Canada Tightens Grip on Global Talent Stream Referrals

Canada has reduced the number of designated referral partners for its Global Talent Stream (GTS) by 29%, making it harder for employers to access the program. This move affects Category A, which allows Canadian companies to expedite the hiring process for highly specialized foreign workers.

The updated list now features 41 organizations authorized to refer employers under Category A. The reduction primarily impacts regional partners in Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and at a pan-Canadian level.

Employers seeking referrals from removed partners must now approach another designated organization, including national bodies such as the Business Development Bank of Canada or provincial governments. The GTS remains an expedited route for innovative companies to recruit highly skilled foreign workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.