Global Talent Stream: Canada's Fast-Track Work Permit for Tech and Specialized Talent

The Global Talent Stream is a stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program run by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). It started as a pilot in 2017 and became permanent in 2019. It gives employers a faster and simpler path to a Labour Market Impact Assessment for highly skilled roles that are hard to fill in Canada.

Like any LMIA work permit, the result for the worker is an employer-specific work permit. You can only work for the employer named on your permit.

The big differences from a regular LMIA are speed, no minimum advertising requirement, and a Labour Market Benefits Plan in place of the usual transition plan.

Designated referral partners are government and economic development organizations that ESDC approves. They check that a company is innovative and has a real need for special talent.

The Global Talent Occupations List includes roles such as software engineers and designers, computer programmers, web developers, data scientists, cybersecurity specialists, computer engineers, and information systems specialists. ESDC updates the list, and some occupations have a minimum wage floor. Check the current list on the ESDC Global Talent Stream page before you rely on it.

The employer applies, not the worker. The employer must:

• Offer at least the prevailing wage for the job and region, or the list's wage floor if higher
• Pay the CAD $1,000 LMIA processing fee per position
• Create a Labour Market Benefits Plan with ESDC. This is a set of commitments that benefit Canadians, such as creating jobs for Canadians, training Canadian workers, or partnering with schools. Category A firms usually commit to job creation; Category B firms usually commit to skills and training investments
• Report on the plan's progress during annual reviews

Employers don't have to meet the usual minimum advertising requirements. They still must follow all other Temporary Foreign Worker Program rules. For employers, see our Global Talent Stream employer guide and our page on hiring tech workers from abroad.

As the worker, you need:

• A job offer from an employer with a positive GTS LMIA
• The education, experience, and skills the job requires
• A clean immigration and criminal record, and good health
• To apply for an employer-specific work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Most GTS jobs are in TEER 0 or 1 occupations, so your spouse or common-law partner can usually get an open work permit if your permit has at least 16 months left when they apply. See spousal open work permits. TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities, the job levels used in Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC).

ESDC's service standard for Global Talent Stream LMIAs is about 2 weeks (10 business days) for most complete applications.

For the work permit, IRCC offers 2-week processing to many applicants applying from outside Canada under the Global Skills Strategy, as long as the application is complete and biometrics are given quickly. Actual times can vary by country and by season. Check the processing times tool.

You cannot get a GTS work permit by flagpoling at the border. That practice ended on December 23, 2024, with limited exceptions such as US citizens and US permanent residents.

The GTS is not the only fast route for skilled workers. Compare the main options before your employer starts:

LMIA-exempt routes are often cheaper and simpler for the employer because there is no LMIA fee and no Labour Market Benefits Plan. If you qualify for one of them, your employer may prefer it.

Common problems with GTS cases include job duties that don't match the occupation on the list, a wage below the required floor, and incomplete work permit applications that lose 2-week processing. If a past refusal or a gap in your status is part of your history, talk to a lawyer or a licensed consultant (RCIC) before you apply.

If your work in Canada is short, you might not need a work permit at all. Under the Global Skills Strategy, workers in TEER 0 or 1 jobs and researchers can work in Canada without a work permit for up to 15 consecutive days once every 6 months, or up to 30 consecutive days once every 12 months. You still need a visitor visa or eTA if your passport requires one.

Many GTS workers later apply for permanent residence. After at least one year of skilled work in Canada, you may qualify for the Canadian Experience Class through Express Entry. Job offer points no longer count in the Comprehensive Ranking System since March 25, 2025, so your score depends on age, education, language, and experience. Estimate yours with the CRS calculator.