Global Talent Stream Canada — LMIA

The Global Talent Stream is the fastest LMIA pathway available in Canada — offering two-week LMIA processing by ESDC and two-week work permit processing by IRCC for eligible applicants. It is designed for Canadian employers who need to hire highly skilled global talent quickly to scale up and compete, and it operates differently from the standard high-wage and low-wage LMIA streams in several important ways — including no minimum recruitment requirements, a mandatory Labour Market Benefits Plan, and significantly higher wage thresholds.

For technology companies, innovative firms, and employers hiring in specific in-demand STEM and digital occupations, the GTS is often the fastest and most practical route to bringing skilled workers to Canada. Understanding which category applies — and meeting its specific requirements from the start — is what determines whether the two-week service standard is met.

At Magellan Immigration, we assist Canadian employers in preparing complete GTS applications including the Labour Market Benefits Plan, ensuring the correct category and wage thresholds are applied, and coordinating the worker's work permit application through the Global Skills Strategy.

Two Categories — Two Pathways

 

The GTS operates through two distinct categories with different eligibility criteria:

Category A — Unique and Specialized Talent For innovative Canadian companies that have been referred by a designated referral partner and are hiring an individual with unique and specialized talent to help the business scale up and grow. A referral form from a designated referral partner is mandatory — applications without one are considered incomplete and will not be processed.

To qualify for Category A, the designated referral partner must confirm that the company is operating in Canada, has a focus on innovation, has the willingness and capability to grow or scale up, is seeking to fill a unique and specialized position, and has identified a qualified worker for that position. A unique and specialized position requires at minimum $38.46 per hour ($80,000 annual base salary), advanced knowledge of the industry, an advanced degree in a relevant specialization, and/or a minimum of five years of experience in the specialized field.

For the first two Category A positions per calendar year, the minimum wage is $38.46 per hour. For any additional positions beyond two per calendar year, the minimum wage increases to $72.11 per hour ($150,000 annual base salary).

Category B — Global Talent Occupations List For employers hiring highly skilled workers in specific in-demand occupations on ESDC's Global Talent occupations list, where there is insufficient domestic labour supply. No referral is required for Category B. If an occupation submitted under Category A appears on the Global Talent occupations list, it will be processed as Category B and must meet Category B requirements.

Global Talent Occupations List — Category B

The following occupations are eligible for Category B. For occupations with specific wage floors, the minimum hourly rate listed must be met — the annual salary figures are for illustrative purposes only. For all other occupations, the prevailing wage applies.

  • NOC 20012 — Computer and information systems managers — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21300 — Civil engineers — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21310 — Electrical and electronics engineers — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21311 — Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21330 — Mining engineers — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21390 — Aerospace engineers — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21210 (subset) — Mathematicians and statisticians (excluding actuaries) — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21211 — Data scientists — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21220 — Cybersecurity specialists — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21221 — Business system specialists — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21222 — Information systems specialists — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21223 — Database analysts and data administrators — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21230 — Computer systems developers and programmers — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21231 — Software engineers and designers — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21232 — Software developers and programmers — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21233 — Web designers — prevailing wage

  • NOC 21234 — Web developers and programmers — prevailing wage

  • NOC 22310 — Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians — minimum $41.35/hr ($86,000/yr) or prevailing wage if higher

  • NOC 22220 — Computer network and web technicians — minimum $40.87/hr ($85,000/yr) or prevailing wage if higher

  • NOC 22222 — Information systems testing technicians — minimum $41.03/hr ($85,000/yr) or prevailing wage if higher

  • NOC 51120 (subset) — Producer, technical, creative and artistic director and project manager in visual effects and video game — minimum $40.87/hr ($85,000/yr) or prevailing wage if higher

  • NOC 52120 (subset) — Digital media designers — minimum $38.46/hr ($80,000/yr) or prevailing wage if higher

Labour Market Benefits Plan

The Labour Market Benefits Plan (LMBP) is a mandatory requirement unique to the GTS. It is developed collaboratively between the employer and ESDC during the application process and commits the employer to activities that will have lasting positive impacts on the Canadian labour market.

Mandatory benefit by category:

  • Category A employers must commit to creating jobs for Canadians and permanent residents

  • Category B employers must commit to increasing skills and training investments for Canadians and permanent residents

In addition to the mandatory benefit, all employers must commit to at least two complementary benefits with at least one activity each. Complementary benefits cannot duplicate the mandatory benefit and can include knowledge transfer, enhanced company performance, implementing best employer practices, or increasing diversity in the workplace.

ESDC conducts annual progress reviews of your LMBP to assess how well you are meeting your commitments. Failure to make reasonable efforts toward your LMBP commitments, or failure to complete a progress review within the requested timeframe, will generally result in negative decisions on future GTS applications for a period of two years. LMBP obligations continue even if a worker hired under the GTS becomes a permanent resident while employed by the company.

If you already have an approved LMBP and are submitting additional GTS applications, you will not need to submit a new plan — but updates or amendments may be required depending on the number of additional positions requested.

Recruitment Requirements

Unlike the high-wage and low-wage streams, the GTS has no minimum recruitment requirement. You are encouraged to conduct recruitment efforts but are not required to demonstrate that you advertised the position or contacted Canadian candidates before applying. You will be asked to describe any recruitment efforts conducted as part of the application.

Two-Week Work Permit Processing

 

Workers hired through the GTS — in both Category A and Category B — are eligible for two-week work permit processing by IRCC under the Global Skills Strategy, with a service standard met 80% of the time. To qualify, the worker's job must be classified under TEER 0 or TEER 1 of the NOC, and the application must be submitted online from outside Canada. When completing the eligibility questionnaire, the worker must indicate that their employer's LMIA was issued under the Global Talent Stream.

Designated Referral Partners — Category A

Category A applications require a referral from a designated referral partner. Partners include pan-Canadian organizations such as the Business Development Bank of Canada, the National Research Council – IRAP, Invest in Canada, the Global Affairs Canada Trade Commissioner Service, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and TECHNATION, as well as regional and provincial partners across all provinces and territories. A current list of designated referral partners is maintained on the ESDC website.

Provincial Requirements

British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia An employer registration certificate from the province is required before submitting your GTS application.

Quebec GTS applications for positions in Quebec must be submitted simultaneously to ESDC and MIFI. ESDC and MIFI jointly process GTS applications in Quebec and target a joint 10-business-day service standard from the date of receipt by ESDC, provided both applications are submitted simultaneously.

What We Do

 

  • Assess whether Category A or Category B applies to your hiring situation

  • Confirm GTS occupations list eligibility and applicable wage floors for Category B

  • Connect Category A applicants with appropriate designated referral partners

  • Develop the Labour Market Benefits Plan in collaboration with you and ESDC

  • Prepare the complete GTS LMIA application

  • Coordinate simultaneous provincial submissions where required

  • Coordinate the worker's work permit application through the Global Skills Strategy for two-week processing

  • Advise on LMBP progress review obligations and annual compliance