Canada is a dream come true for skilled professionals. Breathtaking natural beauty, universal healthcare, competitive salaries, big-sized homes, and excellent quality of life, it offers all these and more! 

If you are an engineer and wish to immigrate to the Great White North, you sure are thinking in the right direction.

Surging Demand

It is obvious to think whether there indeed is a demand for engineers in Canada before you uproot yourself from home. Well, you’ll be glad to know there is quite a demand for skilled engineers in various sectors in Canada, especially since there is a massive skill shortage in the different provinces. The best part is you will find many Canadian employers offering higher salaries if you have the right work experience and proven qualifications. Even at entry-level, you will find yourself making around $60k per annum there, while experienced persons can easily look at making double or more of that. To add to that, there are benefits galore, like free basic education and gratis public healthcare.

You will find job openings in fields of all types, like civil, software, mechanical, electrical, and more. Also, you are free to choose the province or territory you’d like to settle in.

The Immigration Process

You have to start your immigration journey by applying through IRCC. Do note that this process is different from that of engineering licensure. 

You have two options.

1. The Express Entry System: This is a points-based online system that manages immigration applications. It comprises three routes:

• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program

To start with, you have to create an Express Entry Profile. Once you do that, you’ll have to wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Upon receipt of the ITA, you can apply for any of the above-mentioned routes. Based on your profile, the system grants you points on the basis of several parameters, like age, language skills (English or French), education, work experience, etc.

2. The Provincial Nominee Program: This program is province-driven. It is used by Canadian employers to filter out talent to meet skill demand within a province. Workers, in a few cases, have to get an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment), which shows that the employer has been authorized by the Canadian government to hire a skilled international worker. 

You can also apply for PNP through the Express Entry System in two ways:

1. You can create an Express Entry profile showing the Canadian territory or province you want a nomination from. You will receive information from that particular territory or province to apply through their stream.
2. You can contact the territory or province directly and apply for nomination under the Express Entry Stream. Once you get a nomination, you can create a profile and mention the receipt of the nomination.

The Steps to Follow

Here is the list of steps you have to follow for the immigration process.

1. First, you have to check if you meet the eligibility criteria needed along with the job requirements.
2. You also have to check your CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System Score) under the Express Entry System or the other points-based programs.
3. If you have the requisite score, prepare all your documents.
4. Go online and create your Express Entry profile.
5. Search for and apply to the program best suited to your profile.
6. Pay the fees and submit your application.

While this is all well and good, do remember to submit the correct information in your profile. Any goof-up and your application will be dismissed summarily.