EXPERT CITIZENSHIP ADVICE. ICA

ST KITTS CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT PROGRAM

The St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program is the oldest of its kind in the world. Established in 1984 the program grants citizenship through donation or real estate investment to qualified applicants.

The government requires an investment of either a minimum donation of $150,000 to the Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) or investment of $400,000 in real estate (can be reduced to $200,000 for connected investors) plus related government and due diligence fees.

PORTUGAL THROUGH PROPERTY INVESTMENT

The Portugal Visa program has proven to be the most popular scheme in Europe with investors attracted to its flexibility and benefits. Launched in 2012 the investor visa program has been actively promoted internationally by the Portuguese government.

An investment of €500,000 (or €350,000 reduced option) in real estate in Portugal will gain a residency permit for a family including dependent children. The golden visa can be renewed every two years providing the applicant spends two weeks in the country every two years.

CYPRUS – CITIZENSHIP

Cyprus offers two golden visa programs through real estate investment. One for permanent residency and one for citizenship. The two Cypriot immigration investment schemes are fast and efficient at granting a residency permit and second passport. Cyprus is a full member of the European Union and English is widely spoken on the island.

International Experience Canada

Become a candidate

If you want to travel and work temporarily in Canada as part of International Experience Canada (IEC), your first step is to become a candidate in one or more IEC pools.

How to become a candidate

This is a process where you:

• find out if you meet the minimum eligibility criteria by answering some questions
• create afreeonline IEC profile if you’re eligible

The answers you give us will be used to determine if you’re eligible for a pool in one or more IEC categories:

• International Co-op (Internship)
• Working Holiday
• Young Professionals

There is one pool of eligible candidates per country and per category.

You can submit your profile to one or more of these pools. Candidates in the pools need to receive an invitation to apply for a work permit.

Step 1: Answer a few questions

Use our questionnaire to see if you meet the criteria to get into the IEC pools. It will take you about 10 minutes. It will ask you about your:

• country of citizenship
• country of permanent residence (where you live permanently)
• country of residence (where you live now)
• student status (if this applies to you)
• job offer (if this applies to you)

Note:Your country of permanent residence is the country where you have a permanent address. For example, if you’re a Mexican student in Canada, your country of permanent residence is Mexico.

Step 2: Complete your online IEC profile

If you get a positive result, you can complete and submit your IEC profile online.

If you checked your eligibilitywithoutsigning in, follow these steps:

1. Copy or write down the personal reference code we give you at the end of the questionnaire (It looks like this:JM1234567890).
2. Create your account.
3. Enter your personal reference code when asked.

If yousigned in to your accountto check your eligibility, click “Continue.” You won’t get a personal reference code. You don’t need one.

We’ll use your answers from the questionnaire to start your profile. To complete your profile, you’ll need yourpassport.You’ll also need to tell us about your:

• identity (full names, date of birth, place of birth etc.)
• contact information

Filling in the online forms

• Leave out any commas that separate your first or last names (if you have more than one first or last name). For example, use “JulieLouiseMarie” if your first name is “Julie, Louise, Marie”.
• Use English and French letters only.
• If your passport usesotherspecial letters or characters, use the letter without the accent. For example, use “z” instead of “ź.”

• Step 3: Submit your profile

  When you complete your profile, we’ll tell you which pools are available to you. You can submit your profile to any of these available pools.

  Before you submit your profile, make you sure you understandwhich category is right for you.

  Important:Submitting an IEC profile doesnotmean you have applied for a work permit. You need an invitation to apply to start a work permit application.

  If you’re invited to apply, you’ll use your account to:

  • submit your work permit application
  • pay your fees
  • check the status of your application

  This is theonlyway to apply for an IEC work permit.

  If you get an ITA

  If you do receive an ITA and your work permit application is approved, you’ll receive a port of entry letter of introduction in your account. This letter doesn’t guarantee that you’ll

  • be allowed to enter Canada, or
  • get a work permit when you arrive

  The border services officer will make a final decision on your entry.

  https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec/become-candidate.html

List of Designated Partners for referral to Category A of the Global Talent Stream (as of December 2021)

For Category A of the Global Talent Stream, employers must be referred by 1 of the Steam’s designated referral partners. The role of designated referral partners is to refer innovative Canadian companies with whom they are able to vouch for in terms of legitimacy andeligibility for Category A.

The list of designated referral partners for the Global Talent Stream includes the following organizations (as of December 2021):

Pan-Canadian

• Business Development Bank of Canada
• Council of Canadian Innovators
• Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada - Accelerated Growth Service
• Invest in Canada
• National Research Council - Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)
• Privy Council Office, Special Projects Team
• TECHNATION

The Atlantic Region

• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency(multiple locations across the region)

New Brunswick

• Ignite Fredericton
• Venn Innovation
• Government of New Brunswick – Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Genesis

Nova Scotia

• Cape Breton Partnership
• Government of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Business Inc.
• Halifax Partnership

Prince Edward Island

• Government of Prince Edward Island, Island Investment Development Inc.

Central Canada

Ontario

• Burlington Economic Development Corporation
• Invest Brampton
• Invest in Hamilton
• City of Mississauga
• Communitech Corporation
• Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
• Government of Ontario, Labour, Training and Skills Development – Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
• Government of Ontario, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade – Ontario Investment Office
• Invest Ottawa
• Kingston Economic Development Corporation
• London Economic Development Corporation
• MaRS Discovery District
• Regional Municipality of Niagara
• York Region
• Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
• Toronto Global
• Town of Oakville
• Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation
• Invest Windsor Essex

Quebec

• Canadian Economic Development for Quebec Regions

For other designated referral partners located in Quebec for the Global Talent Stream, employers from Quebec are invited to consult Quebec’sministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI)website (French only).

Western Canada

Alberta

• Calgary Economic Development
• Edmonton Metropolitan Region Economic Development Companya.k.aEdmonton Global
• Government of Alberta, Alberta Labour and Immigration

British Columbia

• Accelerate Okanagan
• BC Tech Association
• Government of British Columbia, Ministry Municipal Affairs
• Kootenay Association for Science & Technology
• Launch Academy
• Vancouver Economic Commission
• Venture Kamloops

Manitoba

• Economic Development Winnipeg
• Government of Manitoba, Manitoba Education and Training
• Tech Manitoba

Saskatchewan

• Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of Immigration and Career Training

Employers should note that applications to Category A cannot be processed untilESDChas confirmed that a designated referral partner has submitted a referral vouching for the employer’s legitimacy and eligibility for Category A of the Stream.

Eligibility for Category A of the Global Talent Stream

For Category A of the Global Talent Stream, an innovative company must be referred by 1 of the Stream’s designated referral partners on the basis that the position being requested requiresunique and specializedtalent to help the firm scale-up and grow.

In order to be eligible for Category A, a designated referral partner must validate that a company meets the following eligibility criteria at the time of each referral toESDC:is operating in Canadahas a focus on innovationhas a willingness, and is capable of growing or scaling upis seeking to fill aunique and specializedposition in the company, andhas identified a qualified foreign worker for potential hire into that unique and specialized positionAunique and specializedposition is indicated by:at least $38.46 per hour ($80,000 annual base salary), or equivalent to theprevailing wagefor the occupation if it is higher. Note that employers must offer the equivalent of both the hourly wage rate and annual base salary at minimum, and

• advanced knowledge of the industry, and
• advanced degree in an area of specialization of interest to the employer, and/or
• minimum of 5 years of experience in the field of specialized experience

In general, an innovative company that is eligible to be referred to Category A should also be seeking to fill a very limited number of unique and specialized positions (for example, 1 or 2 positions per year) on the basis that very few specialized individuals exist with the unique skill-set required for the positions being requested under Category A of the Global Talent Stream.

In certain exceptional circumstances,ESDCmay consider accepting more than 2 referrals for an innovative company per calendar year (resetting on January 1) to Category A provided the company has been successful in meeting its Labour Market Benefits Plan commitments to date under the Global Talent Stream. The circumstances under which multiple referrals to Category A (in other words, more than 2 referrals) could be accepted are outlined below:

1. for each additional position requested by the innovative company to Category A, the designated referral partner has reconfirmed toESDCthat the employer meets the eligibility criteria for Category A and has also provided its assessment of the additional unique and specialized position being requested, and
2. the annual wage for the additional position being requested by the innovative company under Category A per calendar year, is at least $72.11 per hour ($150,000 annual base salary), or equivalent to the prevailing wage for that occupation if it is higher. Note that employers must offer the equivalent of both the hourly wage rate and annual base salary at minimum. There is no flexibility in the application of the wage requirement for additional positions being requested under Category A

Global Talent Occupations List for Category B of the Global Talent Stream (as of July 2019)

For Category B of the Global Talent Stream, applications will be accepted from firms in Canada that need to hire highly skilled foreign workers for occupations found onESDC's Global Talent Occupations List, which have been determined to be in-demand and for which there is insufficient domestic labour supply.

For occupations with wage floors, note that employers must offer the hourly wage rate at minimum. Annual wage floors are provided for illustrative purposes only.

List of Designated Partners for referral to Category A of the Global Talent Stream (as of December 2021)

For Category A of the Global Talent Stream, employers must be referred by 1 of the Steam’s designated referral partners. The role of designated referral partners is to refer innovative Canadian companies with whom they are able to vouch for in terms of legitimacy andeligibility for Category A.

The list of designated referral partners for the Global Talent Stream includes the following organizations (as of December 2021):

Pan-Canadian

• Business Development Bank of Canada
• Council of Canadian Innovators
• Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada - Accelerated Growth Service
• Invest in Canada
• National Research Council - Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)
• Privy Council Office, Special Projects Team
• TECHNATION

The Atlantic Region

• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency(multiple locations across the region)

New Brunswick

• Ignite Fredericton
• Venn Innovation
• Government of New Brunswick – Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Genesis

Nova Scotia

• Cape Breton Partnership
• Government of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Business Inc.
• Halifax Partnership

Prince Edward Island

• Government of Prince Edward Island, Island Investment Development Inc.

Central Canada

Ontario

• Burlington Economic Development Corporation
• Invest Brampton
• Invest in Hamilton
• City of Mississauga
• Communitech Corporation
• Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
• Government of Ontario, Labour, Training and Skills Development – Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
• Government of Ontario, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade – Ontario Investment Office
• Invest Ottawa
• Kingston Economic Development Corporation
• London Economic Development Corporation
• MaRS Discovery District
• Regional Municipality of Niagara
• York Region
• Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
• Toronto Global
• Town of Oakville
• Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation
• Invest Windsor Essex

Quebec

• Canadian Economic Development for Quebec Regions

For other designated referral partners located in Quebec for the Global Talent Stream, employers from Quebec are invited to consult Quebec’sministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI)website (French only).

Western Canada

Alberta

• Calgary Economic Development
• Edmonton Metropolitan Region Economic Development Companya.k.aEdmonton Global
• Government of Alberta, Alberta Labour and Immigration

British Columbia

• Accelerate Okanagan
• BC Tech Association
• Government of British Columbia, Ministry Municipal Affairs
• Kootenay Association for Science & Technology
• Launch Academy
• Vancouver Economic Commission
• Venture Kamloops

Manitoba

• Economic Development Winnipeg
• Government of Manitoba, Manitoba Education and Training
• Tech Manitoba

Saskatchewan

• Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of Immigration and Career Training

Employers should note that applications to Category A cannot be processed untilESDChas confirmed that a designated referral partner has submitted a referral vouching for the employer’s legitimacy and eligibility for Category A of the Stream.

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/global-talent/requirements.html

• My application
• Visit
• Immigrate
• Work
• Study
• Citizenship
• New immigrants
• Canadians
• Refugees and asylum
• Enforcement and violations
• Most requested
  • Sign in or create an account to apply online
  • Check your application status
  • Check application processing times
  • Find an application form
  • Pay your fees
  • Find out if you need an eTA or a visa to visit Canada
  • Have questions? Find answers in the Help Centre

• https://nrc.canada.ca/en/support-technology-innovation

GTS Candian Visa

Program requirements for the Global Talent Stream

Eligibility for the Global Talent Stream

You may be eligible for Category A of the Global Talent Stream if you have been referred to the Global Talent Stream by one ofthe Stream's designated partnersand if you are hiringan individual with unique and specialized talent.

Note that if the requested occupation is included on theGlobal Talent Occupations List, it will be processed as a Category B application and must meet Category B requirements.

Or

You may be eligible for Category B of the Global Talent Stream if you are seeking to hire highly-skilled foreign workers to fill positions in in-demand occupations found on theGlobal Talent Occupations List. A referral is not required to be eligible for Category B.

As an employer applying through the Global Talent Stream, you must comply with the Program requirements for the Global Talent Stream. You must also uphold the conditions and rules set out in theImmigration and Refugee Protection Regulationsand theImmigration and Refugee Protection Actregarding hiring a temporary foreign worker.

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program has measures in place to verify and ensureemployers' compliancewith these requirements, and employers who fail to do so will be subject to consequences for non-compliance.

Processing fee

You must pay $1,000 for each position requested under the Global Talent Stream to cover the cost of processing your application.

• The processing fee payment (in Canadian dollars) can be made by:
  • Visa
  • MasterCard
  • American Express
  • Certified cheque (shall be made payable to the Receiver General for Canada)
  • Money Order (shall be made payable to the Receiver General for Canada)
  • Bank draft (shall be made payable to the Receiver General for Canada)
• The processing fee will not be refunded if your application is withdrawn at your request, cancelled or if your application receives a negative assessment. Refunds are issued only if a fee was collected in error
• The processing feecannotbe paid bynor berecoveredfromthe temporary foreign workers.

Recruitment feesThere may be a variety of fees and costs incurred in the process of recruiting temporary foreign workers, including but not limited to:

• cost of using a third-party representative
• advertising fees
• fees paid by a foreign national for assistance with finding or securing employment
• fees paid by an employer for assistance or advice in the hiring of foreign nationals

As an employer, you must confirm and ensure that you or anybody recruiting on your behalf does not charge or recover any recruitment fees, directly or indirectly, from the temporary foreign workers. Failure to do so will result in a negative LMIA decision.

Third-party representativesUse of a third-party representative

If you choose to use the services of a third-party representative (paid or unpaid), you must complete the third-party information sections of the application.

You must not recover the costs for the services of a paid representative from the temporary foreign worker. The third-party representative also cannot demand or recover the processing fee or other costs related to recruiting from the TFW.

We may communicate directly with you to verify information provided on the application form from the third-party representative and to complete the Labour Market Benefits Plan as it will include commitments that are employer specific.

Wewill not mediatea dispute between you and a third-party representative nor communicate complaints to a regulatory body on your behalf.

If you have a complaint about your third-party representative, there are ways toget help.

Paid third-party representatives

You may choose to ask a third-party representative to act on your behalf when seeking to use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to hire a temporary foreign worker. A paid representative must be authorized to collect a fee or to receive any other type of payment to act on your behalf or to advise you in the application process. An authorized third-party representative is:

• a member in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society or students-at-law under their supervision, or theChambre des notaires du Québec
• a paralegal in the Province of Ontario's law society
• a member in good standing of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council

Unpaid third-party representatives

An unpaid representative can also assist you but is not authorized to collect a fee or to receive any other type of payment for rendering services. An unpaid representative can be a:

• family member
• friend
• not-for-profit group
• religious organization

Recruiters

A recruiter or anybody recruiting for the employer is someone who:

• finds or attempts to find an individual for employment with the employer, or
• assists another person in finding or attempting to find an individual for employment with the employer, or
• refers a foreign national to another person who finds or attempts to find an individual for employment with the employer

Some provinces and territories have specific requirements for recruiters and recruitment activities. It is your responsibility to ensure you comply with those requirements. As an employer, you are also responsible for the actions of anyone who recruits on your behalf.

New employers

Employers who have not employed a temporary foreign worker in the past 6 years prior to submitting a LMIA application will be subject to a review. The employer must demonstrate that they made reasonable efforts to provide aworkplace that is free of abuseand that they were not anaffiliateof an employer who is ineligible for the TFW Program or in default of any amount payable in respect of an administrative monetary penalty.

Aworkplace that is free of abuseincludes

1. proactive efforts made to prevent workplace abuse
2. reactive measures taken to stop abuse

Anaffiliateincludes an employer that is controlled by another employer

1. 2 employers that are under common control; or
2. employers that are not operated at arm’s length

Business legitimacy

All employers applying to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) must supply documents along with their Labour Market Impact Assessment application, including a Global Talent Stream application, to demonstrate that theirbusiness and job offer are legitimate.

Labour Market Benefits Plan

You are required to work with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to develop a Labour Market Benefits Plan that demonstrates your commitment to activities that will have lasting, positive impacts on the Canadian labour market.A Labour Market Benefits Plan will help you and the Government of Canada identify and track your overall job creation, skills and training investments that will benefit the Canadian economy through your employment of highly-skilled global talent.The commitments in your Labour Market Benefits Plan will be divided into mandatory and complementary benefits.If you have been referred by 1 of theGlobal Talent Stream’s designated partnersand are seeking to hireunique and specialized talent(Category A), you must commit to creating jobs for Canadians and permanent residents as your mandatory benefit.

If you are an employer in Canada seeking to hire highly-skilled foreign workers to fill positions in occupations on theGlobal Talent Occupations List(Category B), you must commit to increasing skills and training investments for Canadians and permanent residents as your mandatory benefit.

In addition to the applicable mandatory benefit for Category A or B in your Labour Market Benefits Plan, you must also commit in the Plan to achieving a minimum of 2 complementary benefits with at least 1 activity for each benefit. The complementary benefits identified by an employer in their Plan cannot be the same as the mandatory benefit.

Complementary benefits, could include, but are not limited to job creation, investment in skills and training, transferring knowledge to Canadians and permanent residents, enhanced company performance and implementing best practices or policies as an employer for your workforce.

If you are applying for positions in both Category A and Category B, you must commit to 1 activity as part of the job creation benefit and 1 activity as part of the investments in skills and training benefit, as well as at least 2 complementary benefits.

Activities to support mandatory and complementary benefits outlined in an employer’s Labour Market Benefits Plan could include, but are not limited to:

• increasing the number of Canadians and permanent residents employed full-time and part-time by the employer
• establishing or enhancing educational partnerships with local or regional post-secondary institutes or with other organizations that are supporting skills and training (for example, providing post-secondary institutes with free licenses or other access to specialized software that will help to build student skills on key industry tools)
• providing paid co-op or internship opportunities for Canadians and permanent residents at the firm
• developing, implementing or participating in initiatives that increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the workplace, (for example, hosting and/or attending events that support the professional development and/or hiring of underrepresented groups in the labour market and women in high-skilled technical and/or leadership roles at the firm)
• providing direct training to Canadians or permanent residents, including supporting employees to travel to and attend industry or industry sector conferences relevant to the development of their specialized skillset
• ensuring that the highly skilled foreign workers directly supervise and mentor Canadian workers at the firm to support knowledge transfer;
• increasing growth of revenue, employment or investment at the firm
• developing or improving best company practices or policies related to attraction/retention of Canadian workforce (for example, by supporting code sprints and hackathons to hire new employees); and
• developing or enhancing partnerships with organizations that assist with the identification of top domestic capital

ESDCwill work with you to complete the Labour Market Benefits Plan during the Global Talent Stream application process.Note:The Global Talent Stream encourages employers to commit to “Increase Diversity in the Workplace” through their Labour Market Benefit Plan.”In today’s global market, supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce is key.It increases innovation and helps businesses attract and retain the best global talent.It also ensures that all Canadians have equal access to opportunities.Employers who have already committed to “Increase Diversity in the Workplace” have performed a variety of activities. For example, they have:developed recruiting plans to target people from underrepresented groupsparticipated in professional development events for underrepresented groupscreated groups within their organizations related to diversity and/or underrepresented groupsPlease see our Applicant Guide for more ways to support an “Increase Diversity in the Workplace” commitment in your Plan.If you already have an approved Labour Market Benefits Plan and are submitting another application to the Global Talent Stream for additional position(s), you will not have to submit a new Labour Market Benefits Plan; however updates or additions to your existing Plan may be required.As part of this review, you could be asked to provide an update on your commitments to date in the Labour Market Benefits Plan. You could also be asked to amend or expand existing commitments to reflect your request for additional position(s). This will help ensure that returning employers to the Global Talent Stream continue to provide positive lasting benefits for Canadian workers. Please note that a decision by a returning employer not to amend their Labour Market Benefits Plan on request byESDCofficials could result in a negative assessment for the additional requested position(s).If you anticipate applying to the Global Talent Stream for multiple temporary foreign workers over a 12-month period, a Labour Market Benefits Plan can be developed based on the forecasted number of positions to be requested, provided that the commitments made in your Plan reflect the additional positions sought. If you andESDCofficials agree to use this model, you will likely not have to update your Plan each time you return to the Stream until your forecast has been met. Note that this applies only to the Labour Market Benefits Plan element of the application process, as you are still required to submit an application each time you wish to access the Stream.As noted under the Processing Fee section of the Program Requirements for the Global Talent Stream, processing fees for an application will not be refunded in the event of withdrawal or a negative assessment, or for choosing to go through a different Temporary Foreign Worker Program stream.Progress ReviewsProgress Reviews of your Labour Market Benefits Plan are separate and distinct from measures to ensure yourcomplianceas an employer with the requirements and conditions of hiring a temporary foreign worker.

Progress Reviews of your Plan will be conducted byESDCon an annual basis to assess how well you are meeting the employer-specific commitments detailed in your Plan. The annual Reviews are your opportunity to report on the progress that your company is making in creating lasting, positive impacts on the Canadian labour market.

Your cooperation and responsiveness withESDCin regards to scheduling and conducting these Progress Reviews (including providing supporting documentation) is important to ensuring your continued eligibility for the Global Talent Stream.If you do not make reasonable efforts to meet your Plan commitments, or complete your Progress Review within the requested timeframe, you will likely receive a negative decision on future applications to the Global Talent Stream for a period of two years. The 2-year period, during which applications to the Global Talent Stream would generally result in a negative decision, is to begin on the date that the employer is evaluated as having made unreasonable efforts on their Labour Market Benefits Plan. This Progress Review assessment of your Labour Market Benefits Plans will not impact your access to other Program Streams.Of note, you will be accountable for the benefits committed to in your employer-specific Labour Market Benefits Plan even if a foreign national that you hired for a position under the Global Talent Stream becomes a permanent resident of Canada while working in your organization.The first Progress Review of your Labour Market Benefits Plan will be scheduled approximately 1 year after you sign your Plan. The Review date for your first Progress Review does not change even if you make amendments to your Labour Market Benefits Plan through subsequent Global Talent Stream applications for additional foreign workers. The Review date also does not change depending on when your foreign worker is issued a work permit.Recruitment and advertisementWhile there is no minimum recruitment requirement for the Global Talent Stream, you are encouraged to recruit Canadians and permanent residents before offering a job to a temporary foreign worker. You will be asked, as part of your application to describe any recruitment efforts conducted.WagesWages offered to temporary foreign workers should be similar to wages paid to Canadian and permanent resident employees hired for the same job and work location, and with similar skills and years of experience.For the purpose of the Global Talent Stream, you must pay the prevailing wage which is defined as the highest of either:the regional median hourly wage posted onJob Bank

• the wage that is within the wage range that you are paying your current employees hired for the same job and work location, and with the same skills and years of experience
• under Category A, for the first 2 unique and specialized positions requested by an employer and approved by the TFW Program per calendar year, at least $38.46 per hour that amounts to no less than a base salary of $80,000 annually. For any additional unique and specialized positions requested by the employer (in other words, more than 2) and approved by the TFW Program per calendar under Category A, at least $72.11 per hour that amounts to no less than a base salary of $150,000 annually
• under Category B, for occupations with wage floors, employers must offer the hourly wage rate at minimum. Annual wage floors are provided for illustrative purposes only

To determine the median wage on Job Bank:

• go toCompare wages on Job Bank(Wage updates take place during the week of November 14, 2022)
• in the “Job search” field, enter the job title or theNational Occupations Classification (NOC) Codethat best describes the duties and requirements of the position
• the hourly median wage will be listed in the middle column, by community or area. If the median wage is listed as "N/A", consult the provincial or territorial wage. If it is not available, consult the national wage

The temporary foreign workers wages must be reviewed and adjusted, when applicable, at least annually, to ensure they continue to receive the prevailing wage for the occupation and region where they are employed.

If the position requires additional skills and years of experience over the applicableNOCdescription, the wages offered should reflect these additional requirements.

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/global-talent/requirements.html

Job duties and working conditions

The temporary foreign workers you hired through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program must only perform duties that correspond to the occupation they were hired for.

Canadian law protects all workers in Canada, including temporary foreign workers. The exploitation of temporary foreign workers is considered a violation of Canadian laws and human rights.

Employers must:

• pay TFWs for all work (including overtime, where required by law)
• provide workplace safety insurance
• offer TFWs the same benefits as other workers, and
• not take the TFWs identification

Employment in most occupations is covered under provincial or territorial legislation that deals with labour and employment standards such as: hours of work, working conditions and termination of employment. In fact, every province or territory has aMinistry of Labourthat can provide information to assist employers and TFWs with questions or issues related to work.

Health insurance

In applicable provinces/territories (P/Ts), you must obtain and pay for private health insurance that covers emergency medical care for any period during which the TFW is not covered by the applicable P/T health insurance system.

The coverage the employer purchases must correspond with the TFWs’ first day of work in Canada and the costs must not be recovered from the TFWs.

During an employer inspection, an ESDC/SC inspector will look at the policy coverage to make sure that it has not been charged back to the worker, and that it covers at minimum the costs of basic emergency health care for sudden illness or injuries during the period the TFW is not covered by the P/T health insurance. Some private insurance companies offer more comprehensive plans, but ESDC will accept a basic plan so long as it ensures that the TFW will not have to pay for medical care if they become sick or have an accident while working in Canada.

To demonstrate compliance, the employer must be able to show proof of payment for suitable private health insurance for each TFW, as well as the terms of the policy coverage (for example, the details of what is covered).

Workplace safety

You must always ensure that the temporary foreign workers you want to hire under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program are covered from the provincial or territorial workplace safety insurance provider, where required by law. Where the provincial or territorial legislation allows employers the flexibility to opt for a private insurance plan, you must ensure that:

• any private plan chosen provides better or the same level of compensation to that offered by a province or territory
• all employees on the worksite are covered by the same provider

If you are enquiring about private insurance plan equivalency, contact the appropriate provincial or territorial workplace safety authority.

The coverage you purchased must correspond with the temporary foreign workers' first day of work in Canada and the costs must not be recovered from the temporary foreign workers.

Employment agreement

Although a copy of employment agreement is not required at the time of LMIA submission, you must commit to providing a completed and signed employment agreement to each foreign worker on or before their first day of work with you. An employment agreement must:

• include information for employment in the same occupation, with the same wages and working conditions as those set out in the offer of employment;
• be drafted in either English or French as preferred by the foreign worker, and
• be signed by both the employer and the foreign worker

You can use this sample employment agreement (under development), or, if you use your own version of an employment agreement, please ensure that it meets all above requirements.

Employers must maintain comprehensive employment records that fully document adherence to the employment agreement throughout the duration of the employment.

For positions in Quebec, please visit the website ofministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI)(French only) for specific requirements regarding the employment contract.

Language of work

English or French are the only languages you can identify as a job requirement in your application and job advertisement. However, if another language is essential for the job, you must provide a justification on the application.

Positions with no language requirement

There may be rare cases where an offer of employment does not require any language for the foreign national.

If there is no language required for the job, you must provide more details on the application, including:

• how the foreign national will perform job duties in an effective and safe manner without the ability to communicate in any language, and
• reasonable measures are in place to ensure health and safety of all persons at the place of work. To demonstrate this, you must also provide applicable and appropriate documentation with your application

Examples of reasonable measures are:

• having translated workplace safety manuals and procedures
• providing work place safety training in the foreign national’s identified language
• using international safety signs that use symbols (pictures)
• having official translators on-site
• and/or employing other workers or supervisors who can speak with the foreign nationals in their identified language

Unionized positions

If you are applying to hire temporary foreign workers for positions covered under a collective agreement, you must:

• advertise and offer the same wage rates as those established under the collective agreement
• offer the temporary foreign workers the same terms and conditions as Canadian and permanent resident workers
• submit a copy of the section of the collective bargaining agreement on the wage structure

The hiring of temporary foreign workersmust notaffect current nor foreseeable labour disputes at the workplace. During LMIA assessment, if it is determined that hiring TFWs is likely to adversely affect the course, the outcome or the settlement of any labour dispute, you will receive a negative LMIA decision.

We recommend that you work actively with union representatives to recruit Canadians and permanent residents.

Employer compliance

As an employer, you must comply with all the Temporary Foreign Worker Program requirements for the position you are requesting. Learn aboutemployer complianceand the possible consequences of non-compliance. The ProgressReviewson your Labour Market Benefits Plan under the Global Talent Stream are separate and distinct from these employer compliance measures.

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/global-talent/requirements.html