Canada updates Digital Nomads definition

A person may initially enter Canada as a Digital Nomad to work remotely, but he/she must seek a work permit if he/she needs to transfer to the Canadian entity. (Photo: Maxime Dore via Unsplash)

• IRCC has defined digital nomad as a person who can perform his/her job remotely from anywhere in the world
• Digital Nomad only needs visitor status to relocate to Canada for up to six months at a time

A person may initially enter Canada as a Digital Nomad to work remotely, but he/she must seek a work permit if he/she needs to transfer to the Canadian entity. If an employer intends to transition the employee to its Canadian entity, a work permit will be needed before starting such a transition. Accompanying family members of Digital Nomads who intend to work or study in Canada should apply for a work permit or study permit.

Foreign nationals entering Canada with visitor status to be a digital nomad do not require any additional documentation, “although they must still satisfy the officer that they will leave at the end of their authorised stay.”

It may be recalled that on June 27 last year, IRCC had announced a tech talent strategy intended to help “attract global tech talent to Canada.” This is because attracting such talent to Canada is vital given the importance of the tech sector to the Canadian economy.