Global Talent Stream
Canada's fastest employer-supported route for tech talent: a facilitated LMIA with a roughly 10-business-day service standard, plus 2-week work permit processing for applicants outside Canada.
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Fast-tracked LMIA (labour market impact assessment) and subsequent work permits for innovative Canadian employers hiring in-demand, highly skilled tech talent. It is used by many Canadian companies looking to hire or retain foreign workers in tech or digital media occupations. GTS can be used to bring a foreign worker from outside Canada or support an extension of a work permit for existing employees.
The Global Talent Stream is Canada's expedited legal route for employers to bring in or retain specialized tech talent. It runs inside the Temporary Foreign Worker Program as a facilitated LMIA, not an LMIA exemption, with a published service standard of roughly 10 business days.
Once approved, the foreign worker can apply for a work permit and, if they are located outside of Canada, they are eligible for expedited processing of 2 weeks. Foreign workers who are already in Canada and working for the employer can apply to extend their work permit from inside Canada and be placed on maintained status. Maintained status allows foreign workers inside Canada to continue working under the same conditions of the previous work permit until the new work permit is issued. In the event the previous work permit was employer-specific, a webform can be raised to ask for a letter authorizing employment with the new employer.
GTS has two streams:
- Category A is for high-growth firms referred by a designated referral partner that need a unique, specialized worker.
- Category B is for any Canadian company hiring an occupation on the Global Talent Occupations List.
For scaling companies, the appeal is speed and predictability: no lottery, no cap, and a clear timeline you can plan a hire around.
Who is it for?
GTS is for any Canadian company, including startups, who need to fill a highly skilled tech role fast and can't afford a months-long standard LMIA. It suits engineering, data, and other technical hires.
It is an employer-driven process: the worker cannot apply for GTS themselves. The Canadian company submits the GTS application from a dedicated employer portal and once approved, the worker can apply for a work permit. It is used to retain existing employees in Canada on expiring work permits or for bringing new international hires.
What are the requirements
Registered and Operational Canadian Company
The Canadian company must be a registered company with a physical office location, staff, and recurring revenue or secured investment in their bank account.
Labour Market Benefits Plan
The employer must commit to lasting benefits for the Canadian labour market through a labour market benefits plan, selecting 3 activities to support job creation, investment in training, and diversification in hiring practices.
Minimum Salary Requirements
The position must pay a median wage salary determined by the occupation and location of work. Median wage must be reviewed annually and salary adjusted in case of a median wage increase.
Qualified Worker
The foreign worker must have the skills, experience, and any credentials the role requires, and be admissible to Canada against medical and criminal admissibility requirements.
Visa Timeline
Concord Processing Time
Premium Processing Time
Standard Processing Time
Assess the applicant and the company for eligibility under GTS.
2 business days from receipt of mandatory documents
Concord prepares and submits the GTS application through the dedicated employer portal.
3-5 business days from receipt of signed application forms
Service Canada processes the GTS application. The service standard is met approximately 90% of the time and is subject to change.
10-15 business days
5-10 business days to file, then ~2 weeks outside Canada
5-10 business days to file, then ~2 weeks outside Canada
5-8 weeks from case initiation until work permit approval letter
The Concord difference:
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