Canada PR Visa For Software Engineer in 2024

Canada's demand for tech workers is higher than ever, owing to constant efforts to sustain its growth. To meet the on-growing demand, the Canadian government provides many immigration options to apply for Canada PR as a software engineer.

With a growing need for software engineers, more and more tech employers in Canada are eagerly looking for immigrants to meet their labour market demands. In fact, in 2020, more than one-third of Canada's total jobs in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector were held by migrants.

Employment prospects with Canada PR as a software engineer

The average salary for Software Engineers & Designers (NOC 2173) is $48/hour under various titles:

• Application Architect
• Software Testing Engineer
• Software Technical Architect
• Software Architect

The role of a software engineer under different designations is to research, design, evaluate, integrate, and maintain software applications, technical environments, operating systems, embedded software, information warehouses, and telecommunications software.

Top Pathways to Immigrate to Canada as a Software Engineer

Here are a few of the most popular pathways via which you can immigrate to Canada as a software engineer in 2024:

Express Entry 

Express Entry is a popular program for foreign nationals who wish to settle on a Canada PR as a software engineer. There are three essential economic immigration programs managed via the Express Entry system:

• Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
• Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is best for software engineers with no previous connection with Canada-like work experience.

Though the Express Entry system of Canada doesn't consider occupation while determining the CRS score of each candidate, the IRCC has recently announced moving to occupation-based EE draws. This move will allow the federal government of Canada to invite candidates based on their occupation to meet specific labour market demands.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) also make a popular pathway to immigrate to Canada as a Software Engineer. Many Canadian provinces and territories offer provincial nominee programs exclusively for those with prior tech industry experience. A few programs also invite applicants from the Express Entry pool to apply for provincial nomination.

A few popular PNPs for software overseas include:

Ontario Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream

Ontario's HCP stream is an ideal option for those skilled foreign workers who don't have any prior job offer from a Canadian employer. Under this stream, Ontario regularly conducts targeted tech draws and directly invite tech workers from the federal Express Entry pool.

Apart from Software engineers and designers, the following are the other targeted tech occupations:

• Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
• Computer engineers (NOC 2147)
• Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
• Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)
• Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
• Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)

British Columbia Tech PNP Draw

British Columbia also conducts Tech PNP draws and offers expedited processing for applicants with a prior job offer from BC in any of 27 targeted tech occupations. To be eligible, candidates must qualify under any one of the Skills Immigration streams of BC PNP and don't need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Following are the 27 targeted tech occupations:

• Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
• Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
• Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts (NOC 0512)
• Civil engineers (NOC 2131)
• Telecommunication carriers managers (NOC 0131)
• Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
• Mechanical engineers (NOC 2132)
• Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133)
• Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171)
• Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)
• Chemical engineers (NOC 2134)
• Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 2147)
• Electrical and electronics engineers technologists and technicians (NOC 2241)
• Electronic service technicians (households and business equipment) (NOC 2242)
• Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)
• Biological technologists and technicians (NOC 2221)
• Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (NOC 2243)
• Computer network technicians (NOC 2281)
• Authors and writers (NOC 5121)
• Editors (NOC 5122)
• User support technicians (NOC 2282)
• Information systems testing technicians (NOC 2283)
• Translators, terminologists and interpreters (NOC 5125)
• Broadcast technicians (NOC 5224)
• Audio and video recording technicians (NOC 5225)
• Graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 5241)
• Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade (NOC 6221)
• Other technical and co-ordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts (NOC 5226)
• Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting photography and the performing arts (NOC 5227)

Alberta Tech Pathway

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) also offers an expedited pathway to Canadian PR for specific tech professionals with prior job offers from Alberta. To qualify, candidates must have a job offer in any one of 37 tech occupations:

• Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
• Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
• Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services (NOC 0013)
• Human resources managers (NOC 0112)
• Architecture and science managers (NOC 0212)
• Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
• Telecommunication carriers managers (NOC 0131)
• Engineering managers (NOC 0211)
• Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts (NOC 0512)
• Human resources professionals (NOC 1121)
• Human resources and recruitment officers (NOC 1223)
• Corporate sales managers (NOC 0601)
• Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (NOC 1123)
• Civil engineers (NOC 2131)
• Mechanical engineers (NOC 2132)
• Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133)
• Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171)
• Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)
• Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 2147)
• Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries (NOC 2161)
• Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)
• Biological technologists and technicians (NOC 2221)
• Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 2241)
• Drafting technologists and technicians (NOC 2253)
• Computer network technicians (NOC 2281)
• Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 2232)
• Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians (NOC 2233)
• User support technicians (NOC 2282)
• Information systems testing technicians (NOC 2283)
• Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health) (NOC 3219)
• Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants (NOC 4163)
• Medical laboratory technologists (NOC 3211)
• Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists' assistants (NOC 3212)
• Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations (NOC 5131)
• Graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 5241)
• Telecommunications installation and repair workers (NOC 7246)
• Electricians (except industrial and power system) (NOC 7241)
• Industrial electricians (NOC 7242)

If you are interested to immigrate to Canada as a Software Engineer, you may complete our free online profile assessment form and get a detail evaluation of your Canadian immigration options.

Disclaimer: Visas Avenue does not offer consultancy on overseas jobs/work permits/international or domestic placements, etc. The content and information shared above are just for the knowledge and understanding of the people who aspire to apply for jobs in Canada after acquiring a permanent residency visa.