Three Pathways to a Work Permit for IT Professionals Coming to Canada

It is really important for Canada to have a strong technology industry to grow and prosper economically. This will help Canada keep up with technological advancements and stay competitive with other countries.

The technology industry in this country is very critical to creating new ideas, helping the country grow, and becoming more advanced. That’s why people in Canada need talented tech workers from all over the world.

The need for proficient individuals with up-to-date expertise in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields is conspicuous in various aspects, with category-based draws being one of the most prominent features of the Express Entry system.

Several work permit options are available for people working in Information Technology (IT) jobs. The country has a high demand for technology workers, so these permits aim to help meet that demand. The Global Talent Stream (GTS), CUSMA Professionals (Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement), and Intra-Company Transfers (ICT) are three of the work permit options available.

Global Talent Stream

The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is a way for Canadian companies to bring in skilled workers from other countries to fill job openings in the tech industry.

Some employers needing skilled workers from other countries can use an exclusive GTS process. This process helps them hire foreign workers quickly, so they can start working within two weeks of applying. GTS helps businesses grow by bringing in skilled workers from outside the country to fill specific roles.

GTS can expedite your temporary resident visa (TRV) and work permit application.

Those from other countries who want to work in the Canadian tech industry should consider this program. This is because demand for skilled tech workers is increasing in Canada. The program covers many tech jobs, including software engineers, computer programmers, and information system analysts. So, if you are interested in a tech career, this program can be a great opportunity to work in Canada.

Note: You might qualify for an expedited Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under GTS if you’re hiring IT professionals. By using an LMIA, Canadian companies ensure that hiring foreign nationals won’t negatively affect the employment market.

CUSMA Professionals

The CUSMA allows certain U.S. and Mexican nationals to obtain Canadian work permits without an LMIA. This enables them to work in Canada (in IT) sooner than they would otherwise be able to.

This North American agreement provides CUSMA Professional Work Permits for workers in approximately 60 professions. Almost all occupations eligible for this particular permit under CUSMA are in the IT sector. Some examples are technical publication writers, graphic designers, computer engineers, and computer systems analysts.

Inter-company transfers

Intra-company transfers (ICT) allow foreign nationals to obtain Canadian work permits without an LMIA. Applicants must have worked for at least one year for a company abroad. They plan to work for the organization’s Canadian subsidiaries, affiliates, parents, or branches when they arrive in Canada.

An ICT work permit can be obtained by foreign nationals under a variety of categories. Still, one is reserved for individuals who are “specialized and proprietary in the company or its products.” An IT professional typically qualifies under this category to obtain an ICT work permit under this category.