How to Immigrate to Canada as an Engineer

Are you an engineer looking to immigrate to Canada? In Canada, there are plenty of ways to apply as a skilled worker including both fast-track and traditional pathways. The federal government has unveiled plans to introduce over a million workers into its workforce within the next three years, especially sourcing in-demand and skilled occupation workers to boost the local economy in different sectors.

As an engineer you can immigrate to Canada through various skilled worker programs including the Express Entry system and individual Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams. You can earn up to $300, 000 per year as a senior engineer in certain provinces/territories in Canada, making 2020 the best time to start your career there.

Why Work As an Engineer in Canada?

Engineers are necessary for Canada for a number of sectors that are currently not being filled by the local workforce due to a lack of skills. It’s not only an occupation that is in-demand but also one that Canadian employers are willing to pay higher salaries for. There are also several different avenues open in the field of engineering such as civil, chemical, computer and electrical, not to mention professions that specialize in a mixture of skills.

You can make anything between $50, 000 per year as an entry-level worker and $300, 000 per year as a senior in your field of engineering. Starting your career in Canada early (and building up Canadian work experience) can make a massive difference in your earnings in later years. There are also the added benefits of free basic education and free public healthcare to ensure that you and anyone dependent on you is taken care of. Another plus is that you get to take your pick of provinces/territories that you’d like to settle in because they all have room for engineers in one stream or another.

There are various programs you can apply for

There are various ways to immigrate to Canada with specific programs outlined for skilled workers. You can enter the application process through two main avenues, either the PNP streams or the Express Entry system that fast-tracks applications under three main programs. These two paths overlap in the sense that certain PNP streams fall under the Express Entry system and candidates in the Express Entry pool can apply for a Provincial Nomination (PN).

Provincial Nominee Program

The provinces and territories listed below offer several streams for skilled workers which engineers can apply for. Candidates can also check which provinces/territories list engineering as an in-demand occupation on the National Occupation Code (NOC) list. For example, Mechanical Engineers are coded as NOC category 2131 and are needed across most provinces, although they may be named differently (with the same code listed).

PNP Streams Open to Engineers

Express Entry System

The Express Entry system was established in 2015 by the Canadian federal government in order to fast-track (a processing time as little as six months) its skilled/educated worker programs. These programs include the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class.

Engineers immediately fall under the skilled worker category and are therefore eligible to apply for programs that fall under the Express Entry system, particularly the Federal Skilled Worker Program. They need to create an online profile which measures their qualifications, education and other factors using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Candidates are awarded points accordingly and then entered into the Express Entry pool which measures their score against other candidates during a draw that normally happens every two weeks.

CRS Criteria Awards Points For:

• Age
• CLB Language proficiency (English and French)
• Level of Education (in and outside Canada)
• Work Experience (in and outside Canada)
• Arranged employment
• Provincial nomination achieved
• Siblings living in Canada as permanent residents/citizens
• Your spouse’s profile (if married)

Our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) have all been through the immigration process themselves and can assist you wherever possible.

With our help, you don’t need to worry about how to immigrate to Canada as an engineer because we’ll be your guiding hand throughout the application process.