Hiring internationally trained environmental professionals can be challenging. It takes time to check credentials, and onboarding costs can be high. The ECO Canada Foreign Talent Development program helps Canadian employers by offering a wage subsidy of up to $15,000 per hire. This makes it easier to add global experience to your team.
This guide explains who can apply, how the process works, and what you need to prepare.
The ECO Canada — Foreign Talent Development program is a national wage subsidy for Canadian employers who hire internationally trained environmental professionals into new jobs. The goal is to help newcomers get Canadian work experience while lowering the employer’s payroll costs.
Key funding details:
This is a grant, not a loan. As long as you follow the program rules and reporting, you do not have to pay the money back.
To apply for ECO Canada Foreign Talent Development funding, your business must meet all of these requirements:
The job must be about the environment, like working in energy, climate, or natural resources.
You cannot apply with just any foreign-trained worker. ECO Canada requires that:
Usually, your first step is to connect with ECO Canada’s candidate pool instead of hiring on your own.
Read the job description carefully. The job must be:
You must hire a pre-approved candidate. ECO Canada works with internationally trained professionals who are already checked for the program.
Your application usually includes:
Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you quickly check if this program fits your business before you spend time on paperwork.
If approved, you must:
During the placement, you will:
The program covers wages only.
You get reimbursed after you send in the needed paperwork, so plan your cash flow to cover wages up front.
Most of the time, you cannot get two grants for the same wage costs. You may be able to use other programs if they pay for different expenses or time periods.
Always tell ECO Canada about other funding you receive to avoid problems.
To compare, see Federal vs Provincial Wage Subsidy Programs in Canada: Key Differences.
Hiring before approval
Wages paid before the funding agreement is signed are usually not covered.
Using a non-approved candidate
ECO Canada requires candidates to be pre-approved. Hiring outside their pool can make your application ineligible.
Submitting a vague job description
Jobs must clearly show environmental tasks. General admin or operations jobs are often rejected.
Missing reporting deadlines
Late or incomplete reports can delay or cancel your reimbursement.
Q: How much funding can my business receive?
You can receive up to $15,000, covering a maximum of 75% of eligible wage costs for one placement.
Q: What types of jobs qualify?
Eligible jobs are new, full-time environmental positions lasting 3–6 months, in fields like energy, climate, or natural resources.
Q: Do I need to hire a pre-approved candidate?
Yes. ECO Canada requires all participants to be approved before placement.
Q: Is the ECO Canada wage subsidy taxable?
Wage subsidies are usually treated as business income. Check with your accountant for details.
Q: Can I use this with other wage subsidies?
You cannot get two programs for the same wages. Sometimes, you can use more than one if they pay for different things or time periods, but you must tell ECO Canada.
GrantHub tracks hundreds of active wage subsidy and hiring grant programs across Canada — see which ones fit your business needs.
If you want to hire internationally trained environmental talent, timing and eligibility are important. The ECO Canada Foreign Talent Development program can lower your hiring costs, but only if you follow the rules from the start.
GrantHub helps Canadian employers compare programs like this, check eligibility faster, and avoid costly mistakes — so you can focus on building your team with confidence.
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