Many temporary and permanent options attract global tech talent to Canada.
The tech industry in Canada is expanding rapidly, and it is anticipated that this trend will continue even as the number of qualified tech professionals in the country’s labour force declines. This expansion results from small enterprises and major corporations, like Google and Amazon, investing more money and expanding their operations in Canada. There are approximately 250,000 IT workers in Toronto alone due to this investment, which is a crucial component of Canada’s economy.
Free Immigration AssessmentThe federal and provincial governments provide numerous options for permanent residence and work permits to help employers acquire individuals from outside due to the growing demand for talented tech experts. This article will outline several popular possibilities if you’re a tech employer or employee.
Temporary Work Permits
There are several temporary work permit options available to employers who are thinking about recruiting international talent. These initiatives are designed to enable employers to quickly hire the digital expertise they need for their businesses when there is a lack of qualified Canadian tech professionals.
The Global Talent Stream
In the technology industry, one popular solution is the Global Talent Stream (GTS). It seeks to attain a processing standard of two weeks once the prospective employee submits the final application, and this was developed to support the expansion of Canada’s IT sector. This route also serves as a temporary work visa and a stepping stone for workers who want to qualify for permanent residency.
It is regarded as a component of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), and to be qualified, businesses must first receive from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) a neutral or favourable Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). In addition, when employing workers from outside, ESDC assesses whether this will have a positive, neutral, or adverse effect on the labour market in Canada.
Additionally, employers must fulfil the requirements in one of the following two categories to be eligible to hire under this programme:
Category A
Companies who contact EDSC through a referral partner fall under Category A. Governmental, local, or government-affiliated organizations or companies that have the mandate to help local economies are frequently referred to as referral partners. The workers hired in this group have a deep level of expertise in a particular area of the tech industry. Employers must submit applications under category B if the candidate’s profession is already listed on the Global Talent Occupations List.
Category B
Employers who need workers in professions already on the list of Global Talent Occupations, such as software engineers, designers, or information systems analysts, fall under category B. The government has acknowledged the scarcity of these abilities in the Canadian labour force for these in-demand professions.
Labour Market Benefit Plan
Employers must also submit a Labour Market Benefits Plan (LMBP) to EDSC outlining their commitment to long-term labour market benefits. Depending on the category, the focus varies. In addition, a strategy outlining how recruiting under the GTS would create more jobs for Canadians and permanent residents are required.
Category B LMBPs must demonstrate how they will increase their spending on educating Canadians and permanent residents in high-demand tech skills.
There are restrictions on how skilled workers are compensated in both categories. Anyone hired via the Global Talent Stream must be compensated at least at the prevailing salary.
The highest of the following is the prevailing wage:
- The minimal salary floor as specified in the Global Talent occupations list;
- The wage that a company pays current employees in the same role at the same location, with the same skills and experience;
- The median wage for the occupation listed on the Government of Canada Job Bank (if applicable).
CUSMA
An employer may qualify for the Canada, United States, and Mexico Agreement if they employ tech talent elsewhere in North America (CUSMA). It is a temporary work permit, just like the GTS.
This agreement may facilitate talent exchange between nations. Therefore, the agreement is additionally divided into two groups that apply to IT personnel.
Professionals: The professional category includes 63 professions that are eligible for CUSMA. Software developers and other well-known tech professionals like systems analysts may be qualified.
Intra-Company Transfers (ICTs): Employees of international corporations relocate to the company’s Canadian office in a process known as an intra-company transfer (ICT). The transferee frequently has a management job or possesses other advanced skills.
International businesses that qualify for ICTs don’t always have to be based in Mexico or the US. Employees from other countries may be able to transfer to Canada if any organization has a formed branch there without the need for the employer to obtain an LMIA.
Pathways to Permanent Residency in Canada
Tech talent might want to settle permanently in Canada. A Provincial Nominee Program or an immigration programme that is part of the Express Entry application management system is the most typical route for skilled tech workers to seek permanent residency (PNP).
Express Entry
Express Entry is the most significant entry stream for skilled immigrants in Canada. Candidates with technical backgrounds are more likely to be invited to apply for permanent residence under Express Entry.
Express Entry aims to speed up the application process for skilled workers. The Federal Skilled Worker Program is the most well-liked Express Entry choice (FSWP). The National Occupational Codes 0, A, or B, which cover most jobs in the tech sector, are required for people with at least one year of work experience in this programme.
Alternative options include the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) programme, which may make applicants eligible for Express Entry if they have one year of work experience in Canada over the previous three years. Alternative options include the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) programme, which may make applicants eligible for Express Entry if they have one year of work experience in Canada over the previous three years.
Express Entry involves two steps:
Candidates must determine if they qualify for the programme they desire to apply to. If qualified, they must submit a profile to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. Based on their profile’s other human capital elements, including their education, work experience, and language skills, IRCC will award a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The score increases the likelihood of receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
IRCC holds draws every two weeks or such. After receiving an ITA, candidates have 60 days to submit their complete application to IRCC.
Provincial nomination tech talent streams
Over 100 economic immigration routes are available in Canada, many of which are a component of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Except for Quebec and Nunavut, every province in Canada has a PNP that cooperates with the IRCC. Through these initiatives, provincial governments can choose applicants they think will fit well in their jurisdictions. In addition, there are immigration programs in several Canadian provinces intended to draw IT expertise.
Provincial tech talent streams are provided below:
Candidates for the BC Tech Stream must be qualified for one of the province’s immigration schemes and have an employment offer which holds good for at least a year.
OINP Tech Draw: Applicants must be qualified for either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class to participate in this Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.
Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway
Approved candidates must have an employer-specific Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) Job Approval Letter for an eligible technology sector position. They need at least one year of work experience in that occupation during the preceding five years.
Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway
Candidates for the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway must be eligible for the Alberta Express Entry Stream. In addition, they must either have a job offer in one of the 23 eligible occupations or be employed in Alberta.
Quebec
The Quebec Immigration Program for Workers in the Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, and Visual Effects Sectors is a unique program that Quebec offers.
Under this program, there are two areas for technology:
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
There are two ways to qualify for the AI (Artificial Intelligence) stream. A candidate must have work experience and a job offer if they attended a college or university in Quebec. If the candidate received their training abroad, they might not need a job offer, but they must show proof of education at par with a bachelor’s degree from Quebec.
IT and Visual Effects streams
Candidates for the IT and visual effects programs must have two years of work experience in one of the ten approved professions over the previous five years. They must also have a work offer in that industry and the academic standing of a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent of a Quebec technical studies certification.
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