Canadian companies attract and obtain work permits for many international tech talents every year due to the increasing demand for tech workers. For many companies, techimmigration is something completely unknown, and the thought of securing Canadian tech visas for their workers seems daunting. This guide will outline everything about Canadian techimmigration to make the international hiring process easier for Canadian and foreign companies planning to open a tech office in the country! One of the key initiatives driving this effort is Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy, which aims to attract and retain top tech professionals through various programs (incl. Innovation Stream) and streamlined processes.
Techimmigration is an immigration practice that involves bringing foreign tech workers to work for companies in Canada. Canada-based technology companies interested in hiring from abroad use techimmigration to reinforce their operations. Besides, foreign tech companies can also benefit from techimmigration by establishing Canadian offices and placing foreign tech workers there.
Canadian companies usually hire skilled workers from abroad for several reasons:
They struggle to find suitable candidates in the domestic tech talent pool;
They want to increase diversity and inclusion with qualified candidates;
They are looking to expand the expertise of their teams; and
Much, much more.
Techimmigration is also used to bring in existing and future staff from your company’s operations in another country to work for your company in Canada – intra-company transfers.
Canada’s tech talent strategy is designed to attract and retain top tech talent from around the world. The strategy focuses on creating a competitive and innovative economy, with a strong emphasis on technology and innovation. The goal is to make Canada a leader in the global tech industry and to create a hub for tech talent and innovation.
The Canadian immigration framework is well-developed to support Canadian companies hiring from abroad. Employers benefit from several immigration programs that allow international employees to secure work permits and work for them in Canada in a relatively short time. One such program is the Global Talent Stream (GTS), which allows employers in Canada to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to support work permit applications for in-demand occupations. These programs are listed below:
Another important pathway is the Innovation Stream under Canada’s International Mobility Program (IMP). This stream allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers without needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), particularly for roles linked to the Global Hypergrowth Project.
The Global Skills Strategy is a key component of Canada’s tech talent strategy. The strategy aims to attract highly skilled foreign workers to Canada, with a focus on the tech industry. The program provides a fast-tracked process for Canadian employers to hire foreign workers, with a processing time of up to six months. The program also provides a dedicated service channel for employers, to help them navigate and manage the process of hiring foreign workers.
Successful applicants can use their nomination to support and advance their permanent residence application, streamlining their path to becoming permanent residents of Canada.
The Start-Up Visa Program is another key component of Canada’s tech talent strategy. The program is designed to attract entrepreneurs and start-ups to Canada, with a focus on the tech industry. The program provides a pathway to permanent residence for entrepreneurs who have a start-up idea, and who have secured funding from a designated organization. The program also provides a work permit for entrepreneurs, to allow them to work on their start-up idea in Canada.
To be eligible for Canada’s tech talent strategy, foreign workers must meet certain requirements. These requirements include:
Having a job offer from a Canadian employer
Meeting the language proficiency requirements
Having the necessary education and work experience
Meeting the requirements of the Express Entry system
Having a valid work permit
Canadian employers must also meet certain technical requirements, including:
Being a designated organization
Having a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exemption
Meeting the requirements of the Global Talent Stream
Canada is a signatory to various Free Trade Agreements (FTA) that allow faster processing times and softened immigration requirements. If you are planning on employing or transferring staff from one of the countries below, you are likely to benefit from an FTA:
USA and Mexico fall under CUSMA FTA, which is the new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA);
Chile falls under the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA);
Peru falls under the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA);
Columbia falls under the Canada-Columbia Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA);
South Korea falls under the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA);
Nationals of EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom fall under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA);
Panama falls under the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement;
Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam fall under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP); and
A national of any WTO-member country in specific occupations would fall under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).
The processing times differ depending on the chosen immigration pathway and range from 10 days to 2 months. It is important to check Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processing times for the most up-to-date information.
One of the most important reasons that some talented foreign professionals choose to work for Canadian employers is the possibility of gaining permanent resident status. It can also be an additional selling point to attract highly valued foreign talent as a Canadian company. After the foreign nationals have at least one year of employment in Canada in the tech industry, the worker can become eligible for the application for permanent residency. To do so, the worker would need to apply to one of the permanent residence programs. The process involves submitting a permanent residence application through one of the designated programs.
Express Entry is a Federal application portal that foreign tech workers can use to express their interest in permanent residency. If accepted, they will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
The Canadian government uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank eligible applicants. CRS is a points-based system that considers an applicant’s age, education, foreign and Canadian work experience, language skills, and many other facts. The Express Entry system is a points-based system for skilled workers seeking permanent residence in Canada.
Under the Express Entry system, there are three economic streams: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades (FST). In our experience, the most suitable ones for foreign tech workers are FSW and the CEC.
Each Canadian province has a Provincial Nominee Program that foreign tech workers can use to apply for permanent residence. In some cases, provinces directly invite applicants from the Express Entry pool to apply for their PNP program. The below programs allow applicants to avoid the lengthy LMIA process by providing letters of support instead of an LMIA. The applicants can then use these letters of support to apply for a work permit, which then can lead to permanent residence.
There are many immigrants in tech, in Canada and worldwide. Some might say that Canada underwent a techimmigration reform with the introduction of the GTS, which allows for fast processing and recruitment of immigrants in the tech industry. However, Canada’s immigration of tech workers is not limited to one program, and employers have an array of options to suit their business needs. A Canadian company can easily employ international professionals and STEM degree graduates.
On the tech immigrant’s side, Canada’s tech jobs market is constantly expanding! Many new start-ups emerge every year and establish themselves as strong players in their industries. Canada offers some of the best immigration options for IT professionals. Comparing the Canadian immigration process to the United States’ tech sector work visas and green cards, Canada has a more accommodating immigration system. It has never been easier to immigrate to Canada as a tech worker. Additionally, digital nomads can work remotely in Canada for up to six months without a work permit.
Tech jobs that are in high demand in Canada:
Software Engineers
Software Developer
App Developer
System Administrator
Data Analyst
Hardware Tester
Software Tester
Network Specialist
Back-end Developer
Front-end Developer
DevOps Engineer
and a lot more!
“Canada’s tech visa pathways are designed for speed and precision, reflecting the dynamic nature of the industry itself. For tech companies, it’s a critical tool to attract and retain the world’s brightest minds, and for tech talent, it’s an accelerated route to a thriving innovation ecosystem. We specialize in navigating these dedicated streams, ensuring that the process is as efficient and forward-thinking as the talent it’s designed to attract.” – Feruza Djamalova, Senior Business Immigration Lawyer
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