If you are working in the IT sector, you must be wondering “How to obtain Canada PR for Indian IT professionals?”
Don’t fret! You are not the only one. There are many like you who wish to settle in the “Land of Maple Leaf.”
Canada is home to numerous major organizations with massive IT departments. These organizations hire a large number of IT professionals who can help them meet their diverse needs. However, the supply of IT workers in Canada finds it hard to keep up with the high demand for professionals with skills and experience. Companies in Canada are required to fill an estimated 250,000 IT jobs by 2025. It is due to this reason that many of these companies are looking for IT workers so they can fill vacancies in their IT departments.
The Federal and Provincial governments in Canada have created numerous programs to assist skilled IT workers in immigrating to Canada. This blog will explain 6 ways to obtain Canada PR for Indian IT professionals.
What IT Jobs are in High Demand in Canada?
If you are an IT professional who wishes to employment in Canada, your chances will be higher if you plan to work in any of the below-mentioned occupations:
- Software Engineer
- Product Manager
- Developer
- User Experience Designer
- Graphic Designer
- Tech Sales
Each of the occupations mentioned above is in high demand, so consider searching for employers in Canada seeking out workers to fill various vacancies in these positions.
6 Ways You Can Obtain Canada PR as an IT Professional
Listed below are 6 programs that offer job opportunities for Canadian immigration for IT professionals:
- BC PNP Tech
- Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway
- Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream
- Intra-Company Transfer
- Start-Up Visa Canada
- Global Talent Stream
1. BC PNP Tech
The BC PNP Tech program in British Columbia provides an uncomplicated immigration route for individuals interested in tech-related occupations. This contains:
TEER Code | Occupation | |
10030 | Telecommunication carriers managers | |
20012 | Computer and information systems managers | |
21100 | Physicists and astronomers | |
21210 | Mathematicians, statisticians, and actuaries | |
21211 | Data scientists | |
21220 | Cybersecurity specialists | |
21221 | Business systems specialists | |
21222 | Information systems specialists | |
21223 | Database analysts and data administrators | |
21230 | Computer systems developers and programmers |
Candidates who are nominated under the BC PNP Tech program can apply for a work permit without their Canadian employer that is required to complete an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment). They can work in the British Columbia province while their application for permanent residence is processed which is one of the Top Provinces in Canada for New Immigrants in 2023.
Requirements for BC PNP Tech
IT professionals who are looking to apply for the BC PNP Tech program ought to meet the requirements for the BC Skilled Worker or BC International Graduate Categories. These requirements are listed below:
· Job Offer
In both the BC PNP Skills Immigration and International Graduate categories. IT worker applicants are required to have a full-time job offer from an employer in British Columbia. This job offer should fall under the NOC (National Occupational Classification) TEER codes for the above-mentioned occupations.
· Work Experience
One of the requirements for obtaining Canada PR for Indian IT professionals is work experience. IT worker candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories are required to possess a minimum of 2 years of work experience in the occupation they are looking to work in Canada.
· Language Proficiency
IT candidates that use the Skilled Worker pathway should have a minimum language proficiency score of CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) 4. Applicants using the International Graduate category do not have to follow this requirement if their job offer falls under NOC 0, 1, 2, or 3. The ones with a job offer that fall under NOC TEER 4 or 5 are required to score CLB 4 as a minimum.
· Education Requirements
It is not mandatory for IT worker candidates using the BC PNP Skilled Worker pathway to meet minimum education requirements. Those following the International Graduate category should have completed a College or University program that lasts a minimum of 1 year inside Canada.
BC PNP Tech Application Process
Prospective candidates who are looking to Canada PR for Indian IT professionals are required to follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Determine if you are able to meet the minimum eligibility requirements for the BC PNP Tech program pathway you are looking to pursue
- Now create an online profile on the BC PNP immigration portal
- If you are invited to apply, you ought to complete an application followed by paying a fee
- If approved, you will receive a provincial nomination and a support letter for a work permit
- You can apply for PR (Permanent Resident) status as well as a work permit
- Once you receive your work permit in Canada, you can come to the country and work for your Canadian employer while waiting for the decision on your application for permanent residence application.
2. Alberta Accelerated Pilot Program
Another Canada PNP program for IT professionals is the Accelerated Tech Pathway in Alberta. This program stands out owing to the fact that it works with the Federal Express Entry System to assist IT professionals in getting permanent residence.
This program caters to the diverse needs of IT professionals in the occupations mentioned below:
NOC Code (2021) | NOC TEER Category | Occupation |
10 | 0 | Legislators |
40021 | 0 | School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education |
40030 | 0 | Managers in social, community, and correctional services |
40041 | 0 | Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers |
60040* | 0 | Escort agency managers, massage parlour managers |
41100 | 1 | Judges |
41220 | 1 | Secondary school teachers |
41221 | 1 | Elementary school and kindergarten teachers |
51111 | 1 | Authors and writers (except technical) |
51122 | 1 | Musicians and singers |
Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway Requirements
Skilled IT workers who are interested in applying to the Canada PNP program for IT professionals have to first check that they qualify for at least one of the Federal Express Entry programs. This consists of:
Federal Skilled Worker Program
- A high school diploma
- 1 year of work experience in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations
- A test score of at least CLB 7 for language proficiency
Canadian Experience Class
- 1 year of work experience in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 jobs. You are required to have gained this work experience 3 years before creating the application for the Express Entry program.
- If your work experience falls under NOC TEER 0 or 1, a language proficiency score of at least CLB 7 is required. If your work experience falls under NOC TEER 2 or 3, you must have a proficiency score of at least CLB 5.
Federal Skilled Trades Class
- 2 years of work experience in a job that fits IRCC’s (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) definition of “Skilled trades.”
- You are required to have a skilled trade certificate in Canada that is needed to work in your selected occupation inside the country.
- You must score a minimum of CLB 5 in the language test’s categories for speaking and listening. A minimum of CLB 4 is required for the writing and reading categories.
On top of the other requirements, you should:
- Have created a profile for Express Entry If you wish to obtain Canada PR for Indian IT professionals
- Display you possess have sufficient funds for settling in Alberta
- Have a recognized job offer in one of the above-mentioned NOC categories from an employer in Alberta
Alberta Accelerated Pilot Program Application Process
IT workers looking to apply for the Alberta Accelerated Pilot Program should use the below-mentioned application process:
- Ensure you check that you are eligible for at least one of the Federal Express Entry Programs.
- Now create a profile for Express Entry.
- Submit an EOI (Expression of Interest) to the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway.
- If approved, you will receive a provincial nomination as well as a support letter for a work permit.
- You can apply for PR (Permanent Resident) status through the Express Entry System and a work permit.
- Once you receive your work permit for Canada, you can come to the country and work for your employer while waiting for the decision on your permanent resident application.
3. Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream
Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream in Canada is another provincial program for skilled IT workers who are looking to obtain Canada PR for Indian IT professionals. Moreover, OINP human capital priorities stream works with the Express Entry system. So the program requirements seem similar to those of the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway.
Ontario Human Capital Priorities stream caters to IT professionals in the professions listed below:
NOC CODE (2021) | NOC TEER Category | Occupation |
0 | 20012 | Computer and information systems managers |
1 | 21311 | Computer engineers (with the exception of software engineers and designers) |
1 | 21230 | Computer systems developers and programmers |
1 | 21223 | Database analysts and data administrators |
1 | 21231 | Software engineers and designers |
1 | 21232 | Software developers and programmers |
1 | 21233 | Web designers |
1 | 21234 | Web developers and programmers |
1 | 21211 | Data Scientists |
Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream Application Process
The application process for the Ontario Human Capital Priorities stream is similar to that of the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway. The only difference is that you cannot apply with the Canadian province directly. Instead, you ought to wait for a Notification of Interest from Ontario after you have completed your Express Entry profile.
4. Intra-Company Transfer
You can obtain Canada PR for Indian IT professionals through Intra-Company Transfer Canada. It is a great and unique platform that enables foreign workers to work at multinational companies and transfer from their current branch in their home country to the Canadian branch of the company.
Successful candidates will receive a 1-year work permit so they can come to the country and work here. This work experience can be used to apply for immigration through one of the Federal Express Entry programs or Provincial Nominee Programs.
Requirements for Intra-Company Transfer
IT workers who are looking to apply through the Intra-Company Transfer program are required to meet the requirements below:
- You ought to be employed in a multinational company
- The job has to be in an executive or senior management position. Alternatively, IT workers with specialized knowledge are accepted as well.
- The multinational company has to have a branch or subsidiary in Canada.
Intra-Company Transfer Application Process
The steps to the Canada PR process for IT professionals under the Intra-Company Transfer program are mentioned below:
- You should check if you qualify for the ICT requirements listed above
- The next step that you need to follow is submitting a work permit application
- If your work permit application is approved, you can come to the country and work with your employer in Canada
- After you have obtained one or two years of work experience, you can apply for PR through a Federal Express or Provincial Nominee Program.
5. Start-Up Visa
Any foreign entrepreneur who wishes to create a start-up in Canada can apply for a Start-Up Visa. This immigration route is suited for those entrepreneurs who are looking to turn their lucrative tech start-up idea into reality. These entrepreneurs have also managed to secure funds from an investment organization in Canada.
Start-Up Visa Requirements
IT professionals who propose to apply for the Start-Up Visa program are required to meet the requirements mentioned below:
- They must have a qualifying business
- They must have a valid Letter of Support from an investment organization in Canada
- They must score a minimum of CLB 5 in a language proficiency exam
- They must prove that they possess the required funds to support themselves and their family in the country
Start-Up Visa Application Process
The following is the Start-Up Visa application process:
- To begin with, you must obtain a Letter of Support from a designated Canadian investment
- Complete and submit the application for a Start-Up Visa
- Pay the required Start-Up Visa application fees
- Now submit your biometrics as well as medical exam results
- You will receive a PR (Permanent Residence) Visa if your Start-Up application is approved
6. Global Talent Stream
The Global Talent Stream is a quick way to start working in Canada. You, to use this approach, will first need to find an employer in Canada who is willing to hire you through this program. If selected, you will receive a 3-year work permit to come to Canada to work here.
Global Talent Stream Requirements
Well, Global Talent Stream has no fixed requirements. However, you must ensure you qualify for no less than one of the Express Entry or provincial Nominee Programs. Moreover, you should have a minimum of one year of work experience in one of the below-mentioned in-demand occupations:
NOC TEER Category | NOC Code (2021) | Occupation |
0 | 20012 | Computer and information systems managers |
1 | 21210 | Mathematicians and statisticians |
1 | 21211 | Data Scientists |
1 | 21311 | Computer engineers (except for software engineers and designers) |
1 | 21220 | Cybersecurity specialists |
1 | 21221 | Business system specialists |
1 | 21222 | Information systems specialists |
1 | 21211 | Data scientists |
1 | 21223 | Database analysts and data administrators |
1 | 21230 | Computer systems developers and programmers |
Global Talent Stream Application Process
If you are looking to Canada PR for Indian IT professionals, you need to apply for the Global Talent Stream. You are required to follow the process as mentioned below:
- Secure a job offer in one of the occupations mentioned above
- Now you need to ask your employer for submitting your application for the Global Talent Stream
- If the Canadian employer receives a valid and positive LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment), you can apply for a work permit and come to the country
- Once you have acquired enough work experience, you can apply for permanent residency through an Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Program.
Do You Need Help with Obtaining Canada PR?
If you wish to obtain Canada PR for Indian IT professionals, contact Oasis Resource Management. Our skilled and knowledgeable immigration experts will provide you with guidance and answer every query you may have concerning Canada PR.