Around 300,000 people work in Canada as engineers of various types (e.g., aerospace engineers, chemical engineers, civil engineers, electrical engineers, industrial engineers, mechanical engineers, petroleum engineers, software engineers, etc.).
Engineers are some of the highest paying jobs in Canada and the demand for new engineers is expected to skyrocket, particularly as thousands of Canadian engineers retire from the workforce this decade.
There are thousands of engineering jobs in Canada for foreigners and engineers are among priority groups receiving Invitations to Apply for Canadian permanent residency through the Express Entry system.
This article will discuss how to immigrate to Canada as an engineer, how to find engineer jobs in Canada for foreigners, salaries for different types of engineering jobs in Canada and related topics, so continue reading for the essential information!
Table of Contents
Reasons to Move to Canada as an Engineer
- Engineering jobs in Canada for foreigners pay well (median yearly salary around $78,000+ CAD).
- There is a strong demand for foreign engineers in Canada (thousands of Canadian job openings).
- Foreign engineers are a priority group for Express Entry immigration to Canada.
- Foreign engineers and their families can enjoy a high standard of living in Canada.
- Permanent residents of Canada can apply for Canadian citizenship after 3 years once all criteria are met.
How to Immigrate to Canada as an Engineer?
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The FSWP is a points-based Canadian immigration program.
- At least one year of full-time paid experience in the past 10 years in an eligible occupation is required.
- A minimum of 67 out of 100 points must be received for six selection factors:
- Age
- English and/or French language skills
- Education
- Work experience
- Qualifying Canadian job offer
- Adaptability
- A certain score must be achieved on a language evaluation test such as the IELTS for English or TEF for French.
- A positive Education Credential Assessment (ECA) is needed if one’s education was received outside of Canada.
- Proof of funds, good health and good character criteria must be satisfied.
- Application for the FSWP is done by creating an online Express Entry profile with the Canadian immigration agency.
- An Invitation to Apply (ITA) must be received to apply for Canadian permanent residency through Express Entry.
- People with qualifying jobs in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) are getting priority ITAs.
- The Canadian permanent residency application and fees must be submitted within 60 days after the ITA is issued.
- A decision is usually made within 6 months after the Canadian permanent residency application has been filed.
- Note: Engineer jobs in Canada for foreigners are regulated and require certification and/or licensure in the province or territory where the engineer will work in Canada.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Eleven Canadian provinces and territories have Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
- PNPs allow participating provinces/territories to nominate foreign workers for Canadian immigration.
- Each PNP has its own criteria, but generally seeks foreign workers who have skills in-demand locally.
- In general, a foreign worker will apply to the PNP of a province/territory where he/she wants to work in Canada.
- If the foreign worker gets a provincial nomination, he/she can apply for Canadian permanent residency.
- Application for permanent residency in Canada is made with the federal Canadian immigration agency.
- Foreign workers and their families must satisfy good health, good character and other Canadian immigration criteria.
- After approval for Canadian immigration, the foreign worker will work in the province/territory that nominated him/her.
- Note: Engineer jobs in Canada for foreigners are regulated and require certification and/or licensure in the province or territory where the engineer will work in Canada.
Canadian Engineering Skills in Demand in 2023
Top engineering jobs in Canada
- Aerospace Engineer
- Chemical Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Electronics Engineer
- Engineering Manager
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Process Engineer
- Project Engineer
- Quality Assurance Technician
- Software Engineer
- Structural Engineer
Certifications in-demand
- Professional Engineer (PE) Certification
- Certified Engineer Technologist (CET)
- Certified Chemical Engineer (CCE)
- Structural Engineer (SE) Certification
- Software Engineering Master Certification
- Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
- Electronic Systems Technicians (EST)
- Certified Planning Engineer (CPE) Certification
- Engineer in Training (EIT) Certification
How to Find Engineering Jobs in Canada?
A good place to start searching for engineer jobs for foreigners in Canada is the Government of Canada’s Job Bank, where you can search by occupation and location.
Creating an effective LinkedIn online profile can help you to network for engineering jobs for foreigners in Canada and, hopefully, get noticed by hiring managers.
You could also search online for Canada’s top engineering companies, visit their websites and apply for relevant job postings.
Another way to seek engineer jobs for foreigners in Canada is by using a Canadian employment agency or recruiter.
There are also job fairs and other recruitment events held at various locations in Canada throughout the year, where engineers who are looking for work in Canada can meet with and give their CV/resume to recruiters from Canadian engineering companies.
Recruitment Process for Engineers in Canada
Recruitment agencies can help to find engineering jobs for foreigners in Canada due to the many contacts they have with Canadian engineering firms.
In general, foreign engineers can contact one of the reputable recruitment agencies in Canada and provide their CV/resume in English or French.
The recruitment agency will seek to match the foreign engineer with a Canadian engineering company that is looking for an engineer with his or her education, experience, skills, etc.
A recruitment agency in Canada generally does not charge a fee to a foreign job-seeker, but rather receives a service fee from the Canadian employer who hires the foreign engineer (i.e., for helping them to fill the job opening with a qualified engineer).
There are also recruitment events for engineers that are held at various locations across Canada, where engineers who are looking for work in Canada can bring their CV/resume and meet with recruiters from Canadian engineering companies.
An example is The Engineering Conference held by the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers at the Toronto Metro Convention Centre on November 2-3, 2023, where academia, engineers, government and industry all come together for the event.
Similar recruitment events and job fairs take place in other Canadian cities each year, so be sure to check online for their dates and places, because this is a great opportunity to meet with engineering company recruiters face-to-face!
How to Get Licensed in Canada as a Foreign-Trained Engineer
- Hold at least a 4-year full-time Bachelor’s Degree in a recognized engineering program
- If you graduated outside of Canada, get an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) from World Education Services (WES)
- Be competent in the English or French language as indicated by passing scores on the IELTS, TEF or other approved test
- Complete the National Professional Practice Examination (NPPE) successfully
- Have the required professional engineering work experience (i.e., at least 48 months of qualifying work experience)
- Possess good character
- File an Application for Licensure in the province or territory where you want to work in Canada and pay the application fee
- Get certified/licensed as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng) in the province/territory where you want to work in Canada
- Note: Each Canadian province and territory has its own certification process for engineers that includes national standards.
- More information can be found on the Engineers Canada website and the websites of the engineering regulators for the different provinces and territories or the professional engineering societies, such as the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers.
How Much Money Do Engineers Make in Canada?
Engineering jobs in Canada for foreigners generally pay high salaries.
According to the Government of Canada’s Job Bank, these are the median salaries for various engineering jobs in Canada (2023):
- Aerospace Engineer = $83,078 CAD per year
- Chemical Engineer = $96,000 CAD per year
- Civil Engineer = $82,560 CAD per year
- Computer Software Engineer = $94,810 CAD per year
- Electrical Engineer = $83,078 CAD per year
- Electronics Engineer = $83,078 CAD per year
- Engineering Manager = $110,765 CAD per year
- Geotechnical/Geological Engineer = $96,000 CAD per year
- Industrial Engineer = $78,470 CAD per year
- Manufacturing Engineer = $78,470 CAD per year
- Mechanical Engineer = $78,778 CAD per year
- Petroleum Engineer = $101,530 CAD per year
Note: The median salary is half-way (in the middle) between the highest salary and lowest salary.
Should You Move to Canada as an Engineer?
If you are a foreign-born engineer looking for good job opportunities and a high quality of life, then you should definitely move to Canada as an engineer!
Over 300,000 people work in Canada as certified/licensed engineers, including thousands of foreign-born engineers.
There are thousands of engineering jobs in Canada for foreigners and these positions generally pay high salaries and offer excellent career growth potential.
The demand for foreign engineers is strong and they (i.e., skilled foreign workers in STEM occupations) are receiving special priority when the Invitations to Apply for Canadian permanent residency are issued through the Express Entry system.
When you become a Canadian permanent resident, you can receive many benefits:
- Live in Canada with your family for an unlimited amount of time
- Work in Canada for an unlimited time period
- Study in Canada at world-class educational institutions
- Receive free or subsidized public healthcare where you live in Canada
- Have the opportunity to buy a home and/or start a business in Canada
- Travel to and from Canada
- Sponsor eligible family members for Canadian visas
- Enjoy beautiful beaches, forests, mountains, lakes and other scenic places
- Reside in an immigrant-friendly country where 23% of the population is foreign-born
- Get the option to become a Canadian citizen after living in Canada 3 out of 5 years and meeting other criteria
Conclusion
There are thousands of engineer jobs for foreigners in Canada.
The Canadian government and many businesses across the country are seeking large numbers of foreign engineers to help fill thousands of vacant engineering jobs in Canada.
With thousands of Canadian engineers retiring this decade and many new projects planned, the demand for foreign engineers is expected to soar even further.
More than 450,000 people immigrate to Canada as permanent residents each year, and Canadian Visa Expert would like you and your family to be among them.
Since 2012, Canadian Visa Expert has been working with authorized immigration consultants to provide people with eligibility evaluations for immigration to Canada and guidance through each step of application process for those who qualify.
Are you ready to take the first step toward a new life and career in Canada?
Discover Frequently Asked Questions from Our Support
Can a foreigner work as an engineer in Canada?
Yes, there are thousands of engineer jobs for foreigners in Canada, but you must be certified/licensed in the province or territory where you want to work in Canada. You must also be authorized to legally live and work in Canada, such as by becoming a Canadian permanent resident, obtaining a Canadian Social Insurance Number, etc.
How can I get an engineering job in Canada?
There are several ways to find engineer jobs in Canada for foreigners, including Canadian job search platforms (such as Canada’s Job Bank); networking through your LinkedIn professional online profile; applying for job postings on the websites of Canadian engineering companies; using a reputable employment recruitment agency in Canada; and attending job fairs and other recruiting events held each year across Canada where you can bring your CV/resume and meet face-to-face with engineering recruiters.
Can American engineers work in Canada?
According to Engineers Canada, American engineers can work in Canada, however, they must be certified/licensed by the regulatory organization for engineers in the province or territory where they want to work in Canada and meet any other criteria.
Are engineers in demand in Canada?
Yes! There are thousands of software engineer jobs in Canada for foreigners as well as job openings for chemical engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers and other types of engineers. The strong demand for engineers in Canada is expected to increase substantially as many Canadian engineers retire this decade.
Is it hard to immigrate to Canada as an engineer?
It is not hard to immigrate to Canada as an engineer, since there are thousands of engineer jobs for foreigners in Canada and the Canadian government is seeking foreign-born engineers. In fact, special priority is being given to skilled foreign workers with eligible occupations in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields when the Invitations to Apply for Canadian permanent residency are issued through the Express Entry system. Canadian Visa Expert collaborates with authorized immigration consultants who can evaluate your eligibility for immigration to Canada and guide you during the application process if you qualify, to make the procedure easier for you to complete correctly. In terms of being able to work in Canada as a foreign engineer, the information and links in this article should give you a head start in becoming informed about the process to become a certified/licensed engineer in Canada.
Which engineer is in demand in Canada?
Many different types of engineers are in demand in Canada. For example, there are chemical engineer jobs in Canada for foreigners, mechanical engineer jobs in Canada for foreigners, software engineer jobs in Canada for foreigners, etc.
Do engineers make a lot of money in Canada?
Yes! Engineers are one of the highest-paid professions in Canada. The median salary for engineers in Canada is over $78,000 CAD per year (the median salary is half-way between the highest salary and lowest salary). For example, the median yearly salary in Canada for mechanical engineers is $78,778 CAD; for electrical engineers it is $83,078 CAD; for chemical engineers it is $96,000 CAD; for computer software engineers it is $94,810 CAD per year; and for engineering managers it is $110,765 CAD per year.
Is Canada a good place for engineers?
Yes! Canada is a very good place for engineers and their families, not only because of the excellent Canadian job opportunities, but also since Canada is rated as one of the top countries for high quality of life.
Where is the best place to live in Canada for engineers?
Ontario is the best place to live in Canada for engineers, because it has the largest number of Canadian job openings for engineers. Ontario is also trying to make it easier for foreign engineers to work in Canada. The best cities to live in Canada for engineers include the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal and Calgary.
Which engineering job has the best salary in Canada?
Engineering managers get a median annual salary of $110,765 CAD, whereas petroleum engineers earn a median salary of $101,530 CAD per year, chemical engineers and geotechnical/geological engineers have a median yearly salary of $96,000 CAD and computer software engineers receive a median salary of $94,810 CAD per year.
Which province in Canada is best for engineers?
Ontario is the best province in Canada for engineers, because it has the most Canadian job openings for engineers and it offers a high standard of living in Canada. Ontario is also trying to make it easier for foreign engineers to work in Canada. Nonetheless, engineers can enjoy a high standard of living in Canada’s other provinces and territories, such as British Columbia and Quebec.
