IT & Software LMIA Guide
IT is Canada's most active LMIA sector. NOC codes 21232 and 21221 dominate approvals. This guide covers top employers, which streams they use, and realistic timelines for software engineers targeting Canada.
IT LMIA landscape
IT accounts for a disproportionate share of Global Talent Stream (GTS) approvals, which process in 2 weeks. This makes IT one of the fastest routes to a Canadian work permit.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Top NOC code | 21232 (Software developers) |
| Second NOC | 21221 (Computer engineers) |
| GTS share of IT approvals | ~40% |
| Top hiring province | Ontario (Toronto), BC (Vancouver) |
| Most active quarter | 2024Q2 |
Top IT LMIA employers
Ranked by total positions approved (2024Q1–2025Q3).
| Employer | Stream | Province | Consistency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Dev Centre Canada | GTS + High Wage | BC / ON | 6/7 quarters |
| CGI Inc. | GTS + High Wage | National | 7/7 quarters |
| Autodesk Canada | GTS | ON / BC | 5/7 quarters |
| Infosys BPO Canada | High Wage | Ontario | 6/7 quarters |
| Deloitte Canada | High Wage | National | 7/7 quarters |
| IBM Canada | GTS + High Wage | Ontario | 6/7 quarters |
| Wipro | High Wage | Ontario | 5/7 quarters |
GTS vs High Wage for IT
If your NOC code qualifies for GTS (21232, 21221, 21211 etc.), always target GTS-eligible employers first. The 2-week processing time dramatically shortens your pathway. High Wage LMIA is still viable but adds 2–4 months.
Realistic timeline for IT workers
Best-case scenario using GTS route:
| Step | Duration |
|---|---|
| Find GTS-eligible employer + offer | 1–3 months |
| GTS LMIA processing | 2 weeks |
| Work permit processing | 2–4 weeks (if outside Canada) |
| Start working in Canada | Month 2–4 |
| 1 year Canadian experience | Month 14–16 |
| Express Entry (CEC) → PR | Month 20–24 |
Key cities for IT
Toronto (Ontario): largest market, most LMIA approvals, highest rent. Vancouver (BC): strong tech scene + BC PNP Tech stream, slightly lower salaries. Montreal (Quebec): AI/game dev cluster, French language is a bonus for PR. Calgary: growing tech scene, no provincial tax.