Last Updated On 16 April 2024, 9:26 AM EDT (Toronto Time)
On April 15, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a new 2-year Innovation Stream Pilot via the Global Hypergrowth Project.
This new Innovation Stream Pilot will allow certain Canadian companies to bring in highly skilled foreign workers on work permits without needing an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment).
Jobs in National Occupational Classification (NOC) categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) are considered high-skilled jobs.
Furthermore, family members of these foreign workers will be eligible for an open work permit, allowing them to work for almost any employer in Canada.
The Innovation Stream is scheduled to continue for two years, ending on March 22, 2026, unless there are any changes.
On June 27, 2023, the Immigration Minister announced the Canada Tech Strategy and as part of it, the minister announced that a new innovation stream would be introduced to bring talented workers to help build innovative businesses.
Innovation Stream Pilot Eligibility Criteria
To apply for a work permit under the Innovation Stream Pilot, foreign nationals inside or outside Canada need a job offer from one of the eligible employers under the Global Hypergrowth Project.
Applicants need to fill out their work permit application using the IRCC Secure Account.
The job offer must fall under a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation as per the National Occupational Classification.
Offered wages must be equal to or higher than the median hourly wages set for the region.
If the position is covered by a bargaining agreement the wage offered must also meet the standards outlined in that agreement.
Additionally the job offer should state that the employer will review wages on the first day of work and annually by January 1 to ensure they remain competitive throughout employment.
Immigration officers must be satisfied that applicants have the skills, for the job they are applying for.
They should consider whether applicants meet the education and experience requirements specified in the National Occupational Classification for their offered occupation.
Full List of Companies in Canada Eligible To Hire Through Innovation Stream
There are currently eight companies that are eligible to hire foreign nationals (inside or outside Canada) without needing an LMIA via the Innovation Stream, as listed below:
- Ada Support Inc.
- AlayaCare
- CellCarta
- Clarius Mobile Health
- Clio
- Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG)
- Lightspeed Commerce
- Vive Crop Protection
What is the Global Hypergrowth Project?
The Global Hypergrowth Project (GHP), a new scale-up service from the Canadian government, aims to help Canadian-based businesses develop farther and faster.
Through the combined resources of its government partners, this project helps customize support to meet the individual needs of each participating company, providing solutions that are as distinctive as the companies themselves.
What is an employer-specific work permit?
An employer specific work permit, in Canada allows you to work based on the terms specified on your permit including details, like the name of your employer, duration of employment and authorized work location.
Click here for more details on this program.
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