include for;

  • Imparting knowledge
  • Job creation
  • Investment in skills and training
  • Utilizing the most appropriate strategies or policies on your workers
  • Improved productivity of the company, among others.

Payments for Global Talent Stream application processing

Canadian employers are required to make a payment of 1,000 Canadian Dollar for the processing of their Global Talent Stream application. If your Global Talent Steam application gets an unfavourable assessment or was cancelled or deliberately withdrawn, the payment you made for its processing is non-refundable. However, you are only allowed to request for refunds if you made an erroneous transfer. Besides, temporary foreign workers are not allowed to pay for the Global Talent Stream pilot. It is unlawful for Canada employers to recover the processing fee from the orker. Thus, payments for Global Talent Stream processing fees can be made via various payment options like;

  1. Visa cards
  2. MasterCard
  3. American Express
  4. Bank draft, cheque, or money order which is made payable to the Receiver General for Canada

Global Talent Stream LMIA processing time

As of March 2021, the average processing time of Global Talent Stream LMIA requires 13 working days.

Quick Global Talent Stream guide for Canadian employers

All Canadian employers that are on the verge to forward their applications for Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) needs to make provisions for all relevant documents, including their LMIA and GTS application forms. This serves as a proof that your company and the job offer or contract are legitimate.

Job roles and working conditions of temporary foreign workers under Global Talent Stream:

  1. Canadian law is in favour of all its workers without exemption to temporary foreign workers. Thus, the rights and entitlements of all Canada temporary foreign workers are protected by the law. As a Canadian employer, you need to check and be absolutely certain that you aren’t exploiting your workers in one way or the other.
  2. You should make sure that your temporary foreign workers only executes job roles that are related to the post you employed them for
  3. Majority of Canada jobs are based on province or territory laws, which coordinates labour and employment standards like compensation, work hours, working conditions, etc. Each province or territory in Canada has its own Ministry of Labour, which duty is to avail employment-related information to handle issues and answer various questions and concerns. Moreover, there are some Canadian employers who are protected by the employment standards under the Canada Labour Code.
  4. You need to provide workplace safety for your temporary foreign workers. Make sure your foreign workers possess coverage on the province or territory workplace safety insurance companies. Canadian province/territory law avails employers with a wide selection of private insurance plans. This includes that;
    • Each of your worker needs to be covered by the same insurance company
    • The selected private insurance plan should offer more or the same level of settlement when compared to the plan offered by the province or territory
    • The selected private insurance plan must be the same with the TFWP’s holder initial plan. It is your responsibility to sort the coverage costs as the foreign worker’s employer

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Global Talent Stream Canada

1. What is Global Talent Stream (GTS)?

  • GTS was started by IRCC and ESDC as a pilot program that creates possibilities for employers to hire foreign nationals in their company

2. What is Global Talent Stream LMIA processing time?

  • It usually take about 13 business days

3. What is Global Talent Stream processing fee?

  • CAD1,000 which is paid by the employer

4. How can I download the Global Talent Stream form?