The Canadian government provides a variety of immigration alternatives for tech workers who want to move to Canada because the country’s tech sector is expanding rapidly and needs professionals to keep up with demand.
Federal Route to Immigration to Canada
In Canada, immigration refers to securing permanent residence. Because it offers a straight road to permanent residency, aspirants favor Canada. Any prospective applicant who wishes to secure permanent residence in Canada must create an online Express Entry profile. Then, using a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), all the registered profiles are evaluated and ranked by the immigration department of Canada i.e. IRCC.
These profiles are scored out of 1200 possible points, on the basis of the human capital standards of both, the primary and secondary applicants (i.e. spouse), which include:
Both the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Canada Express Entry are open to tech employees. Since 2021, the count of profiles invited by Canada to apply for immigration via these programs also increased to the peak seeing the demand.
Up until recently, the FSWP was the primary source of foreign skilled immigrants to Canada without a job offer. Then, IRCC made the decision to concentrate on inviting solely CEC & PNP candidates. Most, CEC profiles were those of recent graduates from overseas institutions who were qualified to apply for permanent residency since they had at least one year of work experience in Canada.
You can apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to be eligible for permanent residency after getting provincial nominations from any of the provincial streams listed below. The most popular Canada PR alternatives are the provincial routes.
Provincial candidates who have current Express Entry profiles received an additional 600 points on top of their typical Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. With this, applicants for Canada permanent residency may be assured a spot in subsequent Express Entry draws that are tailored to the PNP.
These are some well-liked PNPs for tech professionals from other countries who desire to live permanently in Canada:
1. Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream
For international IT workers without a job offer in Canada, Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities immigration stream is a fantastic choice. Every so often, the stream runs targeted tech draws where they directly invite tech employees from the Express Entry pool.
The difficulty with this stream is that IT employees must first receive an invitation from the government to apply. Every time there is a tech drawing, Ontario chooses a targeted CRS range to decide which candidates will get a Notice of Interest (NOI). Everyone who receives an NOI has 45 days from the date of notification to apply for.
2. British Columbia PNP Tech
Candidates having a job offer from BC in one of 27 prioritized tech occupations can apply more quickly through British Columbia’s PNP Tech program. Tech employees must meet the requirements of one of BC’s skill-based immigration streams to be eligible. This program has the advantage that a Labour Market Impact Assessment is not necessary (LMIA). Instead, the British Columbian government may grant successful candidates a “letter of support” that can be used to apply for a work permit in Canada.
3. Alberta’s accelerated tech pathway
Some computer experts with job offers from Alberta can take advantage of an accelerated route to permanent residency under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). Candidates for this program must have an offer of employment in one of the 37 tech-related jobs or with an employer in one of Alberta’s designated tech sectors.
The Express Entry stream in Alberta is how this program is run. To apply for this track, individuals must meet the requirements for AINP’s Express Entry stream.
Like BC, Alberta’s Accelerated Tech Pathway provides letters of support to qualified candidates that can be used to apply for a work permit instead of going through the drawn-out LMIA procedure.
4. Quebec Immigration
The Quebec government introduced a test immigration program that helps some IT employees in April 2021. Under the pilot program, international workers in specific tech fields are allowed to relocate permanently to Quebec. Artificial intelligence Information Technologies and Visual Effects are the two streams of the pilot program.
Two groups of tech experts are the focus of Quebec’s artificial intelligence stream: graduates from Quebec colleges and universities and workers with international training. Although international workers who have appropriate work experience in Quebec are not required to obtain a job offer from Quebec, graduates from Quebec must. Candidates for the stream must also have relevant education that at the very least equates to a bachelor’s degree from Quebec.
The information technology (IT) and visual effects stream seek candidates with backgrounds in one of ten specific professions. Within the last 10 years, at least two years of work experience in this field must have been accomplished. Applicants for this stream must either already be employed in their field in Quebec or have a job offer there. Also, candidates must have completed coursework leading to a Quebec bachelor’s degree or a Quebec certification of technical training. This stream’s eligible professions include:
Both streams demand that candidates be at least 18 years old, want to live and work in Quebec, abide by the terms of their work permit while there, and exhibit financial independence.
Applicants can apply using the “Francization” profile if they do not speak French. Some applicants are required to sign a contract promising to study French once they arrive in Quebec in place of providing proof of their French competence. Immigrants can take advantage of free language classes in Quebec to aid in their integration.
5. Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway
A unique provincial pathway for Canada PR for tech talent has just been introduced in Saskatchewan.
Candidates must have at least one year of relevant job experience from the previous five years, or six months of work experience in the province, to be eligible. The Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) scale ranges from 5 to 7 depending on the circumstances.
6. Temporary Tech Pathway (Global Talent Stream)
The Global Talent Stream is a significant temporary route. Eighty percent of applications will be processed through this approach in two weeks or less. Businesses utilize it to quickly hire highly qualified personnel. Employers who meet the requirements can fall under Category A or B.
Companies in Category A are those that are expanding swiftly and want foreign workers with specialized skills. A referral partner must give the go-ahead to a Category A employer. This is typically a local, governmental, or semi-governmental organization whose goal is to promote economic growth in a city or region.
Employers looking for specifically skilled employees that Canada has identified as being in short supply but in demand fall under Category B.
7. Career Prospects in Canada
Due to a shortage of skilled workers, Canada’s career prospects provide excellent earning potential over the next five to 10 years. Statistics Canada reports that in the third quarter of 2021, there were 912,600 job opportunities across the country, which is a record high. The openings in Canada are broken down by province in the table below.
Provinces | Vacancy rate | Unfilled jobs |
---|---|---|
Quebec | 4.10% | 117,700 |
British Columbia | 3.70% | 67,100 |
Ontario | 3.30% | 167,900 |
New Brunswick | 2.70% | 6,300 |
Manitoba | 2.60% | 11,300 |
Nova Scotia | 2.60% | 7,900 |
Alberta | 2.60% | 41,800 |
Saskatchewan | 2.00% | 6,900 |
Prince Edward Island | 1.50% | 700 |
Newfoundland & Labrador | 1.30% | 2,100 |
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