Fast-Track Work Permits for Tech Professionals: A Guide to the Global Talent Stream

Highly skilled workers in specialized tech or in-demand occupations may be eligible for expedited work permit processing.

The Global Talent Stream (GTS) of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) targets foreign nationals with a job offer in one of 22 eligible in-demand occupations.

The GTS has two streams (or categories), and either can lead to an expedited work permit.

This article will explore which occupations are eligible for faster work permit processing and the steps to follow for a GTS-linked work permit.

Below is a list of occupations eligible under Category B of the TFWP’s GTS, which targets specific occupations.

In most cases (80%), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will process work permit applications for these roles within just two weeks.

• Computer and information systems managers – NOC code: 20012
• Civil engineers – NOC code: 21300
• Electrical and electronics engineers – NOC code: 21310
• Mining engineers – NOC code: 21330
• Aerospace engineers – NOC code: 21390
• Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) – NOC code: 21311
• Mathematicians and statisticians (subset) – NOC code: 21210
• Data scientists – NOC code: 21211
• Cybersecurity specialists – NOC code: 21220
• Business system specialists – NOC code: 21221
• Information systems specialists – NOC code: 21222
• Web designers – NOC code: 21233
• Database analysts and data administrators – NOC code: 21223
• Software engineers and designers – NOC code: 21231
• Computer systems developers and programmers – NOC code: 21230
• Software developers and programmers – NOC code: 21232
• Web developers and programmers – NOC code: 21234