Canada's Digital Nomad Policy: Opportunities For U.S. Companies And Workers

What is Canada's Digital Nomad Policy?

On June 26, 2023, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released Canada's Tech Talent Strategy Backgrounder, detailing a strategy to embrace Canada as an emerging leader in global technology talent recruitment. The announcement identifies four key pillars for the strategy, one of which includes the goal of promoting Canada as a destination for digital nomads. A digital nomad is a person who can perform their job remotely for a foreign employer or, in the case of those self-employed, work for themselves or provide services to client(s) outside of Canada.

Practically speaking, the effect of the announcement was not to create a separate application process. Exactly as one would do for travel to Canada as a tourist, applicants can request entry to Canada as a digital nomad at the port of entry (for nationals from visa-exempt countries) or by applying at a consulate in advance of travel to Canada for a Canadian