Canada has for some time provided ‘enhanced’ immigration processes for certain high-tech industries/workers, as Canada competes for talent on the world stage. Notably, Canada in 2017 launched the ‘Global Talent Stream’ (GTS) which recognizes the demand for high tech workers, and facilitates their recruitment, without some of the burdens otherwise required to secure foreign talent.
Today, Canada launched the ‘Tech Talent Strategy’ (TTS) which improves upon some existing programs, and adds some further opportunities to secure foreign high-tech workers in Canada.
Among other elements of the new TTS are:
- Holders of US H-1B specialty occupation visas will be permitted to seek open work permits in Canada, and their dependents will be granted study or work permit options
- The International Mobility Program (which generally facilitates work permits without the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment in some cases) will develop a new ‘Innovation Stream’, which will allow employers to attract/hire highly talented individuals. Options within this stream include:
- Five-year employer-specific work permits for workers destined to work for a companies recognized by the Canadian government as contributing to Canada’s industrial innovation goals
- Five-year open work permits for highly skilled workers in select in-demand occupations
- Meeting a 14-day service standard for work permits under the Global Skills Strategy/GTS
- With regard to permanent residence, the creation of STEM-specific category-based draws under the Express Entry program
- Updates to the Start-up Visa Program, including:
- Increased allocation of spots to this program for 2023 and beyond
- Allowance for three-year work permits (rather than one)
- Work permits will be open as opposed to ones that limit applicants to working for their own start-up.
- Three-year open work permits for each member of the entrepreneurial team (not just essential members)
- Prioritizing applications supported by venture capital, angel investor groups and business incubators and have capital committed, along with applications that are supported by business incubators who are members of Canada’s Tech Network.
The TTS should be of great benefit to many Canadian companies seeking foreign talent, and to the foreign talent seeking to work in Canada.
The information in this article is for general purposes only, and not intended as legal advice for any particular situation.