Introduction
Technical architects are among the most common groups of professionals to be issued work permits to work in Canada on behalf of a Canadian employer. So, if you are a business owner or part of an organization that wants to bring technical architects to work in your Canadian operation, there may be a way for you to do so under a program known as the ICT.
The Role of Technical Architects
Technical architects who are employed by a Canadian corporation, but are physically outside of Canada, need to be brought to Canada on a work permit to support their Canadian employer. Technical architects are typically people like software engineers, who work on the design and development of software. Over the years, technical architects have been among the top number of professionals we’ve seen being issued work permits on behalf of our different clients. So, it is definitely a high-demand area of work as far as Canadian immigration is concerned.
The ICT Program
Many companies are able to bring technical architects to Canada through a program known as the ICT, the Intra-Company Transfer program. ICT works where there is a Canadian company and a related company outside of Canada in the home country of the employee that you’re wanting to send to Canada. So, if you have a company that has a branch in Canada and a branch somewhere else in the world, maybe in the US, and you are wanting to send a technical architect who is currently physically located in the US, you want to send that technical architect to Canada to support your Canadian branch of your company, then that may be possible under the ICT program.
Requirements of the ICT Program
The ICT program has very specific requirements, many of which we’ve touched on in several of our other videos. The important thing to know here is that a profession such as a technical architect will fit very well under the ICT program because it is a type of role that requires specialized knowledge. Specialized knowledge is a crucial component of the ICT program. By specialized knowledge, we mean that the employee would have what’s called proprietary knowledge, meaning knowledge of your company’s proprietary software, software that is unique to your company and may have been developed by your company. This employee has knowledge and know-how of that particular software and therefore that constitutes proprietary knowledge.
In addition, this employee would also have advanced expertise, meaning they would have had industry knowledge and experience working in that particular space as a technical architect. The two things combined, the proprietary knowledge and the advanced expertise, together constitute specialized knowledge. So, somebody as a technical architect would fit nicely into the ICT program, assuming that they meet the other eligibility requirements that come with the ICT program.
Conclusion
Securing a work permit for technical architects in Canada can be a streamlined process with the right approach, particularly through the ICT program. Understanding the requirements, such as specialized knowledge and proprietary expertise, is crucial for a successful application. For those who do not meet ICT criteria, alternative options like the Global Skills Strategy and the Global Talent Stream are available. With the high demand for tech roles, businesses have promising pathways to bring talented technical architects to Canada.
