*An LMIA assesses the impact of hiring foreign workers on the Canadian job market. For a permit, it must be “positive” or “neutral.”
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THIS NEW WORK PERMIT?
To qualify for a work permit under the Innovation Stream, applicants must:
- Have a job offer from an employer in the Global Hyper growth Project (GHP).
- Be offered a high-skilled job in NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3.
- Meet the education and experience requirements for the occupation as per the NOC.
This stream is open to eligible applicants both inside and outside Canada.
Applicants may get faster processing if their job is in TEER categories 0 or 1.
The NOC system classifies jobs in Canada, with TEER rankings based on required Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities.
Employers must:
- Submit an offer of employment.
- Pay a $230 CAD employer compliance fee.
- Provide the employee with an offer of employment number.
WHICH EMPLOYERS HAVE BEEN ELECTED FOR THIS STREAM?
The Canadian government has selected these top employers for their “industrial innovation goals”:
- Ada Support Inc. (Toronto): AI-driven platform for automated, multilingual customer service.
- Alaya Care: AI-powered home care platform improving scheduling, documentation, and patient outcomes.
- Cell Carta (Montreal): Precision medicine firm specializing in immune monitoring and targeted therapies.
- Clarius Mobile Health (British Columbia): AI-powered, portable ultrasound technology for enhanced medical imaging.
- Clio (Burnaby): Cloud-based software for legal practice management.
- Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (Blainville): Developer of new medicines for global markets.
- Lightspeed Commerce (Montreal): Technology solutions for retail and restaurant management.
- Vive Crop Protection (Mississauga): Crop protection products using patented technology for effective, eco-friendly treatments.
For more details, visit the IRCC webpage here.
RECENT UPDATES REGARDING WORK PERMIT OR LMIA REQUIREMENTS
This new permit arrives as Canada tightens restrictions on work permits and LMIAs.
Starting August 26, the government will halt low-wage LMIA processing in cities with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher. However, exceptions will apply to jobs in key sectors like agriculture, food processing, construction, and healthcare.
VISITORS IN CANADA NO LONGER APPLY FOR JOB-SUPPORTED WORK PERMIT
In addition to the recent LMIA changes, Canada has ended the COVID-era policy for job-supported work permits. Visitors can no longer apply for job-supported work permits from within the country, whether or not an LMIA is needed.
However, they can still apply for other types of work permits. These updates contrast with the new Innovation Stream announcement, highlighting Canada’s commitment to attracting foreign talent for its tech sector.
