IRCC reminded employers on December 12 that highly skilled foreign workers in 22 tech-centric and engineering occupations remain eligible for two-week work-permit processing through the Global Talent Stream (GTS). Category B of the GTS covers roles ranging from software engineers and cybersecurity analysts to civil engineers and digital-media designers.
Since its launch in 2017, the GTS has become Canada’s fastest work-authorisation route, issuing over 58,000 permits with a median processing time of 12 calendar days in 2025. The stream requires employers to obtain a Labour Market Benefits Plan—committing to job creation and skills transfer—rather than a labour-market impact assessment. Once approved, workers submit their own applications online and receive a decision in two weeks, including biometrics.
Tech hubs in Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver and—most recently—Calgary have leaned heavily on the program to scale rapidly amid ongoing talent shortages. According to a Council of Canadian Innovators survey, 71 % of member firms used the GTS this year, citing predictability and speed as decisive factors compared with the H-1B lottery in the United States.
![Two-week work permits available for 22 in-demand occupations under Global Talent Stream]()
Companies and talent looking to streamline their GTS submissions can lean on VisaHQ’s online platform, which offers step-by-step guidance, document checklists, and real-time status updates for Canadian work permits and visas. Visit https://www.visahq.com/canada/ to see how its dedicated support team can simplify the process and keep applications moving on schedule.
For global-mobility teams, the GTS offers a competitive edge in relocating critical staff on tight timelines, such as solution architects for client roll-outs or AI specialists for R&D sprints. The program also allows cumulative work-permit extensions up to five years, aligning with permanent-residence planning through Express Entry or provincial nominee programs.
Best practice: Submit the employer compliance fee and complete the benefits plan well in advance—applications missing these components are refused without processing, nullifying the two-week promise.
Since its launch in 2017, the GTS has become Canada’s fastest work-authorisation route, issuing over 58,000 permits with a median processing time of 12 calendar days in 2025. The stream requires employers to obtain a Labour Market Benefits Plan—committing to job creation and skills transfer—rather than a labour-market impact assessment. Once approved, workers submit their own applications online and receive a decision in two weeks, including biometrics.
Tech hubs in Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver and—most recently—Calgary have leaned heavily on the program to scale rapidly amid ongoing talent shortages. According to a Council of Canadian Innovators survey, 71 % of member firms used the GTS this year, citing predictability and speed as decisive factors compared with the H-1B lottery in the United States.
Companies and talent looking to streamline their GTS submissions can lean on VisaHQ’s online platform, which offers step-by-step guidance, document checklists, and real-time status updates for Canadian work permits and visas. Visit https://www.visahq.com/canada/ to see how its dedicated support team can simplify the process and keep applications moving on schedule.
For global-mobility teams, the GTS offers a competitive edge in relocating critical staff on tight timelines, such as solution architects for client roll-outs or AI specialists for R&D sprints. The program also allows cumulative work-permit extensions up to five years, aligning with permanent-residence planning through Express Entry or provincial nominee programs.
Best practice: Submit the employer compliance fee and complete the benefits plan well in advance—applications missing these components are refused without processing, nullifying the two-week promise.
