Begin your career in Canada more quickly with the Global Skills Strategy (GSS).
Our goal is to process eligible GSS work permit applications within two weeks.
Who is eligible for faster processing?
Innovation Stream Workers If you are being hired under the Innovation Stream and your job falls under Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0 or 1 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system, you may qualify for expedited 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).
LMIA-Exempt Workers
You may qualify for two-week processing if you do not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and meet the following criteria:
- You are applying from outside Canada.
- Your job falls under Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0 or 1 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.
- Your employer has submitted a job offer through the Employer Portal and paid the employer compliance fee.
Note: International Experience Canada applicants are not eligible for GSS processing.
LMIA-Required Workers
If you need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), you may qualify for two-week processing if you meet all the following criteria:
- You are applying from outside Canada.
- You have a positive LMIA through the Global Talent Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (as indicated on the LMIA decision letter).
Spouses and Dependents
After gathering the necessary documents and information from your employer, you and your family members should:
- Apply online while outside of Canada.
- Ensure your application is complete,
- A medical examination if required.
- Determine if a medical examination is necessary and schedule it before applying so it can be included in your application.
- Police certificates (verify requirements from your local visa office).
- Certified translations for documents not in English or French.
- Processing fees.
- Submit your biometric results within two weeks of submitting your application, if applicable.
Specific Requirements from Local Visa Offices
Many of our overseas visa offices have specific guidelines that must be followed. Verify the requirements of your local visa office to ensure all necessary documents are included in your application.
If there are specific instructions for your location, you can find them within the application package:
- Navigate to the work permit application.
- Choose “Apply online”.
- Select the country or territory from which you are applying.
- If applicable, download the country-specific visa office requirements from the document list.
To qualify for expedited processing, certified translations of documents not in English or French must be included, even if your visa office’s guidelines indicate acceptance of other languages.
Requirements such as police certificates and biometrics may vary depending on your application location.
Ineligible for Expedited Processing
Your application will not be processed within two weeks if:
- Your application is incomplete.
- Certified translations of documents not in English or French are not included.
- Documents specified in your local visa office instructions are omitted.
- You submit a paper application.
- You apply from within Canada.
- You submit an International Experience Canada application.
