Canada’s Immigrant Pathways for Tech Talents
Being an economically stable country, Canada has the highest immigration rate among OECD countries. Every year, about 75 percent of the world's population immigrates to Canada. While Canada was ranked as the most vibrant and efficient market for labor in 2015, Canada's tech sector has grown exponentially in recent years. The sector remains strong with Canadian companies actively recruiting talent while most of the country is struggling to survive the coronavirus pandemic.
It is a sign of a strong economy that provides the prosperity and mobility that immigrants seek. A key part of Canada's economy has been fueled by Google and Amazon expanding their business in Canada, resulting in over 250,000 tech workers in Toronto alone. Recognizing the importance of the tech sector in the economy, the federal and provincial governments offer permanent residence and work permit options to employers looking to hire tech talent.
Now and then, there is an immediate need for technology workers from all over the world. So, there are special immigration routes for tech talent immigrants to Canada. Anyone specializing in technology can immigrate to Canada either permanently or through a temporary work permit through the following popular routes to work for a technology company:
Pathways to Permanent Residency in Canada:
Tech geniuses are more comfortable settling down permanently with their future in mind. Following are the ways through which permanent residence is possible -
Express Entry
The most common immigration for skilled technicians is the Express Enterprise Application or a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Express Entry is the Canadian government's largest entry stream for skilled immigrants. It is mainly designed for skilled workers. The most popular Express Entry option is the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) for those with at least one year of work experience, falling under a national occupational code of 0, A, or B.
An alternative is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) programme, which may make applicants eligible for Express Entry if they have one year of work experience in Canada under their belts within the past three years. In essence, Entry Express makes sure that those in the technological field with the greatest chance of achieving economic success have access to the immigration system. Express Entry's major benefit is flexibility, and moving quickly is how nature works. After completing your profile, you may apply for permanent residency in only a few days. The federal government strives to complete permanent residency applications for candidates with the highest scores within six months after receipt.
But note that if you haven't lived in Canada before, you'll need to apply through the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Federal Skilled Worker Program
Have a post-secondary certificate, diploma, or degree in addition to high-level (level 7) French or English language proficiency and at least one year of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience. Residency outside of Quebec is required for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. It takes a maximum of six months to process eighty percent of completed applications. For FSWP, the age range is 18 to 35. You will receive fewer points if you are above 35. Out of a potential 100 CRS points, this program requires a minimum of 67. After being put on hold for around 19 months as a result of the Corona Pandemic, FSWP was re-launched on July 6, 2022.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
For immigrants with technical aptitude who have never lived in Canada before, it is the second-best option. 11 out of the 13 provinces in Canada have the program running. The province makes a nomination for the candidate, and the federal government of Canada completes the application for permanent residency. The Provincial Nominee program has no set upper age restriction. According to research, individuals who are between the ages of 25 and 35 tend to receive the best grades. However, that does not imply that those above 35 are never chosen. Express Entry and PNP are fundamentally different in that those who are granted permanent residence through Express Entry are free to go wherever in Canada. On the other hand, if he receives PNP permanent residency, he will be allowed to move his location after living in the same province for a specific amount of time. The advantage of the PNP is that if an application satisfies the requirements set forth by the selection committee, there is a strong possibility that it will be granted permanent residency in Canada. Additionally, PNP's drawbacks include its long wait times and hefty processing costs. Only PR visas require a wait time of between 6 and 19 months depending on the category.
Ontario Tech Pilot
It's like a golden deer in the tech industry if there's no job offer. But the disadvantage is that it will not be possible to apply if not invited from Ontario. Firstly profile needs to be created in express entry to invite tech workers. Around 800 candidates were successfully invited for nomination. Software Engineers and Designers (NOC 2173), Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers (NOC 2174), Computer Engineers (NOC 2147), Web Designers and Developers (NOC 2175), Database Analysts and Data Administrators (NOC 2172), Computer and Information Systems Manager (NOC 0213) better opportunities are possible with quality experience in one of the six technical careers mentioned.
British Columbia Tech Pilot
Immigration candidates are welcome to submit applications for a provincial nomination through BC's Tech Pilot program every week as long as they have a work offer in one of 29 tech occupations. Provincial nominations have been made for more than 1,500 candidates so far in the 2020 election, which has had 14 tech draws, including one just this month.
Start-Up Visa
The Start-up Visa program is likewise run by the Canadian government. It exists to draw creative business owners wishing to establish a company in Canada. It is a desirable alternative for IT talent and has selection standards that are very different from those of skilled worker programs. Notably, the government of Canada must select an organization to endorse victorious candidates (an angel investor, venture capital firm, or business incubator). These organizations are in charge of assisting the entrepreneur's success when they arrive in Canada.
Global Talent Stream
For tech professionals who don't wish to live in Canada permanently or who want to enter the country more quickly before filing a request for permanent residence, Global Talent Stream Canada provides a variety of temporary resident paths. Since many immigration programs, such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), are designed to facilitate this process, temporary employment in Canada may actually improve your prospects of acquiring permanent status.
The Global Talent Stream is a prominent temporary visa option. It makes it possible for Canadian firms to find and recruit computer talent who can move to Canada in roughly four weeks. The Global Talent Stream is one element of Canada's Global Skills Strategy, which has since 2017 allowed the entry of nearly 40,000 IT employees.
Saskatchewan Tech Talent
Future Canadian immigrants now have access to a new tech pathway thanks to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). Candidates for Saskatchewan's Tech Talent Pathway must possess an employer-specific SINP Job Approval Letter for an appropriate technology sector position to be considered. In the last five years, they must have had at least one year of job experience in that field, or six months of work experience in the province.
In addition, if they are employed in Saskatchewan, they must possess a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5. If they want to be considered for Express Entry, they must have a CLB level 7. Candidates must have post-secondary education and, if relevant, be qualified for a professional license in Saskatchewan.
