Canada set to launch digital nomad strategy targeting tech talents

Canada has announced a digital nomad strategy that will allow foreigners to work in the country for up to six months, with the possibility of extending their stay if they find a job offer.

The Canadian federal government is looking to poach talent from abroad through six new initiatives unveiled at a technology conference on Tuesday. The initiatives are aimed to attract tech talent from around the globe to Canada.

Canadian immigration minister Sean Fraser made the announcements at the Collision tech conference in Toronto. The six new immigration initiatives are:

1. New Open Work Permit Pathway For US H-1B Visa Holders
2. Dedicated PR Pathway For STEM occupations
3. Restoration of Faster Processing Under the Global Talent Stream
4. New Innovation Stream Without Job Offer
5. Digital Nomad Strategy
6. New Improvements To Startup Visa Program

What did the Canadian Immigration minister say

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser’s remarks to the Collision tech conference in Toronto were focused on the need to attract qualified workers to Canada's technology sector.

He commented that the talents will spend money in communities in the country and bring economic growth in a sector of strategic importance to Canada.

“We are actually going to be creating a pool of talents that’s going to set the stage for more companies to call Canada home in the long term. So when I think about the 10, 20, 30 years horizon rather than the next few months or even the election cycle, there’s no question in my mind.”

“Having more talented tech entrepreneurs and professionals,” Fraser continued, “in this country is going to be a very good thing half a generation from now. On the flip side of that coin, if we choose not to embrace the opportunity that this moment represents, we’re going to miss out on what could be a generational opportunity to pursue economic growth in a sector of strategic importance to Canada.”

The Canadian immigration minister added, “I’m grateful for the collaboration of the tech, start-up and business communities, who have provided valuable insight to develop this strategy. Having a fast and flexible approach, one that is broadly supported by Canadians, is truly Canada’s immigration advantage.”

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What is Canadian Digital Nomad Strategy

Canada will launch a digital nomad strategy, which is going to allow people who have a foreign employer to come and work in Canada for up to 6 months.

The new strategy will ease visitor visas for foreign nationals whose cocompaniesllow them to work from anywhere in the world. This will allow them to spend time and money as well as get exposure to Canadian communities.

By allowing digital nomads to reside in and contribute to Canadian communities, this initiative aims to promote economic activity and community integration. If they receive a job offer from a Canadian employer while they are in the country, then they will be allowed to continue to stay and work in Canada.

Closing thoughts

The COVID-19 pandemic shifted the future of work. Millions of people across the globe were forced out of their offices to work from home. This phenomenon popularised the term – the digital nomad visa.

According to Statista, international tourist arrivals worldwide reached around 409.5 million in 2020, the lowest figure recorded since 1989, then went up by 9% in 2021.

As a response to this drop in tourism, countries around the world are in a race to attract the growing class of international remote workers known as digital nomads.

With this new initiative, Canada is joining more than 48 countries who are currently offering this visa. Some of them include Portugal, Spain, Columbia, Mexico, Mauritius, Namibia, Croatia, Brazil and Hungary.

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