Canada's growing high tech sector needs to be able to find and employ talent from across the globe quickly. The sourcing needs of the high tech sector change very quickly and product development cycles are very short. To overcome these challenges and to support the high tech sector as it grows, the Canadian government has introduced the Global Skills Strategy to support faster processing of work permits.

Applications submitted under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program are picked up for the fastest processing. This faster processing allows applicants to obtain a work permit within 2 weeks. The following applicants may be eligible for faster processing under the Global Skills Strategy:
  • The employer has a positive LMIA through the Global Talent Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP); The employer must be applying for an employer-specific work permit.
  • The applicant is working in an LMIA-exempt NOC, i.e 0/A profession and the work permit will be employer-specific and the employer has submitted the employment offer through the employer portal and has paid the compliance fee.