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The government of Canada is going to strengthen the country's role as a leader in global tech talent recruitment and attraction of technical talents. This is necessary not only to fill in-demand vacancies today, but also to attract the skills and business talent to create the jobs of tomorrow. In this regard, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced an approach that includes four key pillars involving additions and improvements to programs offered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The Government of Canada is planning to launch a new Innovation Stream of the International Mobility Program by the end of 2023. It will make an exception for technical jobs, which will no longer require a pre-assessment of the Canadian labor market in order to hire such specialist. In addition, technicians will be issued work permits for a period of five years if they plan to work for a company identified by the Government of Canada as contributing to their industrial innovation goals.
Under Canada's current immigration rules, a digital nomad only needs visitor status to move to Canada for up to six months while doing their work remotely for a foreign employer.
In the coming months, IRCC will collaborate with public and private partners to determine whether additional policies to attract digital nomads to Canada would be desirable.
It is expected that some digital nomads who initially enter Canada to work remotely will decide to seek opportunities from Canadian employers. When they receive a job offer from a Canadian company, they would be able to apply for a temporary work permit or even permanent residence in Canada.
Thousands of workers in high-tech fields are employed with companies operating in the USA and Canada.
Starting July 16, 2023, H-1B specialty occupation visa holders in the US, and their accompanying immediate family members, will be eligible to apply to come to Canada.
Approved candidates will receive an open work permit for up to three years, which means they can work for almost any employer anywhere in Canada. Their spouses and dependents will also be eligible to apply for a temporary resident visa with a work or study permit if required.
The Start-up Visa (SUV) Program provides a path to permanent residence for foreign entrepreneurs who gain the support of a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor organization or business incubator for their start-up.
Recognizing the long wait times for applicants due to high interest in the SUV program, IRCC will change the temporary work permit option for SUV applicants and will allow them to apply for an open work permit of up to three years, rather than a one-year work permit that limits them to work solely for their own start-up.
The work permit will be available to each member of the entrepreneurial team. Currently, only members of the entrepreneurial team who are identified as essential and urgently needed in Canada by the designated organization supporting the start-up can apply.
In addition, venture funds intend to allocate more funds for the development of innovative businesses in Canada.
Source: Government of Canada
Photo by Rachael Annabelle on Unsplash
