Short answer: if you hold a US H-1B visa and want to move to Canada, you generally cannot rely on a special "H-1B pathway." The dedicated H-1B open work permit measure that IRCC launched on July 16, 2023 was a one-time, time-limited public policy capped at 10,000 applications; it reached that cap within roughly a day and closed on July 17, 2023. It has not reopened. The good news is that H-1B workers, who are typically tech, engineering, finance, and other highly skilled professionals, are often well placed for the routes that remain open: Express Entry (including STEM-focused category draws in years IRCC runs them), the Canadian Experience Class, CUSMA work permits for US citizens, employer-driven options like the Global Talent Stream and intra-company transfers, and provincial nominee tech streams. This guide walks through each, and notes where you must confirm current details on canada.ca because programs and numbers change. This is educational information, not legal advice; an IRCC or CBSA officer decides each case.
The 2023 H-1B Work Permit Measure Is Closed
It is important to be clear about this up front, because many older articles still describe a "special H-1B stream" as if it were available. According to IRCC, here is what actually happened:
- ✓ On July 16, 2023, IRCC opened a dedicated open work permit measure for US H-1B specialty-occupation visa holders, as part of its Tech Talent Strategy
- ✓ It was a one-time, time-limited public policy with a hard cap of 10,000 principal-applicant applications
- ✓ The cap was reached within about a day, and IRCC stopped accepting new applications on July 17, 2023
- ✓ The measure has not reopened; do not plan around it being available again
- ✓ Family members of people who already applied had a separate, later window that has also since passed
What this means for you: There is no current H-1B-specific open work permit. If you see a site advertising one as open today, treat that as out of date and verify on canada.ca. The realistic routes for H-1B holders are the ones described below, and an officer decides eligibility in every case.
CUSMA / USMCA: LMIA-Exempt Work Permit (US Citizens)
This is one of the most practical routes, but it hinges on a detail people often miss: it depends on your citizenship, not your H-1B status. A large share of H-1B holders are citizens of India or other countries rather than the United States. CUSMA (the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, formerly NAFTA) lets US and Mexican citizens in certain listed professional occupations work in Canada without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). If you are a US citizen working on an H-1B and your occupation is on the CUSMA professionals list, this can be a fast way in. If you are not a US (or Mexican) citizen, CUSMA generally does not help you, regardless of your H-1B.
- ✓ Open to US (and Mexican) citizens, your citizenship is what matters, not your H-1B status
- ✓ Requires a job offer from a Canadian employer in a qualifying CUSMA professional occupation
- ✓ US citizens may apply at a port of entry under the professional category, rather than waiting at a visa office
- ✓ No LMIA is required, which removes a major step and cost for the employer
- ✓ Generally employer-specific and time-limited, and renewable; confirm current validity rules on canada.ca
For the list of qualifying professions and how to apply, see the CUSMA work permit guide and verify your specific occupation on canada.ca.
Express Entry: The Main Path to Canadian PR
For most H-1B holders, Express Entry is the route that matters most, because it leads to permanent residence rather than a temporary permit. It is an online system that ranks candidates using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS); IRCC then invites the top-ranked candidates to apply in periodic draws. H-1B workers often rank well thanks to their age, education, language scores, and skilled work experience. Three sub-programs are most relevant:
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
Designed for skilled workers with foreign experience, so you can qualify from outside Canada. Your H-1B work experience can count toward the required year of continuous skilled work, and a US degree (assessed through an Educational Credential Assessment) plus strong language results add CRS points. You must also meet a pass mark on FSWP selection factors.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
For people who have already gained skilled work experience in Canada (generally at least one year in the previous three years). If you first move on another work permit and build Canadian experience, CEC becomes available. CEC has no language pass-mark on selection factors beyond the program minimums, and Canadian experience is heavily rewarded in the CRS.
Category-based draws (including STEM)
Beyond general draws, IRCC has held category-based draws targeting specific groups. It has run STEM-focused draws in past years and sets the eligible categories annually, so candidates in qualifying occupations can sometimes be invited at a lower CRS score than a general draw. The categories and eligible occupations change each year, so confirm the current 2026 categories and NOC lists on canada.ca before relying on this.
Calculate your CRS score
See where your profile ranks in Express Entry based on your age, education, experience, and language scores.
CRS Calculator, freeEmployer-Driven Work Permits and PNP Tech Streams
If you are not a US citizen (so CUSMA does not apply) and you do not yet have a Canadian PR, an employer-driven work permit is often the most realistic first step. These get you working in Canada, and the Canadian experience you build then strengthens an Express Entry or PNP application later. Eligibility, fees, and processing times for each option change, so confirm the current details on canada.ca:
Global Talent Stream (GTS)
Part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the GTS supports faster processing for certain high-skill and tech occupations and is well suited to many H-1B-type roles. It generally requires a Canadian employer and an approved Labour Market Impact Assessment with a Labour Market Benefits Plan. Confirm current eligible occupations and service standards on canada.ca.
Intra-company transfer (ICT)
If your current employer has a related Canadian entity, an ICT work permit can move you to Canada without an LMIA. It is aimed at executives, senior managers, and workers with specialized knowledge, and requires a qualifying relationship between the foreign and Canadian companies plus recent qualifying employment.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) tech streams
Several provinces, including British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta, run streams that prioritize in-demand tech and STEM occupations. Most require a connection to the province such as a job offer or local work experience, and the eligible occupation lists and intake rules change frequently. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points to an Express Entry profile.
A PNP nomination adds 600 CRS points to an Express Entry profile, which in practice makes an invitation to apply in a following round very likely, though never guaranteed. Verify each province's current streams and requirements on its official site and on canada.ca.
Why Canada Is Attractive for H-1B Holders in 2026
Less employer lock-in over time
The H-1B generally ties you to a single sponsoring employer. While many Canadian work permits are also employer-specific, the goal for most H-1B holders is permanent residence, and PR removes employer tie-in entirely so you can change jobs freely.
Universal healthcare
Provincial and territorial health insurance covers most medically necessary care, so coverage is generally not tied to keeping a specific job. Eligibility and wait periods vary by province; check the provincial plan.
Clear, points-based PR pathway
Express Entry and the PNPs offer relatively transparent, criteria-based routes to permanent residence rather than an annual lottery. Cut-off scores still vary draw to draw.
Strong tech labour markets
Toronto, Vancouver, Waterloo, Montreal, and Calgary are significant technology hubs. Salaries and demand vary by role and city, so research current local pay before you move.
Family can usually come too
Spouses and common-law partners may qualify for a work permit and dependent children can generally attend public school, though entitlements depend on the permit type you hold. Confirm on canada.ca.
Path to citizenship
A permanent resident can generally apply for citizenship after being physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) within the 5 years before applying, subject to other requirements. Canada allows dual citizenship.
Roughly How Long Each Route Takes
Processing times shift constantly and depend on your specific case, so treat the following only as rough orientation and always check the live processing-time tool on canada.ca before planning:
These are general estimates only, not commitments. Processing times change frequently; use the official processing-times tool on canada.ca for current figures, and remember an officer decides each application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there still a special H-1B open work permit for Canada?+
No. The H-1B-specific open work permit was a one-time public policy that opened on July 16, 2023, was capped at 10,000 applications, hit that cap within about a day, and closed on July 17, 2023. It has not reopened, and IRCC has not announced a replacement. Treat any current advertisement of an "open H-1B stream" as out of date and verify on canada.ca.
I have an H-1B but I am not a US citizen. What are my options?+
CUSMA depends on citizenship, so if you are a citizen of India or another country it generally will not apply to you even though you hold an H-1B. The routes most likely to be relevant are employer-driven work permits such as the Global Talent Stream or an intra-company transfer, a provincial nominee tech stream, or Express Entry for permanent residence. Which fits depends on your job offer, employer, occupation, and profile, so confirm details on canada.ca or with a licensed professional.
Can I bring my spouse and children to Canada?+
Often yes, but it depends on the permit you hold. Spouses and common-law partners of many skilled workers can apply for a work permit, and dependent children can generally attend public school. The exact entitlements vary by permit type and change over time, so check the current family-member rules on canada.ca for your specific situation.
Will my US (H-1B) work experience count toward Express Entry?+
Generally yes. Skilled work experience gained outside Canada can count toward Federal Skilled Worker Program eligibility and can earn CRS points, though Canadian experience is typically weighted more heavily. Your experience must be in an eligible occupation and properly documented. An officer assesses how it is counted.
What CRS score do I need, and how do I find mine?+
There is no single fixed number; the cut-off changes from draw to draw and is usually lower for category-based draws than general draws. Rather than relying on a memorized figure, estimate your own score with our CRS Calculator and compare it to recent draw results, which we update from IRCC data.
Should I just wait for the H-1B program to come back?+
It is not something to plan around. IRCC has not signalled that the 2023 measure will return, and it was explicitly time-limited and capped. If moving to Canada is your goal, the practical approach is to pursue the routes that are actually open, such as Express Entry, CUSMA (if you are a US citizen), employer-driven permits, or a PNP. For advice on your situation, consult a Canadian immigration lawyer or a CICC-regulated consultant.
Important: Immigration programs, fees, and processing times change frequently, and the 2023 H-1B-specific work permit measure is closed and not currently available. Always verify current rules and availability on the official IRCC website (canada.ca) before acting. This page is educational information, not legal advice; an IRCC or CBSA officer decides every application. For advice specific to your situation, consult a Canadian immigration lawyer or a consultant regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).
Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.