On this page you will find:
- How Canada has reduced its Global Talent Stream referral network
- The full list of 28 current Category A referral partners
- Why employers need a designated referral partner
- What businesses need to qualify for Category A
- Who qualifies as unique and specialized talent
- How Category A differs from Category B
Canada has reduced the number of organizations that can refer innovative companies to Category A of the Global Talent Stream, narrowing the network employers can use to access highly specialized foreign workers.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) published its revised list of designated referral partners on September 15, 2026.
The current list contains 28 designated partners across Canada.
The change matters because employers cannot apply directly to Category A simply because they need highly specialized foreign talent. A company must first secure a referral from an organization designated by ESDC.
Referral partners effectively act as gatekeepers to Category A. They assess innovative Canadian companies and vouch for their legitimacy and eligibility before they can apply to hire a foreign worker through the stream.
Employers that previously planned to seek a referral should therefore check whether the organization they intended to approach remains on the current list.
Which Organizations Can Refer Global Talent Stream Category A Employers?
ESDC’s September 15 list contains 28 designated referral partners.
The organizations range from federal and provincial government bodies to regional economic development agencies and organizations that support innovative Canadian companies.
The current designated referral partners are:
Pan-Canadian And Ontario
- 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 Hamilton
- Invest Ottawa
- Invest Sudbury
- Invest Windsor-Essex
- Kingston Economic Development Corporation
- London Economic Development Corporation
- MaRS Discovery District
- Ontario East Economic Development Commission
- Regional Municipality of York
- Toronto Global
- Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation
Quebec
- Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
- Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration
Alberta
- Calgary Economic Development
- Edmonton Metropolitan Region Economic Development Company – Edmonton Global
- Government of Alberta
British Columbia
- Accelerate Okanagan
- BC Tech Association
- Metro Vancouver Regional District – Invest Vancouver
- Venture Kamloops
Manitoba
- Economic Development Winnipeg
- Government of Manitoba, Labour and Immigration, Employer Services
Northwest Territories
- Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment
Saskatchewan
- Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of Immigration and Career Training
Employers should consult ESDC’s current list before pursuing a Category A application rather than relying on an organization that may previously have been able to make referrals.
Why Does The Reduction In Referral Partners Matter?
Category A of the Global Talent Stream differs from a conventional Labour Market Impact Assessment application because employers need the backing of a designated organization before they can apply.
A referral partner must assess the company and confirm that it meets the program’s requirements.
This makes the size and composition of the referral network important.
Reducing the number of designated organizations does not close Category A or change its fundamental eligibility requirements. However, it leaves companies with fewer organizations authorized to provide the referral they need to access the stream.
An application submitted under Category A without the required referral form is considered incomplete and will not be processed.
Each temporary foreign worker requested under Category A also requires a separate completed referral form.
What Is Global Talent Stream Category A?
The Global Talent Stream operates through Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program and provides qualifying employers with expedited access to highly skilled foreign workers.
It has two categories.
Category A targets innovative companies that need unique and specialized foreign talent to help them scale up and grow.
Category B allows employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers for positions included on Canada’s Global Talent Occupations List.
The critical difference is that Category A requires a referral from an organization designated by ESDC. Category B does not require a referral.
An employer seeking to use Category A must also have already identified the foreign worker it wants to hire.
What Does A Global Talent Stream Referral Partner Do?
A referral partner does more than direct an employer towards the Global Talent Stream.
The organization must be able to vouch for the company’s legitimacy and confirm that it meets the requirements for Category A.
The referral partner must validate that the company:
- Operates in Canada
- Focuses on innovation
- Wants and has the capacity to grow or scale up
- Needs to fill a unique and specialized position
- Has identified a qualified temporary foreign worker for that position
The employer must submit a referral form completed by the designated partner as part of its Category A application.
This means employers cannot bypass the referral network and apply directly to Service Canada under Category A.
Who Qualifies As Unique And Specialized Talent?
Category A is not designed as a general route for employers seeking to fill ordinary job vacancies.
The position must require unique and specialized talent.
For the first two Category A positions approved for an employer in a calendar year, the worker must receive at least $38.46 per hour and an annual base salary of at least $80,000, or the prevailing wage for the occupation if it is higher.
The position must also require advanced industry knowledge and either an advanced degree in an area of specialization relevant to the employer, at least five years of specialized experience, or a combination that satisfies the program requirements.
ESDC says an innovative company qualifying for Category A should generally seek to fill only a very limited number of these positions – typically one or two per year – because very few workers should possess the required unique skill set.
Can An Employer Hire More Than Two Workers Under Category A?
ESDC can consider more than two Category A referrals for the same innovative company in a calendar year, but only in exceptional circumstances.
For each additional position, the designated referral partner must reconfirm that the employer meets Category A requirements and provide an assessment of the additional unique and specialized position.
The wage requirement also increases significantly.
For additional Category A positions beyond the first two approved in a calendar year, the employer must offer at least $72.11 per hour and an annual base salary of at least $150,000, or the prevailing wage if it is higher.
ESDC says there is no flexibility in applying this wage requirement to additional Category A positions.
How Is Category A Different From Category B?
Both categories form part of the Global Talent Stream, but employers qualify in different ways.
Category A focuses on innovative companies seeking a limited number of workers with unique and specialized skills. A designated organization must refer the employer.
Category B does not require a referral. Instead, the employer must seek to hire a highly skilled temporary foreign worker for a position included on Canada’s Global Talent Occupations List.
If an occupation appears on that list, ESDC processes the application under Category B rather than Category A.
The September reduction in referral partners therefore affects access specifically to Category A rather than the entire Global Talent Stream.
Employers Must Create A Labour Market Benefits Plan
Employers using the Global Talent Stream must work with ESDC to develop a Labour Market Benefits Plan.
The plan sets out commitments designed to produce lasting positive effects on Canada’s labour market.
For Category A employers, the mandatory benefit is creating jobs for Canadians and permanent residents.
Employers must also make commitments to complementary benefits. These can include investing in skills and training, transferring knowledge to Canadian workers, creating additional jobs or developing partnerships with educational institutions.
ESDC conducts progress reviews to assess whether employers are meeting the commitments contained in their plans.
How Fast Is The Global Talent Stream?
Speed is one of the main features of the Global Talent Stream.
Service Canada aims to process complete Global Talent Stream LMIA applications within 10 business days in 80 per cent of cases.
Foreign workers with a positive Category A or Category B Global Talent Stream LMIA can also qualify for priority work permit processing under Canada’s Global Skills Strategy.
However, employers and workers should treat processing targets as service standards rather than guarantees. Actual processing can take longer.
What Does The Smaller Referral Network Mean For Employers?
The reduction in designated referral partners does not prevent eligible innovative companies from using Category A.
However, employers now have fewer organizations through which they can obtain the referral required to apply.
Businesses that have previously worked with a referral organization – or were planning to approach one – should first establish whether that organization remains on ESDC’s current list.
They should also determine whether Category A is the appropriate part of the Global Talent Stream for the position they want to fill.
If it is, securing the support of a currently designated referral partner remains an essential first step.
Without a valid referral, Service Canada will not process a Category A application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Canada closed Global Talent Stream Category A?
No. Category A remains available to qualifying innovative Canadian companies seeking unique and specialized foreign talent. However, Canada has reduced its network of designated referral partners. Employers must obtain a referral from an organization on ESDC’s current list before submitting a Category A application.
How many Global Talent Stream Category A referral partners are there?
ESDC’s September 15, 2026 list contains 28 designated referral partners. They include federal and provincial government organizations, economic development bodies and organizations supporting innovative Canadian companies. Employers should check the current federal list before approaching an organization for a referral.
Why does a Category A employer need a referral?
A designated referral partner must assess the company and vouch for its legitimacy and eligibility. The company must operate in Canada, focus on innovation, have the capacity to grow or scale up and need a foreign worker for a unique and specialized position.
What is the difference between Category A and Category B?
Category A targets innovative companies that need unique and specialized foreign talent and requires a referral from an ESDC-designated organization. Category B covers employers hiring highly skilled workers for occupations on the Global Talent Occupations List and does not require a designated referral partner.
Can an employer apply under Category A without a referral?
No. Employers must submit a referral form completed by a currently designated referral partner. A separate completed referral form is required for each temporary foreign worker requested under Category A. Service Canada considers applications without the required referral form incomplete and will not process them.