Canada Outlines Fast Track Visa for Growing and Major Companies

The Finance Minister of Canada, Bill Morneau, outlined his department's efforts in assisting local businesses to access and retain highly skilled foreign workers that are not available in Canada. The new plan is to allow highly skilled foreign workers to obtain visas and work permits and have their applications processed within a two week standard processing time.

This expedited process helps small and growing companies to immediately fill in their job vacancies and remain competitive, compared to the outgoing process of obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment, which averages six months to process from Service Canada.

Other notable changes that are coming is the creation of a 30 day work permit to be spread across the year for companies who need short projects done without having the foreign worker re-apply for a work permit every time they enter Canada.

These changes reflect how IRCC is listening to the business community who are vital in growing Canada's economic foundation, as companies too often lose highly talented workers to other countries due to the long processing times.