When immigrating to work in Canada, learning how to use the GTS to become a permanent resident is a critical step.
A GTS (Global Talent Stream) is a Canadian immigration program that was created through a collaboration between the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) and the ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada). The program was created in response to the increased demand for jobs in Canada.
How Does GTS Function in Canada?
As previously stated, GTS (Global Talent Stream) is a Canadian-initiated immigration program designed to assist recruiters and hiring managers in Canada in the process of hiring skilled labor from around the world needed to keep their production process running when there are insufficiently skilled workers in Canada to fill the labor gap.
The Canadian government is constantly working to find effective ways to attract skilled immigrants to fill the country’s labor shortages. The Global Talent Stream (GTS) program was launched in June 2017 as a two-year pilot program in Canada, but it appears that the GTS program is here to stay.
The GTS program is one of the streams in Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) that allows you (the foreign skilled worker) to obtain a temporary work permit that allows you to work in any specialized company in Canada for a set period of time before returning to your home country.
This program is part of Canada’s Global Skills Strategy, which aims to meet the country’s economic needs. According to statistics released in June 2019, approximately 40,000 foreign immigrants entered Canada within two years of the GTS (Global Talent Stream).
The following are the main features of the Global Talent Stream Canada program:
A Canadian initiative dedicated to assisting hiring managers and recruiters in creating jobs in Canada.
As a highly skilled worker, you may not need to obtain a work permit.
Within a 12-month period, you will be granted a 30-day or less temporary work permit.
The program entails the transfer of your skill set to your Canadian counterpart (s).
Learning how to use the GTS to become a permanent resident in Canada can cut your visa processing time from six months to ten business working days, allowing you to receive a quick response to your application request.
Thus, applying to be enrolled in Canada’s Global Talent Stream program will expedite the processing of your Canadian work permit and visa applications.
How to Apply for the GTS and Become a Permanent Resident of Canada
The following steps are involved in learning how to use the GTS to become a permanent resident in Canada:
Apply to join the Global Talent Stream as a foreign worker (GTS)
Look for a job in the Global Talent Stream.
Use your GTS to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
These are further subdivided as follows:
Step 1: Apply to Join the Global Talent Stream as a Foreign Worker (GTS)
The first step in learning how to use the GTS to become a permanent resident in Canada is to apply to the Global Talent Stream program as a foreign worker.
The Global Talent Stream in Canada is divided into two basic categories:
Category A
Category A GTS-rated Companies with a GTS rating can validate their need for highly skilled foreign workers. These are major Canadian brands and corporations. GTS-rated companies in Canada in Category A are validated to use the GTS program by designated referral partners.
For the first two applications, Category A GTS-rated companies in Canada must pay a yearly salary of $80,000 CAD to foreign workers, while subsequent applications require an annual salary of $1,050,000 CAD.
To be considered for the Category A GTS program as a unique and specialized talent, you must be able to demonstrate how advanced you are in a specific industry, as well as your advanced level of education in that same industry, combined with at least 5 years of experience.
Category B
This category includes all other companies on the GTS program list that are looking to hire highly skilled foreign workers. This GTS category includes high-demand skills that are extremely scarce in the Canadian community.
Popular occupations associated with this GTS category include:
- Engineers who work with computers
- IT experts
- Software developers
- Professionals in the field of digital media
and much more
The list of Category B GTS immigrants is updated on a regular basis to reflect changes in labor and skill requirements in Canada.
Furthermore, the salary requirements for foreign workers in this category are not consistent and are determined by the country’s current conditions.
You cannot directly apply to be enrolled in the GTS program as a foreign worker; instead, you must find a job in Canada that is currently listed in one of the above Global Talent Stream categories.
Step 2: Look for a job in the Global Talent Stream.
Securing a job in Canada that is listed in the Global Talent Stream will require you to go through various Job Boards in Canada. We strongly advise you to search the Canadian government’s Job Bank database.
After finally securing a GTS job, your recruiting manager will be required to send out an application that includes all of your necessary details, and if your manager’s application request is successful, they will receive a positive LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) response. You will be able to use this LMIA when applying for your Canadian work permit.
Once this final step is completed and you have received your work permit, you can book your flight to Canada to begin your new job.
Step 3: Apply for Permanent Residency in Canada Using Your GTS
The final step is to finally learn how to use the GTS to become a permanent resident of Canada.
Foreign workers hired under the GTS scheme have a maximum employment period of two years after which they can apply for Canadian permanent residency.
