There are many Canadians working abroad who wish to move back to Canada. If a Canadian citizen or permanent resident is married or is in a common-law relationship with a non-Canadian, they must sponsor their spouse or partner for Canadian permanent residency if they wish their spouse or partner to reside in Canada. Many spousal sponsorships can take several months to process and the non-Canadian spouse/partner cannot work in Canada during that time.

The Brain Gain pilot project will grant qualifying family members of certain Canadian citizens and permanent residents open work permits once they have arrived in Canada. These open work permits will allow the sponsored spouse/partner to work in any occupation in Ontario while their sponsorship application is being processed. In order to qualify for the program, the Canadian citizen or permanent resident must be returning to work permanently in Ontario in either the health sector or in a post-secondary academic public institution. The Canadian citizen or permanent resident must also have a letter from the Province of Ontario confirming employment and must have already submitted an application to sponsor their spouse/common-law partner for permanent residency. A list of qualifying occupations and other program requirements can be found at the CIC website.

"It's a reverse brain drain," said Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. "We're making it easier for Canadians abroad to bring their skills home and contribute to the Canada of tomorrow. By encouraging highly-skilled workers to come back to Canada, we are laying the foundation for long-term economic growth.”