How the Global Talent Stream Can Help You Find a Tech Job in Canada

If you’re living outside of Canada, you know how hard it is to find a job from outside of the country. In the last few years, Canada has implemented some new programs that make certain paths, like finding Canada tech jobs, much easier. Read below to learn about the Global Talent Stream and why it makes it easier to find a job in Canada.

What is the Global Talent Stream?

The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is a special program that allows companies to sponsor tech workers through a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in a much shorter time period than the regular LMIA – closer to 2 weeks, as opposed to the 3-6 months a regular LMIA takes. By receiving a GTS LMIA approval, your work permit is also eligible for 2 week processing, which means a work permit through the GTS program, including the LMIA, can take as little as 4-6 weeks.

The GTS program is split into two categories:

Category A is for innovation-centric Canadian employers referred by a designated partner to the GTS program. Such employers can hire a foreign worker with advanced industry knowledge and either an advanced degree or five years specialized experience or both.

The minimum annual salary that must be paid to this worker with unique and specialized talent is $80,000 CAD or the prevailing industry wage, whichever is higher.

Category B is restricted to 12 technology occupations – or NOC codes – including web designers and developers, software engineers, computer and information system managers, digital media designers and other tech roles.

Again, employers must pay the prevailing wage rate in the industry which is calculated based on your NOC code and city you’ll be working in, with minimum annual wage for some occupations ranging between CAN$78,000 and $82,000.

Benefits of the Global Talent Stream

Two-week work permits make for great headlines but there’s more to the GTS than just quick processing of visas.

Relaxed Advertising Requirements for the GTS Program

Like all work permit applications under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), GTS applications must be supported by a positive LMIA. For regular LMIAs, Canadian employers must prove there’s no qualified Canadian candidate for the position for which the foreign worker is being hired, meaning employers have to advertise the position in the government Job Bank and two other recruitment methods for at least four weeks.

GTS companies are exempt from this rule, which means there’s no proof of recruitment requirement or minimum four-week gap between selection of the candidate and submission of the LMIA application.

Combined with the two-week processing, the speed of the GTS program means that more companies are willing to use it, and if you are able to find a job, won’t have to wait as long for your work permit!

Smooth processing and path to PR

Since the program requires less effort from Canadian companies, they’re more willing to hire foreign tech workers than many others.

Not only that, but receiving a GTS work permit will also grant you 50 additional bonus points through Express Entry – Canada’s permanent residence (PR) program for skilled workers.

This makes it easier to get PR for you and your family so you can settle in Canada for as long as you’d like!

Because there are so many companies in Canada looking to hire tech workers, we started helping them find tech workers from around the world.

If you want to try and find a job in Canada, you can sign up with us for free here and we’ll try to get you some interviews!