The Canadian government has launched its Research Talent Initiative\u2014a new suite of programs that will help the country attract \u201cleading international researchers\u201d to the country.<\/p>\n
As part of this initiative, Canada will launch three new streams to welcome and retain “leading international and expatriate researchers\u201d who can deliver \u201cdirect economic, societal and health benefits for Canadians\u201d.<\/p>\n
Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm These new streams will support the recruitment of international talent in STEM, healthcare, francophone studies, and other fields, who will then arrive in Canada through existing study permit and work permit pathways.<\/p>\n These three new streams are the:<\/p>\n Through these pathways, the Canadian federal government plans to welcome more than 1,000 researchers and will invest up to $1.7 billion CAD over the next decade to support their work and settlement in the country.<\/p>\n These three new streams will target researchers in the following priority areas:<\/p>\n Advanced digital technologies (AI, quantum, cybersecurity); In addition to the above three streams, the government has also launched the Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund to help institutions cover related expenses to the intake of new researchers, such as advanced lab equipment and relevant tools, as well as other research infrastructure costs. The fund will invest $400 million CAD over the next six years.<\/p>\n Canada Impact+ Research Chairs<\/p>\n The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program is a one-time program to welcome and fund roughly 100 world-leading researchers in key priority areas, to the tune of more than one billion dollars over the next 12 years.<\/p>\n Individuals do not apply directly to this program\u2014rather, they are nominated by eligible institutions that apply on their behalf. This stream is run in a competition format, with the government considering different applicants simultaneously and against each other for priority.<\/p>\n Successful nominees can receive between $4-8 million CAD or more over 8-12 years, which will include salary as an eligible expense for the institution that nominates them. In addition, Canadian institutions are explicitly expected under the program to help facilitate and support chairs nominated under this initiative\u2014including settlement supports and immigration assistance.<\/p>\n The first registration deadline under this program is set for March 10, 2026.<\/p>\n Nominees to the program must:<\/p>\n Be internationally based \u2013 both working and residing outside Canada at the first intake deadline; For more information on the program, visit the government\u2019s dedicated webpage<\/a>.<\/p>\n Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm Pathway to Canada<\/p>\n At the time of writing, there is no new visa class announced for chairs in these positions.<\/p>\n As such, eligible foreign nationals through this pathway may enter Canada through the existing International Mobility Program<\/a> (IMP) categories for academics.<\/p>\n Canadian universities are already permitted to hire certain foreign academics without a Labour Market Impact Assessment<\/a> (LMIA)\u2014this includes post-docs, research award recipients, eminent individuals, and visiting professors.<\/p>\n After being hired, these individuals usually then apply to IRCC for a work permit that is employer-specific under the IMP. They then arrive in Canada as a high-skilled worker (Training Education Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) 0 or 1).<\/p>\n As TEER 0\/1 high-skilled foreign workers, chairholders\u2019 spouses and certain dependents should remain eligible for family open work permits<\/a> (OWPs), even under tightened family-OWP rules\u2014meaning that these family members can study and even work in Canada.<\/p>\n Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders<\/p>\n A companion program to the Impact+ Research Chairs stream, the Impact+ Emerging Leaders stream gives institutions $100,000 per year for six years (with the possibility of another six-year term) to recruit international early career researchers (ECRs) into tenure-track roles.<\/p>\n Similar to the Impact+ Research Chairs stream, the program is run in a competition format with eligible institutions applying directly to the program and nominating researchers who meet the nominee criteria. Institutions are similarly expected to provide settlement support and immigration assistance to successful candidates.<\/p>\n The Emerging Leaders stream will only issue awards once the Impact+Research Chair program has nominated a chair, with the idea that the ECRs nominated under the Emerging Leaders program will be anchored to the chair\u2019s department.<\/p>\n The first registration deadline under this program is set for March 10, 2026.<\/p>\n Nominees to this program must:<\/p>\n Be ECRs with an independent program of research, who will hold a tenure-track position at the host university; For more information on the program, visit the government\u2019s dedicated webpage<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pathway to Canada<\/p>\n Eligible nominees under this pathway (who will take up positions as full-time, tenure-track academics in Canada) will likely receive an LMIA-exempt employer-specific work permit, similar to nominees under the Impact+ Research Chairs program.<\/p>\n As with chairs, spouses and certain family members should usually qualify for family OWPs, since the successful nominee (the principal applicant) is high-skilled in a TEER 0\/1 occupation.<\/p>\n Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards (Doctoral & Postdoctoral)<\/p>\n The Impact+ Research Training Awards is a one-time, $133.6 million CAD initiative to fund 600 doctoral students and 400 postdoctoral researchers from outside of Canada for research awards, to entice recruitment to the country.<\/p>\n Award amounts are substantial for each level of funding:<\/p>\n Doctoral: $40,000\/year for 3 years. All awards under this initiative must be activated by March 31, 2027\u2014meaning that after this date, doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers will not be eligible to come to Canada through this stream. The government notes that relocation timing may be affected by immigration processing.<\/p>\n Nominees to this program:<\/p>\n must not have a current affiliation with a Canadian institution, and Doctoral nominees must be admissible to a PhD program at the nominating institution; International students\/postdocs already in Canada are ineligible under this stream.<\/p>\n Pathway to Canada<\/p>\n The government\u2019s official news release clearly stated that there would be no special processing or fast-tracking of applications under these awards.<\/p>\n Nominees must apply for a study permit or work permit through the regular processes as needed, but can benefit from already existing exemptions under Canada\u2019s immigration system:<\/p>\n Doctoral students (PhD) will need admission to a Canadian PhD program plus a study permit.<\/p>\n Postdoctoral awardees will generally come to Canada on LMIA-exempt, employer-specific work permits as post-doctoral fellows or research award recipients.<\/p>\n
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\nHealth, including biotechnology;
\nClean technology and resource value chains;
\nEnvironment, climate resilience, and the Arctic;
\nFood and water security;
\nDemocratic and community resilience;
\nManufacturing and advanced materials; and
\nDefence and dual-use technologies.<\/p>\n
\nBe appointable as full or associate professors (or equivalent if recruited from industry); and
\nTake up a full-time faculty position in Canada within 12 months of accepting the award.<\/p>\n
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\nMust be internationally based\u2014working and residing outside Canada; and
\nMust start full-time at the Canadian institution within 12 months of chair acceptance.
\nLikely immigration pathway to Canada<\/p>\n
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\nPostdoctoral: $70,000\/year for 2 years.<\/p>\n
\nmust currently be studying or working abroad.<\/p>\n
\nPostdoc nominees must be qualified for postdoctoral research.<\/p>\n