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.

Employment and Social Development Canada is meeting the two-week standard for processing Global Talent Stream labour market impact assessments for employers, and IRCC is meeting the two-week standard for work permit applications.

Processing times for Global Skills Strategy work permit applications have recovered after delays throughout the pandemic.

The Global Skills Strategy, launched in 2017, features four policies designed to support Canadian employers seeking quick access to highly skilled talent from around the world.

We’re improving some of Canada’s existing immigration programs that can benefit workers in high-skilled tech occupations, including the Global Skills Strategy and the Start-up Visa Program.

Improving existing programs that cater to workers in high-skill tech occupations.

Only principal applicants, and not their accompanying family members, will count toward the application cap.

This measure will remain in effect for one year, or until IRCC receives 10,000 applications.

This will expand the opportunities available for skilled workers to continue to pursue their careers in the high-tech sector and contribute to economic growth and prosperity in North America.

Their spouses and dependants will also be eligible to apply for a temporary resident visa, with a work or study permit, as needed.

Approved applicants will receive an open work permit of up to three years in duration, which means they will be able to work for almost any employer anywhere in Canada.

As of 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.

Thousands of workers in high-tech fields are employed with companies that have large operations in both Canada and the US, and those working in the US often hold an H-1B specialty occupation visa.Improving labour mobility in North America by creating a streamlined work permit for H-1B specialty occupation visa holders in the US to apply to come to Canada.When they receive a job offer from a Canadian company, they would be able to bring their skills to a Canadian employer by applying for a temporary work permit or even permanent residence. We expect that some digital nomads who initially enter Canada to work remotely will decide to seek opportunities with Canadian employers.In the months ahead, IRCC will collaborate with public and private partners alike to determine whether additional policies to attract digital nomads to Canada would be desirable.Under current Canadian immigration rules, a digital nomad only needs visitor status to relocate to Canada for up to six months at a time while they perform their job remotely for a foreign employer.A digital nomad is a person who can perform their job remotely from anywhere in the world.Promoting Canada as a destination for digital nomads.open work permits for up to five years for highly skilled workers in select in-demand occupations.

employer-specific work permits for up to five years for workers destined to work for a company identified by the Government of Canada as contributing to our industrial innovation goals.

The feedback from stakeholders on the Innovation Stream proposal has led IRCC to consider two options that are not mutually exclusive:.This means that IRCC will create a new exemption from the labour market impact assessment process to help high-growth employers and talented workers in support of Canada’s innovation priorities and high-tech industries. With this in mind, the Government of Canada is planning to launch a new Innovation Stream of the International Mobility Program by the end of 2023.In recent consultations with tech industry stakeholders, we have heard that labour shortages are persistent in key tech occupations and broadening Canada’s talent base in the sector should continue to be a goal.Developing a new Innovation Stream under to the International MobilityProgram to attract highly talented individuals.The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, 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 embracing Canada’s emerging role as a leader in global tech talent recruitment and attraction to ensure Canada is not only filling in-demand jobs today, but also attracting the skills and business talent to create the jobs of tomorrow.

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