Canada to Poach H-1B Visa Holders, International Researchers

In a major policy shift balancing innovation and immigration reform, the Canadian government has unveiled the Canada International Talent Strategy 2025, a sweeping initiative aimed at drawing top global researchers and highly skilled professionals, including H-1B visa holders affected by recent U.S. policy changes.

The plan, part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first federal budget, earmarks C$1.7 billion (US$1.2 billion) to recruit over 1,000 elite international researchers, boost the country’s innovation ecosystem, and reinforce its position as a global hub for advanced research and development.

“The expertise of these researchers will help advance our global competitiveness and contribute to the economy of the future,” the budget document emphasized, reflecting Carney’s commitment to transforming Canada’s innovation landscape.

Accelerated Pathway for H-1B Visa Holders

A key highlight of the Canada International Talent Strategy 2025 is the introduction of a fast-track immigration pathway for H-1B visa holders. The move follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to increase H-1B visa fees to $100,000, prompting a surge in demand from skilled professionals seeking alternatives abroad.

The Canadian government plans to launch the new H-1B pathway within months, aiming to attract talent in critical sectors such as healthcare, research, advanced manufacturing, and technology. According to the budget, the initiative seeks to “strengthen Canada’s innovation ecosystem, address labour shortages, and attract top talent across key growth industries.”

Targeted Recruitment of Global Researchers

Under this ambitious plan, Ottawa will implement a one-time recruitment initiative to bring in more than 1,000 international researchers to Canadian universities and research institutions.

The C$1.7 billion funding package is strategically distributed to enhance both human capital and infrastructure:

• C$1 billion over 13 years for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and Canadian Institutes of Health Research under the Accelerated Research Chairs Initiative.

• C$400 million over seven years for the Canada Foundation for Innovation, ensuring world-class research facilities and laboratories.

• C$133.6 million over three years to support international PhD students and post-doctoral fellows relocating to Canada.

• Up to C$120 million over 12 years to help universities hire international assistant professors and emerging academic talent.

These measures are designed to ensure that Canada remains globally competitive in innovation, even as other countries tighten immigration policies.

Tighter Immigration Controls Amid Population Surge

While the Canada International Talent Strategy 2025 aims to attract high-value talent, the government is simultaneously tightening broader immigration controls to manage population growth.

Permanent resident admission targets are set to 380,000 annually between 2026 and 2028, slightly below this year’s 395,000 but still higher than the 365,000 set under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration.

However, temporary resident and study permit numbers will see a sharp reduction. Temporary resident targets will drop to 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 for the following two years—a 40% decrease from 2025 levels.

The biggest cut affects international study permits, which will fall from 437,000 in 2025 to just 150,000 by 2027. The government argues this move will stabilize the education system and housing markets that have come under strain from record population growth.

In response, Universities Canada acknowledged the effort “to build a sustainable immigration system,” but urged the government to “align student policy with its broader economic and talent agenda.”

Boosting Recognition of Foreign Credentials

Recognizing the challenges faced by skilled immigrants in securing employment, the 2025 Budget also introduces a Foreign Credential Recognition Action Fund worth C$97 million over five years beginning in 2026–27.

Managed by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), this initiative will collaborate with provinces and territories to streamline and expedite credential recognition in sectors facing critical labour shortages—especially healthcare and construction.

This reform complements ongoing efforts to modernize the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and improve pathways to permanent residency for skilled professionals.