As the world moves out of the pandemic, many people have chosen to work remotely in Canada.
The labour market has seen a rise in various occupations, particularly in IT, healthcare and more recently transportation, online customer service, sales, financial services.
Many companies have realised that these professions could be conducted from the comfort of their employees homes, and by offering flexibility regarding working hours and environment, they could extend their ability to hire exceptionally skilled workers, not only within Canada but across the globe.
This has led to overall employee satisfaction and increased retention rates; making remote working the new business model for many Canadian companies.
But the question remains; “Can I Move to Canada with a Remote Job?”
The answer is yes! Let’s take a closer look at your options and how it will affect your immigration status.
How to Move to Canada With a Remote Job
The most important part about working in Canada as a foreigner is having a job offer and determining whether or not you need an LMIA. Whether or not you have to go into the office is irrelevant. In fact, some immigration programs, like those managed by the Express Entry system do not require a job offer to qualify.
Ready to find out how to relocate to the True North as you work remotely in Canada?
Step 1: Decide whether you want to immigrate or work in Canada
Immigration
If you decide to move to Canada with a remote job, permanently, there are various programs that don’t require having a Canadian job offer. These programs fall under the Express Entry system and are known as the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trade Program.
Although having a job offer in Canada can certainly earn your more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points and increase your chances of getting PR status, it won’t affect your eligibility. Express Entry applicants are scored on five main factors:
- Age
- Education
- Language
- Work Experience
- Ability to Settle in Canada
If your CRS score is the same as or higher than the CRS score in your draw pool, you’ll get an Invitation to Apply for permanent residency. Essentially taking these Express Entry pathways will allow you to choose to apply before arriving in Canada or wait until you get there, leaving your work options wide open.
Work
If you decide to work remotely in Canada, you’ll need two things; a work permit and a temporary resident visa.
A work permit will allow you to legally work in Canada. To get a work permit you’ll need a job offer letter and an LMIA, unless your occupation is exempt.
You can move to Canada with a remote job as long as you are working for a Canadian company. If, however, you are working for, let’s say, an American company, you could stay in Canada on a temporary resident Visa and work as an independent foreign contractor, however you would need to return to your home country once your Visitor visa expires.
Step 2: Start your job search
If you decide to apply for a remote job in Canada before you arrive you can take one of two routes: go it alone or hire a professional recruiter. Remote working is slowly becoming the norm, and you can easily find remote positions on platform like:
- Indeed Canada
- Workopolis
- Monster Canada
- Job Bank Canada
It’s important to make sure that your resume is up to date and also up to Canadian standards. It should include:
- Contact information
- Professional Career Summary
- Work Experience
- Education
For more tips on how to prepare your resume that’ll be sure to land your dream job in Canada, visit our blog here.
Step 3: Start your visa application
Once you have your remote job offer, you can start your visa application. The first step is to start gathering your documentation. Having a job offer in Canada means that you’ll qualify for an employer-specific work permit. The document you’ll require is specific to your nationality as your home visa office will have specific requirements. In general, however, you’ll require the following documents:
- Work permit application form
- Use of representative form(if applicable)
- Fee payment
- 2 photos
- proof of current immigration status
- photocopy of marriage certificate (if applicable)
- proof showing that you meet the job requirements of your job offer
- a copy of your Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
- copy of nomination letter (if provincial nominee applicant)
- Proof of completion of study program (if Post-graduation Work Permit applicant) ie. transcript or letter of graduation from institution
- any other additional documents needed by your visa office
Once you have all your documents in order, it’s time to start the actual application process. It is best to submit your application online to avoid any delays and fast track your application.
Now that we’ve answered your question; “Can I Move to Canada with a Remote Job?”, it’s time to get started on your visa application. And if you’re not sold on taking that remote job in Canada just yet, here are 3 benefits that might help you change your mind.
3 Benefits of Working Remotely in Canada
There are many reasons why you may choose to work remotely, but here are our top three reasons you should consider working from home Canada.
1. No more long commutes
Although the Canadian transport system is one of the best in the world, who could resist skipping the average 60 to 75 commute time in Canada. More than 30 percent of the Canadian population have longer commute times, which is all the more reason to take that remote job in Canada.
2. No geographic limits for job offers
Remote work can help you expand your geographical reach if you’re having trouble finding a well-paying or a meaningful job in your sector. You may also be allowed to work for a company in another province or territory without having to relocate and uproot your entire life.
This is particularly beneficial if, let’s say, you want to work for a company whose head office is located in an expensive area or location. This could save you from having to move or being subject to a higher cost of living, allowing you to save and use your earnings on things like family vacations or your children’s university fees, for example.
3. Save more money
Did you know that part-time workers are able to save approximately $4,000 per year by working from home? Gas, auto maintenance, transportation, parking fees, a professional wardrobe, bought-out lunches, and other expenses can all be cut or eliminated. These small savings add up to more money in your pocket.
Frequently Asked Questions: Working Remotely in Canada
1. Can you work remotely in Canada?
Yes, you can move to Canada with a remote job. It will not affect your visa or immigration application. As long as you have a valid job offer form a Canadian employer and meet all the requirements of your immigration or visa program you shouldn’t have a problem.
One thing to bear in mind is if you are located in Canada and work for a U.S. company, for instance, you will still be required to pay taxes in Canada. Taxes in Canada are based on the province or territory you reside in and not the location of the company you’re working for. Your employer will however deduct and remit the taxes for you.
2. How are remote employees paid in Canada?
Remote workers are paid the same as those who work in an office. The majority of people are paid bimonthly or semi-monthly. Contract, consultancy, or seasonal work, as well as odd jobs, may result in irregular pay.
Wages, including vacation pay, can be paid in cash, by check, or by direct deposit, which includes Interac e-Transfer, into the employee’s bank or other financial institution account.
3. Do you need a work permit to work remotely in Canada?
Yes. Whether or not you have a remote job in Canada or go into the office everyday, if you are not a permanent resident or Canadian citizen you will need a work permit to legally be employed by a Canadian company.
