Specific Immigration Measures Targeting Talented Individuals Revealed

The Government of Canada has been clear regarding its focus on attracting talented individuals to Canada. Now, multiple programs have been unveiled that will fulfill the government’s goal.

International Talent Attraction Strategy

In early December 2025, the Government of Canada announced a new initiative to recruit world-leading researchers to Canada as part of Canada’s international talent attraction strategy. This strategy is indicative of Canada’s resolve to attract highly talented individuals to the country. 

The new initiative will result in the creation of three new streams to welcome and retain those the Canadian Government refers to as leading international researchers into Canada. Individuals advancing world-leading research in critical fields are to be targeted, with the goal of delivering direct economic, societal, and health benefits to Canadians. 

Over the next 12 years, the plan is to invest over $1.7 billion to attract and support over 1,000 leading international and expatriate researchers. Four different streams are being created as part of the initiative. The streams are all under the Canada Impact+ category and include the Research Chairs program, Emerging Leaders program, Research Infrastructure Fund, and Research Training Awards. The Research Infrastructure Fund will help institutions cover expenses related to the intake of new researchers and has been allocated $400 million to ensure that the recruited research chairs and early-career researchers have the facilities they need to accomplish their goals.

The other streams fund research projects and the individuals who will contribute to those projects. Each stream is different, and each is to receive varying levels of funding.

Research Chairs Program

The largest allocation of funding will be made to the Research Chairs program, as $1 billion has been appropriated to the program. As part of the program, around 100 researchers will be funded over the next 12 years. Individuals cannot apply directly to the program. Instead, institutions apply on behalf of individuals. Unlike other Canadian immigration programs, where the timing of application is paramount, the Research Chairs Program operates as a competition, where the government evaluates applications against one another to determine who will be accepted. 

Nominees are eligible to receive either $1 million per year or $500,000 per year over eight years. There is further potential for a 4-year extension at the end of the initial award value. Extensions will be determined based on an external review in year 7 of the award. To receive the extension, the Canadian Government requires clear, tangible evidence of the knowledge translation, commercialization, or policy impact of the research, as well as the identification of sustained partnerships with industry, government, academic, or not-for-profit organizations. 

There are two registration deadlines. The first registration deadline is March 1, 2026, and the second is June 15, 2026. To be considered for the program, nominees must meet specific criteria. Nominees to the program must be internationally based. This means they have to be working and residing outside of Canada at the time of the first intake deadline. They must also be appointable as full or associate professors. Additionally, they must secure a full-time faculty position in Canada within 12 months of accepting the award.

Coming to Canada Under the Research Chairs Program

Currently, no new visa class is available for this program. A specific class may be instituted in the future; however, it appears that those accepted through this program can enter Canada under the International Mobility Program category for academics. After being hired through this program, applicants can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for an employer-specific work permit. 

Under this classification, applicants will be considered high-skilled workers. This should allow them to bring their spouses and some other dependents to Canada to join them, and spouses and some dependents would be eligible for work permits.

Emerging Leaders

The Emerging Leaders program will receive $120 million over a 12-year period. Nominees for the Emerging Leaders category are eligible for $100,000 per year for a duration of six years. There is the possibility of a six-year extension available at the end of the term, with the same yearly award value, and a similar review process to the Research Chairs Program. Nominations for the Emerging Leaders program will be used to recruit international early-career researchers.

Much like the Research Chair program, the Emerging Leaders program is a competition-based initiative. Furthermore, it is similar in that individuals do not apply directly; instead, institutions apply on their behalf, and the applications are compared for nomination. 

The Emerging Leaders program will only begin to issue awards after the Research Chairs program has nominated a chair, as emerging leaders are to be nominated under that chair. The registration deadlines are the same as the Research Chairs program. The Emerging Leaders program requires nominees to be in an independent program of research while holding a tenure-track position, be internationally based (working and residing outside of Canada), and they must be able to start full-time at their Canadian institution within 12 months of chair acceptance. 

Coming to Canada as an Emerging Leader

Emerging Leaders must have a likely pathway to Canada. There is no specific visa for this program. To come to Canada, Emerging Leaders should be able to apply for work permits in the same way as nominees in the Research Chairs program, that is, by applying for an employer-specific work permit.

Research Training Awards

The Research Training Awards program will receive $133.6 million in funding over a three-year period. This is a one-time initiative at the moment, which means there is no option for renewal, unlike the other two programs. Through the Research Training Awards Program, 600 doctoral scholarships and 400 postdoctoral research awards will be provided. Doctoral scholarships are valued at $40,000 per year for a period of three years, and postdoctoral research awards are valued at $70,000 per year for a period of two years.

Awards are available in eight priority research areas. The areas the awards are available in are Advanced digital technologies (AI, quantum, cybersecurity), health, including biotechnology, clean technology and resource value chains, environment, climate resilience, and the Arctic, food and water security, democratic and community resilience, manufacturing and advanced materials, and defence and dual-use technologies. All awards that are part of the Research Training Awards must be activated by March 31, 2027. After this date, no awards will be available. Nominees for the program must not have a current affiliation with a Canadian institution and must be studying or working abroad. Doctoral students will require admission to a Canadian PhD program and a study permit. PhD study permit applications will receive expedited 14-day processing. Postdoctoral awardees will need employer-specific work permits.

Overall, these programs should help attract talented individuals to Canada and provide the country with a robust amount of scientific research and development, through which Canada’s economy and society can continue to advance.

Contact Garson Immigration Law for Advice on Immigrating to Canada as a Talented Individual

The immigration lawyers at Garson Immigration Law assist clients with a wide range of Canadian immigration matters. The firm is committed to providing clear and reliable guidance, working closely with individuals and families seeking to build a future in Canada. By taking a careful, client-focused approach, the team helps applicants navigate the immigration process and strengthen their chances of a successful outcome.

Garson Immigration Law develops effective, pragmatic solutions for clients in all aspects of immigration matters, including permanent residence, citizenship, and U.S. immigration. For a confidential consultation on your immigration matter, please contact us online or call us at 416-321-2860.