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What’s all the hype about this digital nomad visa? Only time will tell, and we will give you our thoughts and insight throughout this article. Yes, IRCC has officially posted about their Digital Nomad Visa program – so it seems. Here is the link.
You can check it out and see that when you click on the link it just shows you these options after you answer some basic questions about your nationality, passport type, and if you are a US resident.
What do you plan to do in Canada?
If you select ‘Work’ but you don’t need a work permit, which is the case for a digital nomad, it’s the same result as selecting ‘Tourist’. It all leads you to a visitor visa application which is no different than any other online visitor visa application.
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Here is what you should expect to be providing to the IRCC if you do plan to apply:
Depending on your nationality you may need:
* Criminal check.
* Medical exam.
The key to making a successful digital nomad visa application, if you are not from a visa-exempt country and do need a visa, is to prove the following:
1: Of course, you will need a valid passport for the duration of your planned visit.
2: You need to prove that you are currently and have been working for your employer for the past 1 year.
3: You need to provide documents proving that you are in a high-paying job that can support your living expenses in Canada.
4: You require proof of employment through the last 6 months' pay stubs, employment contract, and bank statements showing that salaries/wages have been deposited into your account.
5: You should have written permission from your employer allowing you to work remotely for the duration of time you intend to be in Canada.
6: You need to have medical travel insurance for the duration of your trip.
7: It is critical to have proof of financial assets & and family ties to your country of residency and/or home country.
8: Travel history to Europe, the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can be a significant boost for your chance of approval.
Remember that we’re always posting about these key details for IRCC’s new programs and other immigration programs for professionals and entrepreneurs– and if that’s what you are interested in, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel for more deep-dive videos.
Here is what they didn’t tell you or provide instructions on. The digital nomad visa is based on Canada’s tech talent strategy to attract highly skilled professionals into the country giving them the opportunity to meet with employers and have them hired and convert to work permits.
Literally on the title of the website where it talks about the digital nomad visa is stated “Canada wants top talent from around the world”. If you are not in one of the in-demand tech or media-related occupations, then it is unlikely you would be approved for a digital nomad visa, which is basically a tourist visa, extendible past 6 months – if you do need a visa. If you are from a visa-exempt country- then you don’t need to worry about all of this..
Processing times can range from 2 weeks to 2 months to even 4 months depending on which region of the world you are applying from.
Here are some key FAQs about Canada’s digital nomad visa which was launched in the summer of 2023:
A: Will the digital nomad visa be processed differently than the regular tourist visa?
No. But being in a high-demand tech or media occupation, having a good salary to support yourself while in Canada, and an explanation letter pushing the IRCC officer to consider the ‘digital nomad visa’ for your specific case would help significantly.
B: Will you be able to convert to PR from inside Canada from the digital nomad visa?
Unless you are sponsored by an employer under a PNP, or have specific eligibility criteria under Express Entry or RINP or AIP, or start your own business, it’s very unlikely as no specific program is designed for PR for the digital nomads.
C: Will you be able to convert to a work permit from inside Canada if a local employer offers you a full-time job while you are here on a digital nomad visa a.k.a. tourist visa?
Yes. This is the whole point of the program. Until Feb 2024 it is possible to convert a visitor visa to a work permit from inside Canada without flag poling or leaving the country to change status.
D: If you come into the country as a digital nomad, will your spouse or common-law be able to apply for an open work permit or will your children be able to study for free in elementary or high schools?
Definitely not. You will only have visitor status, although it does not prevent you from applying for a study permit for your children before you arrive, and if you or your spouse find employment inside Canada, you can apply and convert to a work permit if you meet the eligibility criteria of the program you are applying under.
E: If you are not from a visa-exempt country, will you have a higher chance of being approved under this new digital nomad initiative if you are not in an in-demand tech or media occupation with a high-paying job?
Probably not – you’ll still have the same chances as before – and the digital nomad criteria won’t apply to you.
F: If you have previous refusals for Canadian visas or permits, will this reduce your chances of a digital nomad or visitor visa?
Of course, it will reduce your chances. This will seriously impact any likelihood you have of a successful application with the IRCC – and it all depends on the above criteria which we covered.
G: If you are on an HB1 visa and still employed with your employer in the US and can work remotely – is it worth applying for this to work remotely in Canada if you missed the deadline to apply for the H1B open work permit initiative which closed in 48 hours after it’s Launch on July 16th?
Yes, you should if you meet the basic criteria and are still employed.
H: What are the high-tech occupations they are looking for or prioritizing under this new digital nomad initiative?
There is no official list yet or may never be published, but if you want to have an idea of the preferred occupations have a look at the occupations for the Global Talent Stream under the IT/Tech occupations and Media/Production occupations – not specifically the engineering positions. This will give you an idea of what is preferred by the IRCC. Does this mean that if you are not in one of these occupations, you won’t have a chance? Not at all, basically this is just a visitor visa. Based on the passport you hold, your residency, your financial strength and assets tying you back to your home or country of residence, and your travel history will determine your likelihood of approval.
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Are we disappointed with Canada’s digital nomad visa initiative? Yes, we are.
Is it in any way close to resembling the digital nomad visa programs that many countries in Europe such as Spain, even the Caribbean islands, and Latin American countries such as Panama or Colombia are offering? Not even close.
The IRCC took a shortcut and didn’t design a specific stream for digital nomads, they only added an extra link on their main website leading you to a visitor visa application or eTA if you are from a visa-exempt country.
Do we believe this program will have any benefit to Canada or overseas digital nomads looking to come over? Not at all.
Do we believe that this is a new program? Definitely not. This is just basically renaming the visitor visa or eTA depending on your intentions.
Did IRCC train their overseas visa processing staff about this new Digital Nomad initiative? Probably not or at least don’t hold your breath until they do.
Should you apply for it? If you are in a high-paying remote position, have strong financials, are not from a high refusal country, and are in an in-demand tech or media occupation then perhaps it’s worth it.
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