Global Skills Strategy: Find out if you’re eligible for faster processing

Start working in Canada faster through the Global Skills Strategy (GSS).

We aim to process eligible GSS work permit applications within 2 weeks.

Processing delays for GSS applications

Processing times for GSS applications continue to be affected by both

  • the number of applications we received while COVID-19 health and travel restrictions were in place
  • an increase in applications as health and travel restrictions lift in Canada and around the world

It will probably take more than 2 weeks to process your GSS application. We’re continuing to recover so we can return to 2-week processing.

Who is eligible for faster processing

There are 2 ways you can be eligible for 2-week processing of your work permit application, depending on if you need a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).

If you don’t need an LMIA (LMIA-exempt)

If you don’t need an LMIA, you may be eligible for 2-week processing if you meet all of these requirements:

  • You’re applying from outside Canada.
  • Your job is classified under Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0 or 1 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.
  • Your employer has submitted an offer of employment using the Employer Portal and paid the employer compliance fee.

International Experience Canada applicants are not eligible for GSS processing.

National Occupation Classification 2021

On November 16, 2022, we switched to the 2021 version of the NOC system.

If you apply on or after November 16, 2022, your job must be either TEER 0 or 1 to be eligible for the Global Skills Strategy.

Check the NOC 2021 to make sure you’re still eligible.

International Experience Canada applicants are not eligible for Global Skills Strategy processing.

If you need an LMIA (LMIA-required)

If you need an LMIA, you could qualify for 2-week processing if you meet all of these requirements:

  • you’re applying from outside Canada
  • you have a positive LMIA through the Global Talent Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (this will be on the LMIA decision letter)

Spouses and dependents

Your spouse, common-law partner and dependent children are also eligible for 2-week processing if they apply at the same time as you. This applies to applications for a

  • visitor visa
  • work permit
  • study permit

They must submit a complete application and apply at the same time as you.

How to get faster processing

Once you have the documents and information you need from your employer, you and your family members must

  • apply online from outside Canada
  • submit a complete application, which includes
    • a medical exam (if needed)
    • police certificates (check your local visa office requirements)
    • certified translations of documents that aren’t in English or French
    • processing fees
  • submit your biometrics results within 2 weeks of submitting your application (if needed)

Incomplete applications are not eligible for GSS and will take longer to process. Check processing times.

Local visa office requirements

Many of our visa offices abroad have specific instructions that you need to follow. Check your local visa office requirements to make sure you are including all required documents with your application.

If you have local instructions to follow, you can find them in the application package.

  1. Go to the work permit application.
  2. Select “Apply online”.
  3. Select the country or territory you’re applying from.
  4. Download the country-specific visa office requirements from the list of documents, if there are any.

To be eligible for 2-week processing you must include certified translations of documents that aren’t in English or French, even if your visa office requirements say we accept other languages.

Examples of requirements that may change depending on where you’re applying from include

Special instructions if you need an LMIA

Make sure you

  • answer “yes” when asked during the online eligibility check, “Did Employment and Social Development Canada issue your employer’s Labour Market Impact Assessment under the Global Talent Stream?”
  • apply as soon as they receive your LMIA decision letter

Who’s not eligible for faster processing

We won’t process your application in 2 weeks if

  • your application is incomplete
  • you don’t include certified translations of documents that aren’t in English or French
  • you forget documents from your local visa office instructions
  • you submit a paper application
  • you apply from inside Canada
  • you submit an International Experience Canada application
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