If you’re looking to immigrate to Canada as a Computer Programmer you’re in luck! Computer Programmers are in demand right across Canada and you may be able to secure a Canadian Permanent Residency Visa either with or without a job offer.
If you are a Computer Programmer and have been working as a Computer Programmer you may qualify to immigrate to Canada.
Migrate to Canada as a Computer Programmer
Every occupation on the Canada NOC List is assigned an immigration code and the code for those looking to emigrate to Canada as a Computer Programmer is 2174. This is also known as the NOC Code for Interactive Media Developers.
No doubt you will have read online that having a job offer to move to Canada is a prerequisite to accessing the Express Entry process but as a Computer Programmer you also have other options to secure your Canada Visa from the start.
For starters, Computer Programmers are eligible to apply for Canada Immigration under the Canadian Government’s Immigration program due to the demand for Computer Programmers in Canada being so great they have included the occupation on the targeted occupations list, known as the NOC list (National Occupation Code In Demand List).
The code for Computer Programmers on the NOC is 2174
This is great news for Computer Programmers the world over hoping to live and work in Canada.
Express Entry for Canada is not a visa class at all, it is simply the method (or database) that Canadian Immigration uses to select the right candidates for a permanent residency visa and in that case, as a Computer Programmer looking to immigrate to Canada we’ll be looking at the Federal Skilled Worker visa and Provincial Nominee program.
Computer Programmers from all over the world are eligible to make an Express Entry for Canada Residency provided they have the right skills, experience, and qualifications in their home country.
Computer Programmers looking to move to Canada to work under this NOC category 2174, might be employed under work titles including:
- animation programmer
- application programmer
- business application programmer
- cloud developer
- computer application programmer
- computer game developer
- computer programmer
- detail programmer
- electronic business (e-business) software developer
- electronic commerce (e-commerce) software developer
- electronic data processing (EDP) applications programmer
- graphical user interface (GUI) designer
- graphical user interface (GUI) developer
- interactive media developer
- interactive media programmer
- mainframe systems programmer
- minicomputer systems programmer
- mobile applications developer
- multimedia developer
- multimedia programmer
- operating systems programmer
- personal computer (PC) application developer
- programmer analyst
- satellite scientific telecommunications programmer
- scientific programmer
- software developer
- software development programmer
- software programmer
- special effects programmer
- systems programmer
- teleprocessing software programmer
- Web programmer
All these roles held by a Computer Programmer are eligible to apply under this specific NOC category of 2174.
Skills and Tasks to Immigrate to Canada as a Computer Programmer.
In general Computer Programmers moving to Canada will be able to demonstrate knowledge or experience of the following:
Computer programmers
- Write, modify, integrate and test software code
- Maintain existing computer programs by making modifications as required
- Identify and communicate technical problems, processes and solutions
- Prepare reports, manuals and other documentation on the status, operation and maintenance of software
- Assist in the collection and documentation of user requirements
- Assist in the development of logical and physical specifications
- May lead and co-ordinate teams of computer programmers
- May research and evaluate a variety of software products.
Interactive media developers
- Program animation software to predefined specifications for interactive video games, Internet, and mobile applications
- Program special effects software for film and video applications
- Write, modify, integrate and test software code for e-commerce, Internet, and mobile applications
- Assist in the collection and documentation of user requirements
- Assist in the development of logical and physical specifications
- May lead and co-ordinate teams of interactive media developers
- May research and evaluate a variety of interactive media software products.
Whilst the above is meant as a general guide do take our free online visa assessment for further information and be sure to list out your skills and qualifications in detail.
Emigrate Canada has a dedicated IT Industry Workers desk that only represents IT, Industry Workers, to immigrate to Canada. They understand your profession and can talk your language when it comes to explaining your immigration pathway and the route to securing a Canada Visa for you (and your family).
Employment requirements
- A bachelor’s degree in computer science or in another discipline with a significant programming component or completion of a college program in computer science is usually required.
- Specialization in programming for engineering and scientific applications requires specific post-secondary study or experience.
The first stage in your Canadian immigration process is to calculate your Canada Immigration points for Express Entry using the Canadian Comprehensive Ranking System.
Take our free online visa assessment for an up-to-date report on whether you have enough points to immigrate to Canada as a Computer Programmer from both an Express Entry and Immigration points perspective.
Once you receive an ITA (Invitation to apply) from Canadian Immigration as a result of your Express Entry application you’ll only have 60 days in which to lodge a formal application so under no circumstances should you lodge an Express Entry application ‘claiming’ to have certain points without first having all of your points verified through different testing, education equivalence certificates, and skilled worker assessments.
Once you are invited to apply for your Canada Visa you cannot go back and have these things verified retrospectively, they must be done before you claim any points for them, and given that your express entry profile is only valid for one year it makes sense to present the best possible case right from the start.
Before you lodge your express entry we will help you through the process of having your qualifications and certificates verified as required by immigration.
