The Canadian government provides a variety of immigration alternatives for IT employees who wish to move to Canada since the country’s burgeoning tech industry requires personnel to support its expansion.
Due to the high demand in the tech industry, Canadian immigration for tech workers is on the rise which is why Canada offers special work permits to tech workers. Nevertheless, there are methods for computer professionals to immigrate to Canada permanently without ever having done so. Currently, the following will likely be the most common routes for IT employees to come to Canada:
The challenge of this stream is that tech workers can’t apply without first being invited by the province. In each tech draw, Ontario selects a targeted CRS range to determine which candidates will receive a Notification of Interest (NOI). Those who receive an NOI may apply for nomination within 45 days of receiving the notification.
Express Entry
Express Entry is a popular option for tech workers that want to settle permanently in Canada. Canada’s Express Entry system is responsible for welcoming about 110,000 newcomers each year.
Canada operates three main economic programs through the Express Entry system: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades (FST). The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is ideal for tech workers with no previous work experience in Canada.
The Express Entry system requires submitting an online profile that is scored by Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Candidates with CRS scores above the cut-off are invited to apply for permanent residence.
While the Express Entry system does not currently consider occupation when determining a candidate’s CRS score, the immigration minister recently hinted at moving toward occupation-based Express Entry draws. This would enable the federal government to choose applicants in accordance with certain labor market requirements. For tech workers in the Express Entry pool, this would be excellent news since there is a significant demand for many IT vocations.
In the meantime, provinces continue to invite tech workers directly from the Express Entry pool through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
Provincial Nominee Programs for Tech Workers
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) have become an increasingly popular way for tech workers to immigrate to Canada. Many Canadian provinces offer nominee programs specific to those with experience in the tech industry. Some programs even invite candidates directly from the Express Entry pool to apply for nomination.
Here are three popular PNPs for tech workers overseas that want to settle permanently in Canada:
1. Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream
Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities stream is a great immigration option for overseas tech workers that don’t have a Canadian job offer. The stream regularly holds targeted tech draws, where they invite tech workers directly from the Express Entry pool.
Targeted tech occupations include:
- 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 managers (NOC 0213)
2. British Columbia PNP Tech
British Columbia’s PNP Tech program provides expedited application processing for candidates with a BC job offer in one of 27 prioritized tech occupations. To qualify, tech workers must be eligible under one of BC’s Skills Immigration streams. The benefit of this program is that it doesn’t require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Instead, the province of BC may issue a “letter of support” to successful nominees, which can be used to apply for a Canadian work permit. BC’s 27 prioritized tech occupations include,
- Telecommunication carriers managers (NOC 0131)
- Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
- Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting, and performing arts (NOC 0512)
- Civil engineers (NOC 2131)
- Mechanical engineers (NOC 2132)
- Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133)
- Chemical engineers (NOC 2134)
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 2147)
- Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171)
- Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)
- Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
- Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)
- Biological technologists and technicians (NOC 2221)
- Electrical and electronics engineers technologists and technicians (NOC 2241)
- Electronic service technicians (households and business equipment) (NOC 2242)
- Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (NOC 2243)
- Computer network technicians (NOC 2281)
- User support technicians (NOC 2282)
- Information systems testing technicians (NOC 2283)
- Authors and writers (NOC 5121)
- Editors (NOC 5122)
- Translators, terminologists, and interpreters (NOC 5125)
- Broadcast technicians (NOC 5224)
- Audio and video recording technicians (NOC 5225)
- Other technical and co-ordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, and the performing arts (NOC 5226)
- Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting photography, and the performing arts (NOC 5227)
- Graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 5241)
- Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade (NOC 6221)
3. Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway
The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) offers an accelerated pathway to permanent residence for certain tech professionals with Alberta job offers. To be eligible under this program, candidates must have a job offer in one of 37 tech occupations, or with an employer in one of Alberta’s identified tech sectors.
This program operates through Alberta’s Express Entry stream. That means that candidates must be eligible for AINP’s Express Entry stream to apply under this pathway.
Like BC, Alberta’s Accelerated Tech Pathway offers letters of support to successful nominees that can be used to apply for a work permit instead of the lengthy LMIA process. Eligible tech occupations include:
- Senior managers – financial, communications, and other business services (NOC 0013)
- Human resources managers (NOC 0112)
- Telecommunication carriers managers (NOC 0131)
- Engineering managers (NOC 0211)
- Architecture and science managers (NOC 0212)
- Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
- Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting, and performing arts (NOC 0512)
- Corporate sales managers (NOC 0601)
- Professional occupations in advertising, marketing, and public relations (NOC 1123)
- Human resources professionals (NOC 1121)
- Human resources and recruitment officers (NOC 1223)
- Civil engineers (NOC 2131)
- Mechanical engineers (NOC 2132)
- Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133)
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 2147)
- Mathematicians, statisticians, and actuaries (NOC 2161)
- Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171)
- Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)
- Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
- Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)
- Biological technologists and technicians (NOC 2221)
- Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 2232)
- Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians (NOC 2233)
- Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 2241)
- Drafting technologists and technicians (NOC 2253)
- Computer network technicians (NOC 2281)
- User support technicians (NOC 2282)
- Information systems testing technicians (NOC 2283)
- Medical laboratory technologists (NOC 3211)
- Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants (NOC 3212)
- Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health) (NOC 3219)
- Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants (NOC 4163)
- Producers, directors, choreographers, and related occupations (NOC 5131)
- Graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 5241)
- Electricians (except industrial and power systems) (NOC 7241)
- Industrial electricians (NOC 7242)
- Telecommunications installation and repair workers (NOC 7246)
Quebec Immigration
The Quebec government introduced a pilot immigration scheme that helps certain IT employees in April 2021. Under the pilot program, international employees in certain tech fields are allowed to relocate permanently to Quebec. Artificial intelligence, information technology, 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 employees with international training. Although international employees who have appropriate work experience in Quebec are not needed to obtain a job offer from Quebec, graduates from Quebec must. Candidates for the stream must also have appropriate 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 a background 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. Candidates for this stream must either already be employed in their profession in Quebec or have a job offer there. Additionally, candidates must have completed coursework leading to a Quebec bachelor’s degree or a Quebec certification of technical training. Eligible occupations under this stream include:
- Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
- Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133)
- Information systems analyst and consultant (NOC 2171)
- Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
- Electrical and electronics engineers technologists and technicians (NOC 2241)
- Computer network technicians (NOC 2281)
- Audio and video recording technicians (NOC 5225)
- Graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 5241)
- Producer, director, choreographer, and related occupations, but only if your job is in the visual effects sector (NOC 5131)
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.
Candidates may apply using the “Francization” profile if they do not speak French. These 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 may take advantage of free language classes in Quebec to aid in their assimilation.
How Do You Feel About Your Employment Prospects?
Canada is in more need than ever of IT professionals. More and more Canadian IT businesses are turning to immigrants to fill labor market shortages as the need for tech workers rises. Immigrants occupied more than one-third of the positions in Canada’s information and communication technology (ICT) industry in 2020.
Salary: The typical annual wage for an IT worker in Canada is between $68,000 and $100,000 CAD. Once you are a Permanent Resident of Canada, your desired location and your credentials will determine whether you are on the upper or lower end of the pay scale.
Information Systems Analysts & Consultants (NOC 2171)
Average Wage: $41/hour
Example Titles:
- IS Quality Assurance Analysts
- Systems Auditors
- Information Systems Business Analysts
- Systems Security Analysts
Job Description: Analyze system requirements, create and execute strategies, policies, and processes for developing information systems, and provide guidance on a variety of information systems-related challenges.
Database Analysts & Data Administrators (NOC 2172)
Average Wage: $37/hour
Example Titles:
- Data Processing Specialist
- EDP Analyst
- Data Miner
- Database Designer
Job Description: Despite doing very different jobs, database analysts and data administrators both come under the same NOC code. To establish, develop, and administer data management solutions, database analysts must employ database management software. Data administrators develop and put into practice policies, standards, and models for data administration.
Software Engineers & Designers (NOC 2173)
Average Wage: $48/hour
Example Titles:
- Application Architect
- Software Architect
- Software Testing Engineer
- Software Technical Architect
Job Description: Software applications, technical environments, operating systems, embedded software, information warehouses, and telecommunications software all need research, design, evaluation, integration, and maintenance. You also fall into this category if you are the team leader for a group of software developers.
Computer Programmers & Interactive Media Developer (NOC 2174)
Average Wage: $38/hour
Example Titles:
- Web Programmer
- Computer Game Developer
- Programmer Analyst
- Systems Programmer
Job Description: This profession is like many other NOC codes in that it covers two professions that are very similar to each other. Computer programmers write, modify, integrate and test computer code for microcomputer and mainframe software applications, data processing applications, operating systems-level software, and communications software. Interactive media developers write, modify, integrate and test computer code for internet applications, computer-based training software, computer games, film, video, and other interactive media.
Computer Engineers (NOC 2147)
Average Wage: $46/hour
Example Titles:
- Network Test Engineer
- Systems Designer – Hardware
- Computer Telecommunications Specialist
- Hardware Technical Architect
Job Description: Computer engineers research, plan, design, develop, modify, evaluate and integrate computer and telecommunications hardware and related equipment, and information and communication system networks including mainframe systems, local and wide area networks, fiber-optic networks, wireless communication networks, intranets, the Internet and other data communications systems.