March 29, 2024

Tech group wants new visa to allow skilled workers to enter Canada without a job offer

Tech group wants new visa to allow skilled workers to enter Canada without a job offer

Published on April 11th, 2022 at 09:00am EDT
Updated on April 11th, 2022 at 09:18am EDT


Office worker typing on two computers.

To aid handle labour shortages in the tech sector, the Council of Canadian Innovators is calling on the federal federal government to pilot a new visa that would permit higher-experienced tech staff to appear to Canada without the need of a job provide.

The CCI a short while ago unveiled its Talent and Competencies Tactic, providing 13 crucial suggestions for policymakers to guidance Canada’s increasing tech business.

The proposed visa, referred to as the Substantial Likely Tech Visa, would focus on in-desire professions like software program developers and info experts. It would allow holders to get the job done, transform positions, and assist them obtain Canadian long lasting residency.

Are you an employer seeking tech talent? Call Cohen Immigration Legislation for a Absolutely free Session

In its report titled the Talent and Expertise Tactic, CCI famous that most individuals trying to find function visas in Canada require a work offer to qualify. This requirement generates a barrier for really skilled talent who want to work in Canada. The report claims if software builders, knowledge experts, and other industry experts performing in in-desire occupations had been allowed to enter Canada to search for perform they would probably discover it.

In addition, the pandemic has made remote do the job progressively much more prevalent. As a consequence, CCI claims the Canadian governing administration should really consult with the private sector to pilot making it possible for extremely proficient foreign employees to occur to Canada for a designated volume of time without the need of a occupation offer you.

This proposal is loosely primarily based on a application remaining proposed in the British isles, which would permit software program developers, engineers, or info researchers to enter the region without a position offer.

The proposed tech visa would complement the present Worldwide Capabilities Strategy, which aims to system do the job allow apps in as small as two weeks for in-demand roles. The CCI, even so, is contacting for a 48-hour visa processing time for this software.

“By developing an avenue for skilled tech staff to come to Canada on their own initiative, the federal government can increase the offered provide of qualified workers who could be hired by Canadian firms, with out forcing firms to proactively undertake the time-consuming and bureaucratic system concerned in sponsoring a likely international employee,” the report suggests.

The CCI also wishes the governing administration to give a concierge services to support companies navigate the immigration process, and therefore ease the pathway to long lasting residency as a result of the World Expertise Stream—a do the job permit program that operates under the World-wide Techniques Method and is out there to certain businesses and find in-demand tech occupations.

Some of the CCI’s other suggestions relating to talent acquisition bundled launching a Digital Nomad Approach to make Canada a location for much more remote staff, and reviewing the National Profession Classification (NOC) codes a lot more routinely to better replicate the shifting character of engineering work opportunities in Canada. They also want Canada to grow the recognition of global and choice credentials for Canadian visa applicants.

Two-week work permit processing for tech talent

Canada previously features some immigration and perform allow selections for tech employees. Amid the quite a few pathways to long lasting residence, Canada also gives the Global Expertise Stream (GTS), which allows certain experienced workers to get a short-term do the job permit in two months of applying. It is a person of the pillars of Canada’s International Competencies System, which aims to support companies expand by guaranteeing they can entry the remarkably expert talent they have to have immediately.

The GTS will allow employers to get a Labour Industry Influence Assessment (LMIA) devoid of the advertising necessity. It is obtainable to superior-development providers that can display a need to have to recruit one of a kind specialised expertise from overseas. Companies in this class will have to be referred to the World Expertise Stream by a selected referral lover.

The GTS is also out there to employers looking to hire skilled expertise for in-demand occupations uncovered on the World Talent Occupations Checklist.

Employers in both equally classes have to meet up with disorders relating to the payment of skilled workers. International staff employed as a result of the GTS must be compensated at the prevailing wage or better. The prevailing wage is outlined as the maximum determine of both:

  • the median wage for the occupation on the Government of Canada’s Job Lender
  • the wage within just the array an employer pays present-day staff members in the same place at the exact same area, with the same capabilities and knowledge
  • the minimum amount wage floor as defined in the World wide Expertise occupations listing (if relevant).

There are also some perform permit exemptions underneath the Worldwide Talent Stream. Very-expert employees in NOC skill sort or A-degree occupations might enter Canada to work for 15 days in a six-month period, or 30 times in a 12-month period with out a do the job permit. Scientists functioning at publicly-funded analysis establishments may well come to Canada for 120 days in a calendar year devoid of needing a work permit.

Are you an employer trying to find tech expertise? Contact Cohen Immigration Law for a Absolutely free Session

© CIC News All Legal rights Reserved. Take a look at CanadaVisa.com to find out your Canadian immigration solutions.