The significance of the strong technology sector as it relates to Canada’s economy & development cannot be understated. Here are the pathways to a work permit for IT professionals in Canada.
The technology sector in Canada is crucial to the nation’s ability to foster innovation, pursue growth in the future, & develop as a nation. For this reason, tech talent from all over the world is in prominent demand across Canada.
This demand is evident in many ways, the most significant being the introduction of category-based draws under Express Entry for skilled professionals with relevant work experience in STEM professions.
In addition, to address this nationwide demand for technology-sector workers, there are numerous pathways to a work permit for IT professionals in Canada. Global Talent Stream, CUSMA, & Intra-Company Transfers (ICT) are three top examples.
Global Talent Stream
The GTS is a designated immigration pathway for helping Canadian employers recruit foreign tech talent.
Through the GTS, specific employers can fastrack the hiring of internationally skilled workers who can aid their company’s growth to enable successful candidates to begin work around two weeks from the date they submit their application.
This is accomplished through the expedited processing of work permit applications as well as TRVs via GTS.
Because of the increasing requirement for tech talent across Canada, this program could benefit international applicants seeking to the IT sector in Canada. Some of the professions under the program include computer programmers, software engineers, designers, information system analysts, information system managers, etc.
Note: GTS-eligible employers seeking to hire IT professionals might qualify for an expedited LMIA. The main aim of an LMIA is to verify that the hiring of a foreign national by a Canadian company will not have a negative impact on the nation’s job market.
CUSMA Professionals
Another one of the pathways to a work permit for IT professionals in Canada is CUSMA.
Under CUSMA, specific Mexican & US nationals can obtain Canadian work permits without an LMIA, thus enabling qualified foreign nationals from these nations to work in Canada faster than they would otherwise be able to.
In addition, workers in around 60 professionals qualify for a CUSMA professional work permit through this North American agreement. Many professionals eligible for this particular permit under CUSMA fall within the IT sector. Some of the examples include computer system analysts, graphic designers, technical publications writers, & computer engineers.
Intra-Company Transfers
Intra-company transfers are international applicants who can obtain a Canadian work permit without an LMIA. This is possible if the international applicant has been employed with a company abroad for at least one year & will be arriving in Canada with the intention of working for their organization’s Canadian subsidiary, parent, affiliate, or branch.
Among the three categories under which a foreign national can be eligible for an ICT work permit, one is designated mainly for individuals with ‘specialized & proprietary knowledge of the company or its products.’ This category typically enables IT professionals to be eligible for an ICT work permit.