Work Visa

Global Skills Strategy (GSS) — Faster Processing

To help employers find these highly skilled workers faster, Govt. of Canada introduced the Global Skills Strategy (GSS). The strategy features faster application processing times, work permit exemptions and enhanced customer service. Foreign nationals eligible for this priority processing must still meet all other eligibility and admissibility requirements, including providing police certificates if required.

Eligibility for 2-Week Processing

If you satisfy all of the following criteria and don’t need an LMIA, you can be qualified for 2-week processing:

• You are requesting this from outside of Canada.
• Your position falls within the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system’s Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0 or 1.
• Your employer has paid the employer compliance fee and filed an offer of employment through the Employer Portal.
• Candidates for International Experience Canada are ineligible for GSS processing.

How to Get Faster Processing

Once you and your family obtain the records and details required from your employer, you must:

• Submit online application from outside of Canada.
• Completing the application, which must include a medical examination (if needed).
• Police clearances (if needed).
• Include certified translations of documents that aren’t in English or French.
• Pay processing fees.
• After submitting your application, send in the results of your biometrics within two weeks (if needed).