So, you’re considering hiring using the Global Talent Stream(GS)? Congratulations! You’re in good company—over 1,100 employers have used this program to expand their team with international talent and that number is growing. At the same time, there are common questions about hiring through the Global Talent Stream.
If you’re thinking about using this program to hire but don’t have much background about the application and requirements, you’ve come to the right place. Our goal at GuruLink is to help more companies utilize this program by making the process even easier.
To start, we wanted to answer some common questions and outline some of the most important things that you need to know before diving into the application.
1. What roles are eligible for hiring global talent using the GTS?
You can’t hire for every role using international talent hired through the Global Talent Stream. But if you’re hiring for a tech-specific role, it’s very likely that your position qualifies. Everyone from junior developers to senior designers and product managers are eligible for hiring through the Global Talent Stream program.
2. How long does it take to get my global hire into Canada?
Generally, we tell clients to expect it to take 4-6 weeks to successfully have a new hire from the Global Talent Stream start working. Once all of the appropriate paperwork is complete it takes about 20 business days for full approval. The required paperwork for hiring through GTS includes your application, as well as your candidate’s application for a work permit.
So no, you won’t have your hire in-office tomorrow, but you very well might in a month from now.
3. What’s the difference between a Category A and Category B tech worker for the GTS?”
This is one of the most important questions to ask and answer, before applying to the Global Talent Stream. Our partner and legal counsel, Joshua Schachnow, outlines the differences between Category A and Category B in his video below.
Category B is the most commonly used category for Global Talent Stream applications. If you’re considering hiring for a role that falls under one of the job categories on the Global Talent Occupations List, you’re going to apply through Category B. For more information about Category B applications, check out our blog post, here.
Category A, on the other hand, is used to hire more senior, specialized technical workers. To hire for these roles you’ll need a Designated Partner to refer you. This partner organization acts as a middleman, between your company and Service Canada which approves applications. To be eligible to hire using Category A, your Designated Partner must validate that you’re hiring for a role that requires a candidate with unique, specialized knowledge.
Once you have that referral, you must ensure the person you hire has extensive knowledge of your industry or an advanced degree in the area of specialization that you’re interested in, a minimum of five years of experience in that field, and is being paid a salary of $80,000 or more.
4. How much do we have to pay when hiring global talent through GTS?
At the very least, you’ll need to pay your hires the current market rate for their role. If you’re not sure what that rate is, you can use this Job Bank to find it by simply typing in your candidate’s job title or the NOC code (more on this in our blog post about Category B applications, here) that matches their role!
If you’re hiring a web developer in the Kitchener-Waterloo region, for instance, the median rate of pay is $28.57 per hour.
5. Can companies of any size start hiring global talent??
Yes! Any company, irrelevant of size, that needs to add technology professionals to its team to drive growth and innovation can make use of the Global Talent Stream. Your company will need to meet the program’s requirements, though, and you can learn more about those requirements and how to apply in our blog post, here.
6. Do employees hired through the GTS need to speak English?
You set the language requirements for your hire in your application for the program, but some English skills are ideal. To be approved for a work permit through the Global Talent Stream, candidates to have more than relevant skills and experience, they also need to be able to effectively communicate with your team.