Canada Calling More Skilled Tech Workers
Owing to a boom in Canada's tech sector, Canada expects to welcome many skilled tech professionals to be a part of its labour force.
The tech sector's overall industry growth comes from startups and big organizations, like Amazon and Google; they are investing money and growing businesses across Canada. The investment from such companies is an essential part of Canada's economy and a primary reason behind a population of more than 250,000 tech workers working in Toronto alone.
To meet the labour market needs, Canada offers a plethora of temporary and permanent pathways to help employers hire and retain global tech talent.
Canadian Permanent Residency Options
Tech professionals who wish to move to Canada permanently can apply for a Canada PR visa via the Express Entry system or a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
- Express Entry Program for Tech Talent
The Canadian government's most significant entry stream for skilled immigrants is Express Entry. Applicants with tech work experience are the leading recipients of invitations to apply for permanent residence under Express Entry programs.
The most popular program under Express Entry is the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW). It is ideal for those with at least one year of skilled work experience falling under NOC codes 0, A or B.
Candidates with at least one year of work experience gained in Canada in the last three years can also qualify to apply via Express Entry's Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program.
- Provincial Nominee Programs for Tech Talent
Apart from Nunavut and Quebec, all Canadian provinces have PNPs collaborating with IRCC. These PNPs allow provinces to select eligible applicants from the Express Entry pool. In addition, several provinces also have dedicated PNP streams to attract global tech talent, like BC Tech Stream, OINP Tech Draw, Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway and Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway.