Canada’s Various Immigration Streams for Skilled Tech Workers

Key Highlights

•  Express Entry
•  Global Talent Stream
•  CUSMA
•  Intra-Company Transfer
• Provincial Nomination Program

Canada’s Immigration Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers a wide range of programs and streams for skilled IT workers.

With their education and experience, the tech workers do well in many immigration pathways at the federal, provincial or territorial level.

The government has developed various programs to attract and retain these tech workers. Let us look into these programs:

•    Express Entry
•    Global Talent Stream   
•  CUSMA
•    Intra-Company Transfer
•     Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)
          

Express Entry

While Express Entry programs do not specify a preference for skilled workers, some provincial streams do.

In the latest Express Entry Annual Report, technology occupations were in the top 3 occupations of individuals who received an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Global Talent Stream

There are two categories under the Global Talent Stream (GTS). The first category is for high-growth firms that can prove a need to recruit specialized skilled talent from abroad.

The second category is for companies looking to hire skilled talent for occupations found on the Global Talent Occupations List.

This list is currently composed of the top 12 NOC occupations, all of which require skilled tech workers.

CUSMA

The Canada-United-States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) invites citizens of the United States and Mexico to work in certain occupations.

The eligible tech occupations under CUSMA are computer engineers, graphic designers, computer analysts and technical publication writers.

Intra-Company Transfer (ICT)

The ICT is for workers employed with a company that has an affiliate, subsidiary, parent or branch in Canada. The worker must have worked at the company for at least a year.

While there is no detailed list of eligible occupations, the worker must hold a managerial position or demonstrate specialized knowledge of the firm or its products.

This can include developers and programmers who have designed the company’s products or computer enginners who have made internal software programs for the company.

Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)

The Canadian constitution gives its provinces the right to operate their separate immigration programs. PNP works in almost every jurisdiction.

Provinces can nominate candidates that meet the demands of their labour markets. Technology is a significant area that is in-demand in these provinces.

Some provinces like Ontario and British Columbia have special Tech Pilot draws that target only skilled tech workers.