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What Are the Pathways to Canada Immigration for Tech Workers


canada immigration for tech worker

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Canada's expanding circle of information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services (ITeS) industries is increasing immigration options for tech workers. The growing reliance on technology in daily life resulted in employers seeking efficient and skilled tech workers, boosting Canada immigration for tech workers. Considering the rising demands of the IT industry and employers, the federal government of Canada has introduced some ways for tech workers to immigrate to Canada. Since there is a rising demand for IT professionals in different Canadian provinces, many tech pathways facilitate granting visas to eligible applicants at the earliest if they meet all the requirements of specific streams. Read on to know more about Canada immigration for tech workers.

What Is the Minimum Requirement for Canada Immigration for Tech Workers?

There are various ways for tech workers to immigrate to Canada, and they all require at least a graduation certificate or a bachelor’s degree. In some cases, employers require a postgraduate or a master’s degree in the required field. The tech applicants should have relevant work experience of a minimum of three years.

What Are the Immigration Options for Tech Workers?

1. Express Entry System

This point-based immigration pathway is ideal for tech workers willing to settle in Canada as permanent residents. It has three sub-streams that IT professionals can opt for - Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Under its 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada will welcome around 411,000 new immigrants and skilled workers in 2022 and another 421,000 in 2023.

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) targets to welcome around 60 percent of all immigrants under economic class programs, including through Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The ideal gateway for tech workers with no Canadian experience is FSWP under the Express Entry System. The tech applicants receive points on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scale in the Express Entry pool. The points are based on age, relevant education, skill training or certification, language ability, willingness to work and stay in Canada, and sufficient funds, relevant prior work experience in a given IT field, adaptability, and so on. The eligible tech applicants who receive the required CRS cut-off scores receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and can secure permanent residence status in Canada in the next six months if they submit all relevant documents in the required formats.

Since Canadian employers seek to fill vacant tech positions at the earliest, other ways for tech workers to immigrate to Canada are designed and framed, such as the Express Entry aligned Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).

2. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) as Immigration Options for Tech Workers

These streams have become popular immigration destinations for tech workers residing or working outside Canada. To overcome problems arising due to the growing aging population and people reaching the retirement stage, as well as the lack of efficient skilled and talented manpower in local labor markets, many Canadian provinces are offering nominee programs, particularly to tech workers having relevant prior work experience in given IT fields. Some of the PNPs are aligned with the Express Entry pool to apply for nomination and facilitate the grant of visas to eligible tech workers hassle-free. The major PNPs that support the applications of qualified tech skilled workers are mentioned below -

Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway

This is an ideal immigration option for tech workers in Alberta. The Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is linked to the Express Entry profile. Tech applicants must have an active Express Entry profile for at least three months to process applications efficiently. Eligible tech workers must have a valid job offer in one of 37 tech occupations mentioned in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) list. An employer or a Canadian IT firm based in Alberta should issue a valid job offer.

One of the benefits of the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway is that this stream offers letters of support to eligible tech applicants that can be used to apply for and secure work permits instead of pursuing the LMIA-supported documentation process. Some tech occupations in Alberta that require skilled and efficient manpower are

  • computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
  • 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)
  • computer network technicians (NOC 2281)
  • user support technicians (NOC 2282)
  • information systems testing technicians (NOC 2283) and so on.

Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream

This is another Canada immigration for tech workers gateway, especially for applicants who do not have a valid job offer. It is also linked to the Express Entry System. This stream only entertains visa applications of tech workers who are invited by the province of Ontario. In each tech draw, the provincial authorities identify a targeted CRS score range to identify tech applicants who can receive a Notification of Interest (NOI). Eligible receivers of NoI are welcome to apply for nomination within 45 days of receiving the notification. The employers and IT industry seek to hire tech workers for various profiles such as

  • software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
  • computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
  • web designers and developers (NOC 2175)
  • computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
  • database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)

British Columbia Tech PNP

This stream facilitates applications of tech workers with a valid job offer issued by an employer based in British Columbia in one of 27 prioritized tech occupations, as mentioned in the NOC. A good job offer is more than sufficient for tech applicants, and they don’t need a copy of a positive LMIA. The tech applicants must be eligible under one of British Columbia’s skilled immigration streams. Like Alberta, the provincial authorities also issue a "letter of support” to qualified tech applicants, which makes them eligible to apply for a Canada work permit.

The IT industry and employers in British Columbia require talented, skilled IT workers for positions like

  • computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
  • 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)
  • computer network technicians (NOC 2281)
  • user support technicians (NOC 2282) and so on.

Quebec Immigration Stream

The provincial government of Quebec launched an immigration pilot program in April 2021 to welcome certain tech workers. This stream includes foreign skilled tech workers from specific IT fields seeking to gain permanent residence status in Canada. The pilot program has two streams: artificial intelligence, information technologies, and visual effects.

The artificial intelligence stream processes applications from graduates of a Quebec college or university and foreign skilled tech workers. The graduates require a valid job offer from a Quebec university. Still, foreign skilled tech workers don't need ample relevant work experience in the given IT field. Foreign tech workers must have relevant education or a degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree awarded by Quebec universities.

The information technology (IT) and visual effects stream processes applications of tech workers with relevant work experience of at least two years in one of ten listed tech occupations. A valid job offer is mandatory for tech applicants, or those already working in the IT industry in Quebec are also eligible. The tech applicants must also have education equivalent to the Quebec diploma of technical training or a bachelor’s degree awarded by Quebec universities. The selected tech occupations under the Quebec immigration stream are

  • computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
  • computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
  • computer network technicians (NOC 2281)
  • electrical and electronics engineers technologists and technicians (NOC 2241)
  • electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133)
  • graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 5241)
  • audio and video recording technicians (NOC 5225)
  • information systems analyst and consultant (NOC 2171)
  • producer, director, choreographer and related occupations (NOC 5131)
  • software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)

The tech applicants who do not have French proficiency can apply under the ‘Francization’ profile, meaning they must sign an agreement highlighting that they will learn the French language after settling in Quebec. The province offers free language courses to tech workers and immigrants to support them in settling quickly in Quebec.

Salary Structure Under Canada Immigration for Tech Workers

According to some news reports, more than one-third of IT and ITeS jobs in Canada will be managed by immigrants in 2020. A popular job site, "Career Builder," reported that there would be an annual growth of 11 percent in IT and ITeS jobs in Canada. Experts believe these industries will generate a lot of vacancies and employment for tech workers in the coming years.

The average annual salary for tech workers in Canada varies from $68,000 to $100,000 (CAD). The salary earned by a tech worker depends on factors like education, relevant prior work experience, skills and expertise, previous work profiles, and so on.

The average per-hour wage for tech professionals working as information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171) is CAD 41. For professionals working as database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172), per-hour wages are around CAD 37. IT professionals working as software engineers and designers (NOC 2173) earn CAD 48 per hour, while those working as computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174) receive around CAD 38 per hour. The per-hour average wages for computer engineers (NOC 2147) are around $46 per hour.

Canada immigration for tech workers through selected immigration streams in the IT industry is not an easy task. The tech applicants must seek correct guidance and support from trusted Canadian immigration consultants like Signature Visas, which has a proven track record in facilitating appropriate immigration streams and help at every step for applicants who could successfully migrate to Canada. Call us at +91-9911659888.

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By: Sonam
On:24-09-2022
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