The Canadian government has announced a new strategy to entice tech workers from around the globe to work in Canada. The Tech Talent Strategy was announced by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser in Toronto on June 27. The new strategy is embedded within the broader Global Skills Strategy program that helps businesses hire skilled workers from around the world.

The Tech Talent Strategy is built on several key pillars, including creating a work permit stream for U.S. H-1B visa holders to work in Canada, expanding the International Mobility Program, promoting Canada as a destination for “digital nomads” and improving the Start-up Visa Program. 

While recognizing the long wait time and the interest in the Start Up Visa, IRCC has decided to change the temporary work permit option for SUV applicants and will allow them to apply for an open work permit of up to three years, rather than a one-year work permit that limits them to work solely for their own start-up.Finally, IRCC will also prioritize applications that are supported by committed capital or endorsed by a business incubator to move to the front of the line for processing.