If you are employed in the technology sector, you may already hold a strong advantage when planning to live and work in Canada. In recent years, Canada has steadily introduced a range of immigration programs that specifically benefit tech professionals, offering both work permit options and permanent residence (PR) opportunities.
With the United States now planning to introduce a $100,000 USD filing fee for H-1B visa petitions, Canada is positioning itself as an attractive alternative. Prime Minister Mark Carney even noted that Canada will soon have a “clear offering” for skilled foreign tech workers who may be impacted by the U.S. fee hike. While the exact details of this new plan remain unclear, Canada already provides multiple established pathways that make it easier for tech workers to relocate.
These routes include both temporary work permits which allow professionals to start working quickly and permanent residency programs, which provide long-term stability. Together, they create a wide set of opportunities for tech professionals across the globe.
Immigration Pathways For Tech Professionals
Below are the most common programs and streams that foreign tech workers can use to enter and settle in Canada:
| Program | Pathway/Stream | Status | Details | Processing Time (approximately) |
| Temporary Foreign Worker Program | Global Talent Stream | Work Permit | Faster processing of LMIA | Two weeks |
| International Mobility Program | Intra Company Transfers | Work Permit | LMIA-exempt transfers for executives, senior managers, or specialized-knowledge employees of a multinational with a presence in Canada | Two-four months |
| Innovation Stream | Work Permit | LMIA-exempt employer-specific work permit for candidates with job offers from Global Hypergrowth Project (GHP) employers | Two weeks | |
| Category Based Selection Draws (Express Entry) | STEM category | PR | IRCC runs category-based rounds targeting occupations that are in demand. In 2025, STEM is one of the categories targeting professionals in the sector | Six months |
| Provincial Nominee Program | Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program | PR | For those with work experience in select tech occupations | Seven months |
| Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway | PR | For candidates working full-time in Alberta or holding a valid job offer in an eligible tech occupation | Seven months | |
| Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway | PR | For candidates with a job offer and work experience in specific tech occupations in Saskatchewan | Express Entry: Seven months Non-Express Entry: 18 months |
Skilled workers have two main approaches when moving to Canada:
- Temporary Work Permits – These are valid for 1–3 years (renewable in many cases). They are faster to obtain and give candidates Canadian experience that can later strengthen their PR applications.
- Permanent Residency (PR) – PR holders can live and work in Canada indefinitely and access benefits like healthcare, education for children, and pathways to citizenship.
For some, it makes sense to first obtain a work permit because the process is generally much faster than applying directly for PR. Once in Canada, workers often become more competitive PR candidates.
Even if your ultimate goal is to become a permanent resident in Canada, starting with a work permit can be a smart move.
Getting a work permit is usually quicker than securing permanent residency, and once you’re already working in Canada, you gain a significant advantage when applying for PR.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program
In order to move to Canada as a skilled tech worker, let us first discuss about the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is one of Canada’s most commonly used pathways for employers looking to hire from abroad. Employers can hire foreign nationals for almost any occupation, provided they secure a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) showing that no Canadian worker is available to fill the position.
While the TFWP is open to a broad range of workers, it also offers specialized options for tech professionals. Among these, the Global Talent Stream (GTS) stands out as one of the most efficient and widely used for the technology industry.
Global Talent Stream
The Global Talent Stream was designed to help Canadian companies quickly hire highly skilled foreign workers in technology-related roles. This stream is highly attractive because it drastically reduces LMIA processing times. Instead of the standard three to four months, LMIA applications under the GTS are typically processed in as little as eight business days.
The GTS has two main categories:
Category A – Unique And Specialized Talent
To qualify under Category A:
- The employer must be an innovative Canadian company referred by one of the program’s designated referral partners.
- The position must require unique and specialized skills.
- The candidate must have:
- A job offer paying at least $38.46 per hour (about $80,000 annually) or the prevailing wage (whichever is higher).
- Advanced knowledge of the industry.
- Either an advanced degree in a specialized field or at least five years of specialized experience.
This pathway is ideal for tech professionals with niche expertise that may not be easily found within Canada’s labor market.
Category B – In-Demand Tech Occupations
Category B targets workers in specific occupations listed on the Global Talent Occupations List maintained by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Some examples include:
- Civil engineers
- Electrical and electronic engineers
- Information systems analysts and consultants
- Software engineers and designers
- Web developers and programmers
You can view the whole list here:
Eligible Occupations Under Category B
- Computer and information systems managers (20012)
- Civil engineers (21300)
- Electrical and electronics engineers (21310)
- Mining engineers (21330)
- Aerospace engineers (21390)
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (21311)
- Mathematicians and statisticians Positions for actuaries or related occupations are excluded from this subset (21210)
- Data scientists (21211)
- Cybersecurity specialists (21220)
- Business system specialists (21221)
- Information systems specialists (21222)
- Web designers (21233)
- Database analysts and data administrators (21223)
- Software engineers and designers (21231)
- Computer systems developers and programmers (21230)
- Software developers and programmers (21232)
- Web developers and programmers (21234)
- Web designers (21233)
- Web developers and programmers (21234)
- Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (22310)
- Computer network technicians (22220)
- Information systems testing technicians (22222)
- Producer, technical, creative and artistic director and project manager (subset of 51120)
- Digital media designers (subset of 52120)
Workers hired through Category B must be paid at least the prevailing wage for their occupation or higher.
This stream allows Canada to address labor shortages in its booming tech industry while offering foreign professionals an accelerated entry into the workforce.
International Mobility Program
The International Mobility Program (IMP) provides work permits that do not require an LMIA. These permits are generally harder to qualify for but are very appealing to eligible workers because they bypass the LMIA step entirely. For tech professionals, the two most relevant pathways under the IMP are:
- Intra Company Transfers (ICTs)
- The Innovation Stream
Intra Company Transfers
Multinational corporations with branches, affiliates, or subsidiaries in Canada can transfer key staff through ICTs. This pathway is often used by large global tech firms with operations in both the U.S. and Canada.
To qualify:
- The employee must have worked for the company abroad for at least one year within the last three years.
- They must be employed in a role such as:
- Executive or senior manager
- Functional manager
- Specialized-knowledge employee
For tech professionals, the “specialized knowledge” category is most common. This typically applies to employees with advanced technical expertise crucial to the company’s Canadian operations.
Innovation Stream
The Innovation Stream was introduced as part of Canada’s Global Hypergrowth Project (GHP). Workers with job offers from one of the eight participating high-growth Canadian companies can apply for an employer-specific work permit under this stream.
The current participating companies include:
- Ada
- AlayaCare
- CellCarta
- Clarius Mobile Health
- Clio
- Lightspeed Commerce
- Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group
- Vive Crop Protection
Eligible applicants must:
- Have a skilled job offer (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3).
- Meet the listed educational and professional requirements for that occupation.
This program is particularly beneficial for professionals seeking opportunities with Canada’s fastest-growing tech firms.
Express Entry – Category-Based Selection
Another thing to know if you have to move to Canada as a skilled tech worker is regarding Express Entry.
Well, Express Entry is Canada’s most popular system for skilled immigration and is often used by tech workers pursuing permanent residency. Candidates who qualify for at least one of the three programs, i.e., the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) can create a profile in the Express Entry pool.
Candidates are ranked through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which awards points based on factors such as:
- Age
- Language proficiency (English or French)
- Education
- Work experience
- Spousal factors
The federal government regularly conducts draws from the Express Entry pool, inviting the highest-scoring candidates eligible for each draw to apply for permanent residence.
Candidates who receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) can submit complete applications for PR, which are usually processed within six months.
Tech professionals often have an added advantage under Express Entry, as qualifying for the STEM category can allow them to receive an ITA with a lower CRS score than non-STEM candidates.
In category-based draws, only candidates who meet the specific requirements for that category are invited. For STEM draws, this means having at least six months of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in a qualifying STEM occupation:
Qualifying STEM occupations under Category-Based Selection Draws
- Architecture and science managers (20011)
- Civil engineering technologists and technicians (22300)
- Civil Engineers (21300)
- Cybersecurity specialists (21220)
- Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (22310)
- Electrical and electronics engineers (21310)
- Geological Engineers (21331)
- Industrial and manufacturing engineers (21321)
- Insurance agents and brokers (63100)
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (22301)
- Mechanical Engineers (21301)
If a candidate plans to settle in Canada with their spouse, the spouse’s profile will also be considered when calculating the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
In order to move to Canada as a skilled tech worker, the next thing to discuss is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Several Canadian provinces offer Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) pathways that simplify the process for tech workers to obtain permanent residence.
To secure PR through a PNP, a foreign national must first obtain a nomination from the province or territory and then submit an application to the federal government for permanent residency.
Eligibility for a PNP also requires demonstrating a genuine intention to live in the nominating province or territory, along with meeting all the specific criteria of the selected PNP stream.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program – Tech Draws
Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program (OINP) runs tech-focused draws primarily through the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream.
To qualify, candidates must meet the stream’s requirements related to work experience, education, language proficiency, and settlement funds.
The province frequently targets candidates with experience in specific tech occupations:
Eligible occupations under OINP’s tech draws
- Computer and information systems managers (NOC 20012)
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 21311)
- Computer systems developers and programmers (NOC 21230)
- Data Scientists (NOC 21211)
- Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 21223)
- Software developers and programmers (NOC 21232)
- Software engineers and designers (NOC 21231)
- Web designers (NOC 21233)
- Web developers and programmers (NOC 21234)
Candidates in the Express Entry pool may receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) from the OINP in their online account. Once notified, they have 45 days to submit an application for provincial nomination.
A successful nomination adds 600 CRS points to the candidate’s profile, significantly boosting their ranking in the Express Entry pool and making them eligible for PNP-specific draws.
Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway
Alberta offers an Accelerated Tech Pathway as part of the Alberta Express Entry stream.
This pathway, managed through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), regularly invites eligible Express Entry candidates working in Alberta’s tech sector to apply for provincial nomination.
To qualify, candidates must have an active Express Entry profile and a valid job offer in an eligible tech occupation from an Alberta-based employer. The candidate’s primary occupation on their Express Entry profile must match the occupation of their job offer.
Eligible industries include:
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
- Architectural, Engineering and Related Services
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
- Basic Chemical Manufacturing
- Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing
- Communications Equipment Manufacturing
- Computer and Communications Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
- Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
- Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance
- Independent Artists, Writers and Performers
- Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media
- Media streaming distribution services, and other media networks and content providers
- Motion Picture and Video Industries
- Navigational, Measuring, Medical and Control Instruments Manufacturing
- Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
- Other Telecommunications
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
- Scientific Research and Development Services
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing
- Software Publishers
- Specialized Design Services
- Web search portals, libraries and archives, and all other information services
- Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carrier (except Satellite)
- Satellite Telecommunications
Eligible occupations under Alberta’s Accelerated Tech Pathway:
- Advertising, marketing and public relations manager (10022)
- Architecture and science managers (20011)
- Biological technologists and technicians (22110)
- Business development officers and market researchers and analysts (41402)
- Business system specialists (21221)
- Civil engineers (21300)
- Computer and information systems managers (20012)
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (21311)
- Computer network and web technicians (22220)
- Computer systems developers and programmers (21230)
- Corporate sales managers (60010)
- Cybersecurity specialists (21220)
- Data scientists (21211)
- Database analysts and data administrators (21223)
- Drafting technologists and technicians (22212)
- Electricians (except industrial and power system) (72200)
- Electrical and electronics engineers (21310)
- Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (22310)
- Engineering managers (20010)
- Graphic designers and illustrators (52120)
- Human resources and recruitment officers (12101)
- Human resources managers (10011)
- Human resources professionals (11200)
- Industrial electricians (72201)
- Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians (22302)
- Information systems specialists (21222)
- Information systems testing technicians (22222)
- Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts (50011)
- Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries (21210)
- Mechanical engineers (21301)
- Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (22301)
- Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations (33101)
- Medical laboratory technologists (32120)
- Other medical technologists and technicians (32129)
- Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations (51120)
- Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (11202)
- Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services (00012)
- Software developers and programmers (21232)
- Software engineers and designers (21231)
- Telecommunication carriers manager (10030)
- Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians (72205)
- User support technicians (22221)
- Web designers (21233)
- Web developers and programmers (21234)
This pathway offers tech professionals a streamlined route to provincial nomination and permanent residency while ensuring Alberta’s tech sector continues to attract top talent.
Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway
In order to move to Canada as a skilled tech worker, the last thing to discuss is the Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway.
Saskatchewan offers a dedicated pathway for tech professionals who have a job offer in a high-skilled occupation within the province.
Moreover, to be eligible, a foreign national must hold a valid job offer in an approved occupation, and the employer must have received a Job Approval Letter from the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).
Candidates are also required to meet language proficiency standards, work experience criteria, and educational qualifications.
The application process depends on whether the candidate is applying through the Express Entry stream or the non-Express Entry stream.
Eligible occupations under Saskatchewan’s Tech Talent Pathway:
- Business system specialists (21221)
- Computer and information systems managers (20012)
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (21311)
- Computer network and web technicians (22220)
- Computer systems developers and programmers (21230)
- Cybersecurity specialists (21220)
- Data Scientists (21211)
- Database analysts and data administrators (21223)
- Electrical and Electronics engineers (21310)
- Information System specialists (21222)
- Information systems testing technicians (22222)
- Software developers and programmers (21232)
- Software engineers and designers (21231)
- User support technicians (22221)
- Web designers (21233)
- Web developers and programmers (21234)
This pathway ensures Saskatchewan attracts top tech talent while helping employers fill critical roles in the province’s technology sector.
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