How to Immigrate to Canada as a Web Developer

Working as a web developer already means working in one of the world's most modern and lucrative industries if you ask yourself whether plying your trade as a web developer in Canada would be worth it. 

Canada has the third-largest I.T. industry in the world, behind only Japan and the United States. So why would you choose to immigrate to Canada over those two? The answer is simple, a better quality of life and the offer of permanent residency in Canada. Canadians believe strongly in a healthy balance between work and personal time. It's a culture that is promoted from the top down. After all, why would anyone let a country with everything you could ever want go to waste?

It's the great outdoors like nothing you've ever experienced; scenic mountain ranges stretching beyond the horizon, cut apart by roaring rivers and gentle streams, infringed upon only by evergreen forests. Thousands of lakes, many of which have never even been visited by humans, are waiting to be explored, and at night, the real show begins; the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, rivers of green and yellow light dance across the night sky in the most dazzling phenomenon ever witnessed.

If you prefer playing in the urban jungle, you couldn't do much better than in Vancouver or Toronto. Hundreds of live music venues and fantastic bars serve the best wings, burgers, beers, cinemas, and theatres for those who enjoy the arts.

All this and more await you in the Great White North. But you probably wonder what it's like to work in Canada and how much you'll earn. So, let's look at how to immigrate to Canada as a web developer and where to find a job.

How to Immigrate to Canada as a Web Developer

Canada is a great place to work as a web developer. Many have attested there is no better place to raise a family thanks to the free universal healthcare, free schooling, and the comfort of knowing you live in one of the world's safest countries. On top of this, Canada also needs skilled web developers to help their massively expanding tech industry. Here are some best ways to move to Canada as a web developer.

Express Entry

One of Canada's most popular immigration pathways is the Express Entry system. This system was created in 2015 to help skilled foreign workers and their families immigrate to Canada in as little as six months.

There are three programs within the Express Entry System, each with specific requirements for different types of applicants. The three programs are:

• The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

To apply for these three programs, you must create an Express Entry profile on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Express Entry web portal. To make your profile, you must enter specific information such as your:

• Age
• Education
• Work Experience
• Marital Status
• Links to Canada

Once they submit all their data, IRCC evaluates it based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to produce a CRS score. All scores enter into an Express Entry pool. Every two weeks, an Express Entry draw takes place. Applicants whose skills are most relevant to Canada's needs and whose scores are over a certain number receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. After that, they have 60 days to submit all the documents required for their application and wait for the processing time to get their permanent resident card.

As a web developer, you will have the best chance of success in the FSWP and CEC Express Entry programs. The FSWP is for foreign nationals who work in occupations requiring a degree, like a web development.

The CEC is for skilled workers who have already been living and working in Canada on a temporary residence permit, like a work permit, for at least 12 months.

Here's a full breakdown of how to get a Canadian work permit if you think the CEC might be the right direction for you.

As tech workers in Canada are in extremely high demand, a professional web developer should have no problem getting an ITA, provided they ensure they fulfill the requirements for their chosen program and follow every step of the application process correctly.

Provincial Nominee Programs

If you know exactly which part of Canada you want to move to, one of the best ways to fast-track your move is to get a provincial nomination. 11 out of Canada's 13 provinces have Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Each province's PNP has several specific streams for different types of applicants.

One of the great things about PNPs is that they work with the Express Entry system. So getting a provincial nomination can add up to 600 points to your CRS score, guaranteeing an ITA at the next Express Entry Draw.

To apply this way, you must create an Expression of Interest (EOI) in your chosen province when you create your Express Entry profile. Here you will submit your details to a specific province. You will receive a nomination if your chosen province needs your skills and experience.

If you don't plan on applying through the Express Entry system, you can also apply directly to the province by applying to the provincial government. This process may take longer and varies depending on your province.

Find out more about the different PNPs and which are most relevant here.

Your success in a PNP largely depends on whether your chosen province needs your skills. A fairly good way to determine this is to see which occupations are in demand in each province. This map shows you who is needed and where.

However, three PNPs are specifically for tech workers like web developers, which may be the best place to start looking. They are as follows:

BC PNP Tech Pilot

If you can secure a job offer, your chance of obtaining PR status is very high. Web developers are highly in demand in British Columbia, so much so that there is an immigration stream dedicated to them.

A substream of the British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program, the BC PNP tech pilot is designed to fast-track tech workers planning to live and work in British Columbia to Canadian permanent residency. IRCC created the pilot to allow B.C. tech employers to recruit and retain international talent by fast-tracking their permanent residency applications.

The Ontario Tech Pilot

The Ontario Tech Pilot is part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) and was introduced to close the labour gap and attract skilled workers from abroad. The program identifies candidates in the Express Entry pool with technological skillsets. Tech draws fall under the Human Capital Priorities stream, which targets skilled workers in Canada's Express Entry pool. In addition, the tech draws target Express Entry candidates with experience in one of the targeted National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes. Candidates must meet the Human Capital Priorities Stream criteria or has work experience in one of the targeted NOC codes for that stream.

Here's a breakdown of the requirements for the Human Capital Priorities Stream.

In that case, they will receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) on their Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) online account.

The Ontario Tech Pilot is designed to choose eligible skilled professionals per their Comprehensive Ranking System score by inviting them via provincial nomination. Selected candidates will eventually receive a Canada PR Visa under the tech program. Candidates do not necessarily require a valid job offer to receive an invitation but must have at least one year of experience in one of the targeted occupations. However, having a job offer in Canada helps.

Here's a handy guide to help you apply for jobs in Canada.

The Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway

The Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway is a fast-track to Canada immigration for candidates with job offers in one of 38 technology occupations. The pathway falls under the Express Entry stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). It targets candidates in Canada and overseas in 38 NOC codes.

To be eligible for the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway, a candidate must be eligible under the Alberta Express Entry stream. Candidates must also be working in one of 38 tech occupations identified as in demand by the AAIP or hold a job offer with an Alberta employer that is part of an eligible tech industry.

We have some of the best IT programs in the world for I.T.ose who want to study, and when you finish, you will likely be eligible for a permanent residency in Canada. We have post-graduate institutions that offer incredible web developer courses to take you onto the next level of your career, after which you will have your pick of jobs in Canada. Either way, the time has come for you to join us in Canada.

FAQs

Are These the Only Ways to Immigrate to Canada as a Web Developer?

No. Canada has over 100 different visa and immigration programs. These are just your best option to make Canada your new home. However, getting a full evaluation or consulting with an RCIC can help you to determine which programs are best for you. 

Is it Hard to Find a Job in the IT Industry in Canada?

Many in the IT industry agree that you should be successI.T.l if you look in the right placesI.T.Toronto and Vancouver are the tech hubs in Canada, so you will find the most opportunity there. If you apply through the Express Entry system, you should create an Expression of Interest (EOI) in Ontario or British Columbia, as you will have a much better chance of receiving a provincial nomination from one of these provinces than, say, Yukon. It may be awesome in the Yukon, but they aren't big on tech up there.

How Much Do Web Developers Make in Canada?

If you study at a Canadian institution or have just graduated. If you are considering immigrating to Canada as a web developer, entry-level positions start at around $51,262 yearly. Once you have a few years of experience, you will make around $62,505 a year. Once you build more experience, you can earn upwards of $91,917 annually. Canada is the new land of opportunity indeed.

How We Make Canadian Immigration Simple

Whether you are a skilled web developer or someone looking for a fresh start, Canada has numerous opportunities for you to start a new life in this beautiful country.

With many Canadian immigration and visa options, the process can become quite painstaking and a headache. But it doesn't have to. By using our accredited Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) you will not only improve your chances of success in the visa application process, but you will get expert advice on which program is best for your specific needs. Our RCICs are highly qualified and are granted permission by the CICC to assist you with your eligibility evaluation, review all your documents and application forms, and submit them to the Canadian government for you. Why take the chance of having your application denied because your forms are incorrect or sent in too late?