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For Brits moving abroad
Professional Jobs in Canada
for Brits
Last checked: October 2026
Engineers, IT specialists, accountants and many other professionals are wanted in Canada, and STEM jobs have their own Express Entry category. For qualified UK professionals, that means a real route to permanent residence.
But some professions are regulated by each province. Engineers must be licensed before they can use the title, and accountants usually need to join their provincial CPA body. Most IT and tech roles aren't regulated, so you can often start work straight away.
This guide covers the professional jobs in Canada that are in demand, the main visa routes, and what you'll need to sort before you land.
Professional jobs in demand in Canada
These jobs are in Canada's Express Entry STEM category, which picks skilled workers for permanent residence.
Engineering
Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Electrical and Electronics Engineer, Engineering Manager
IT and tech
Software Engineer and Designer, Computer Systems Developer and Programmer, Data Scientist, Cybersecurity Specialist
Science
Biologist and Related Scientist, Chemist, Mathematician, Statistician and Actuary
Finance and business
Professionals outside STEM, such as accountants, can still apply through the general Express Entry draws or a provincial programme.
To qualify for the STEM category, you need at least 12 months of full-time experience in one of the listed jobs within the last three years. Check the official list on canada.ca to see where your work fits.
Visa Options for Professional Jobs in Canada
Most UK professionals move to Canada for good through permanent residence, but some start on a work permit and apply to stay later. Which route suits you depends on whether you have a job offer, your experience, and which province you want to live in.
Express Entry
Express Entry is Canada's main route to permanent residence for skilled workers. You create a profile, get a points score, and wait to be invited. STEM jobs have their own category, so you can be invited with a lower score than in a general draw. Your degree, English test results, age and work experience all add to your score.
Provincial Nominee Programs
Provinces run their own programmes to pick the workers they need, and several target tech and engineering roles. A nomination adds a big boost to your Express Entry score.
Employer-sponsored work permits
If a Canadian employer offers you a job, you can often start on a work permit and apply for permanent residence once you're in Canada. Some intra-company transfers let you move with your current employer if it has a Canadian office.
Working holiday
Younger Brits can use International Experience Canada to work in Canada temporarily, which can help you gain the Canadian experience that boosts a later Express Entry application. Check the age limit and quota on canada.ca.
Getting Your UK Qualifications Recognised in Canada
For Express Entry, you'll need your UK degree assessed for immigration. This is called an Educational Credential Assessment, and it's done by approved organisations such as World Education Services. It's separate from any professional licence.
Engineers
Engineering is regulated in every province. You apply to the provincial body, such as Professional Engineers Ontario, Engineers and Geoscientists BC, or APEGA in Alberta. They'll assess your degree and experience, and you'll usually sit a professional practice exam. Until you're licensed, you can work under supervision but can't call yourself an engineer.
Accountants
To work as a chartered accountant, you'll join CPA Canada through your provincial body. Some UK accounting bodies have agreements with CPA Canada that make this quicker, so check whether yours is one of them.
IT and tech
Most IT and tech roles aren't regulated in Canada, so you don't need a licence to work. Employers will judge you on your experience and skills.
Moving to Canada from the UK with Your Family
If you get permanent residence through Express Entry, you can include your partner and dependent children on the same application, so the whole family gets permanent residence together. Your partner can be a husband, wife or common-law partner you've lived with for at least a year.
If you move on a work permit first, your partner may be able to get an open work permit, which lets them work for almost any employer in Canada. If your partner is also a professional, their degree and English results can add points to your Express Entry score too. Your children can usually study at a local public school while you're there.
Once you're permanent residents, public schooling is free and your family can join the provincial health plan. Some provinces have a waiting period before health cover starts, so check the rules for your province and arrange private health insurance for the gap.
Wondering what it all costs? See the full cost of moving to Canada.
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