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CANADA – Clarification of Requirements for Digital Nomads
February 8, 2024
By: Nouran Hassan
Further to the 2023 announcement of Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy, Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has clarified requirements that could affect a “digital nomad” who wishes to enter and reside in Canada.
In this update we outline the key points from the clarification.
- A digital nomad is a person who can perform their job remotely from anywhere in the world.
- A digital nomad only needs visitor status to relocate to Canada for up to 6 months at a time while they perform their job remotely for a foreign employer or, if they are self-employed, working for themselves or providing services to clients outside of Canada.
- A person may enter as a digital nomad to work remotely but seek a work permit if they find a Canadian employer after entry. If an intention to find a Canadian employer is declared, a work permit will be needed before starting work for such an employer
- Additional documentation is not required of a person entering to be a digital nomad (although they must still satisfy the officer that they will leave at the end of their authorized stay).
- Family members of digital nomads who intend to work or study in Canada should apply for a work permit or study permit.
- If you are employed by an entity that has operations in Canada, you should seek advice on feasibility of entering as a temporary visitor on a digital nomad status before applying.
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Newland Chase dedicated contact or submit an inquiry here should you have any specific questions regarding this announcement.
This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.
