Top Canadian Immigration Programs for Engineers

The need for foreign workers has never been greater. As Canada sees many of its young professionals moving to bigger cities, and a large number of Canadian citizens reaching retirement age, many gaps in the labour market need to be filled.

Engineering has become an in-demand job due to the tremendous growth that the Canadian economy has been experiencing. In order to maintain the long-term economic growth of the country, engineers have become highly sought after to improve infrastructure, build businesses and innovate software. And because of this high demand, Canadian employers are willing to pay higher salaries.

So what are the options for engineers who wish to move to Canada? Well, join us as we take a look at the top 3 Canadian immigration programs for engineers.

3 Ways To Move to Canada as an Engineer

1. Canada Express Entry

In January of 2015, the Canadian government introduced the Express Entry system. This Canadian immigration program was designed to help Canada meet its future labour market needs and saw itself issuing 107,950 ITAs in 2020 alone through its three major federal programs; the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Trades Worker Program (FTWP), and the Canada Experience Class (CEC).

Engineers automatically fall under the skilled worker category, making them eligible to apply for Express Entry through the Federal Skilled Worker Program. In order for their applications to be successful, applicants must follow the steps listed below:

1. Meet the minimum requirements
2. Create an express entry profile
3. Receive a CRS score
4. Get an Invitation To Apply (ITA)
5. Collect supporting documents
6. Pay your fees and submit application for Permanent Residency (PR)

Engineers who apply through Express Entry must keep in mind that their application and CRS scores will be the first thing that will be looked at by the employer meaning applicants must try and receive the highest possible CRS score.

TopTip: It is not necessary for engineers to have a job offer when applying through Express Entry, but it will increase their CRS scores, thus improving their chances.

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)

So, what is the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)? The CRS is a system used to rank applicants in order to determine who will get selected first from the Express Entry Pool.

The Comprehensive Ranking System scores applicants out of a maximum score of 1,200 and is based on two categories namely;

• Core points = 600 points, and
• Additional points = 600 points.

 

Categories for Core points
Skills and experience factors
Spouse or common-law partner factors eg. language skills and education
Skills transferability eg. education and work experience

 

Categories for Additional points
Canadian degrees, diplomas, or certificates
A valid job offer
A nomination from a province or territory
A brother or sister living in Canada (citizen or permanent resident)
Strong French language skills

 

2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) was created by the Canadian government to give local provinces the opportunity to nominate immigrants who wish to live, work, or settle in their province.

But how do you get a PNP? Well first, you will need to choose which province you would like to move to then apply for a nomination. After this, the province will compare your application to its labour and immigration needs, and assess your genuine intention to want to settle in the province.

But what are the best provinces for engineers to apply to? Because of the steady growth of the Canadian economy, a need for engineers spans over the entire country as businesses constantly seek to improve their systems and infrastructure, making any province ideal for engineers.

Top 3 Engineering Jobs In Canada

Civil Engineer - Civil Engineers have become highly sought after because of the important role they play in providing support to engineers in other fields such as environmental engineering, structural engineering, and transport.

Industrial Engineer - Canada has set their eye on the future and has expressed its desire for constant innovation. Industrial engineering looks at optimizing IT, equipment for manufacturing, and renewable energy.

Project Manager - the world has become a competitive environment, and if businesses want to stand at the forefront, they will need proper leadership. Canadian businesses have come to realize the importance of project management in order to see that tasks are performed on time, applying organizational skills, and creating a clear vision for the future that the company can work towards.

3. Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program has proven itself by showing the successful effect that foreign workers have made to industries such as agriculture, healthcare, and technology.

Canadian employers who are looking to hire engineers from foreign countries will have to apply through a TFWP stream that supports their hiring needs. In order for the application to be successful, the employer will need to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

The LMIA is a document that businesses must first get before hiring workers from outside the country. This document is proof that there is no Canadian Citizen or permanent resident that is available to fill this role.

Top Tip: Receive one year of work experience in Canada and apply for the Canadian Experience Class through the Express Entry immigration system.

Reasons to Work to Canada

• Free education - Canada offers their citizens and permanent residents free secondary schooling
• Great healthcare - Canadian citizens and permanent residents get to enjoy universal healthcare
• Higher salary - As an engineer, your job is specified as in demand meaning that employers are willing to pay higher salaries
• A home away from home - Many people from across the world have come to call Canada home. With 21 percent of the population being foreigners, it is safe to say that Canada holds a little bit of everything in it, making it easy to fit into their diverse community

If you’re an engineer and looking to move to Canada, be sure to know that Canada awaits you with open arms. With the country still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses have started to slowly reopen and look to innovate and upgrade. Engineers play a vital role in optimizing old businesses and helping to build new ones in order to lead the country into the future.

With over 100 Canadian visa and immigration programs to choose from, the only problem you may have is finding a program that best suits you. So why not start your journey today?

Your Journey Starts Here