Introduction
If you’re a software developer or tech professional looking to land a career-making role in Toronto’s booming FinTech and tech scene, you’re in the right place. Two of Canada’s most prominent players — Shopify Inc. (“Shopify”) and Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”) have been on hiring sprees in and around Toronto, and the good news is: they’re open to international talent with visa-support pathways. In this blog post, we’ll unpack the hiring environments at both companies, compare what they’re offering, break down how you (yes, you) can prepare, and dive deep into the visa and relocation side of things so that you can make an informed move.
The tech ecosystem in Toronto is thriving, FinTech is one of its fastest-growing verticals, and companies are increasingly international in outlook. Whether you’re currently based abroad or already in Canada on a temporary permit, understanding how to position yourself for roles at Shopify or RBC is key. Let’s jump in.
Why Shopify & RBC are Worth Watching
Shopify
Shopify, based in Ottawa but with a strong presence in Toronto and other Canadian hubs, has made high-profile hiring moves in software development, cloud, payments and commerce platforms. For international applicants especially, the company openly states that visa-sponsorship and remote (within Canada) opportunities are available. (arcbub.com)
The company culture emphasises entrepreneurship, rapid iteration (“we get stuff done”) and ownership of projects. (RBC)
In short: Shopify offers an environment that favours autonomous engineers, tech innovators, and global thinkers.
RBC
RBC is Canada’s largest bank (by assets) and is aggressively expanding its tech and FinTech capabilities — especially from its Toronto operations. It isn’t traditionally a “startup” but the bank’s tech wing is modern, ambitious and increasingly open to hiring software and cloud-engineering talent (even from overseas). (RBC)
What’s more, RBC has strong exposure to the FinTech ecosystem (through venture investing, partnerships, platform builds) so if you’re into finance + tech, this is a sweet spot. (RBC)
Thus: if you want a developer role that merges banking/fintech and large-scale engineering, RBC is a serious option.
What the Hiring Blitz Looks Like
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of how both companies are recruiting for developers and FinTech roles in Toronto.
| Company | Role Types | Visa & International Hiring | Key Technologies / Skills Sought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Full-Stack Developer, Backend Engineer, Payments/Cloud Engineer | Visa sponsorship available; listings show “we will assist with work permits” for international applicants. (Nigerian Education) | JavaScript (React), Ruby on Rails, GraphQL, Cloud services, API design, Developer ownership mindset. (arcbub.com) |
| RBC | Staff Developer (Finance Technology), Cloud/Platform Engineer, FinTech Integration Engineer | International candidates feasible. Tech roles at RBC increasingly emphasise diverse, global talent. (theladders.com) | Java, Python, TypeScript, Angular, Spring Boot, Cloud (AWS/Azure/GCP), large enterprise architecture. (theladders.com) |
What “Visa Sponsorship” Really Means
- For Shopify, job adverts explicitly mention visa support for foreign candidates. (arcbub.com)
- For RBC, while less explicit in every job posting, tech recruitment literature suggests they are open and listed among companies hiring international professionals in Canada. (Eswiftscholar)
- The Canadian hiring ecosystem offers pathways such as the Global Talent Stream (GTS) and work permits via Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exemptions for skilled roles. (InsuranceGrades.com)
📌 Pro tip: When you scan job postings, look explicitly for phrases like “work permit / visa support”, “foreign recruitment”, “Global Talent Stream”. If missing, you may need to follow up directly in the application process.
Key Insights & Actionable Steps
1. Skills + Culture Fit = Winning Formula
- At Shopify: Beyond the tech stack, there’s strong emphasis on an entrepreneurial mindset, ownership of projects, and ability to deal with ambiguity. As one ex-Shopify employee said: “When you really want something… I truly believe that the smallest decisions can literally change our lives sometimes.” (Medium)
- At RBC: They want engineers who can function in a large enterprise environment — coding standards, full software development lifecycle (SDLC), cloud deployment, security & compliance. (theladders.com)
Thus: you’ll do best if you can show that you’ve built things, taken responsibility for outcomes, and can articulate how you adapt to changing requirements.
2. Location & Hybrid Work Considerations
Both companies are based in Toronto (or operate large teams there). Toronto’s tech scene is growing fast and FinTech is a hotspot. (canadiancodershub.com)
While remote work exists, being willing to relocate (or already being in Canada) often boosts your chances. If you’re outside Canada: you’ll want to clarify how much the role allows for remote work vs requires being onsite/hybrid in Toronto.
3. Salary and Market Context
Toronto’s FinTech/tech salary ranges are very competitive. For example: Junior developers may earn CAD 65,000-85,000, while senior devs and architects could hit CAD 130,000-170,000 in FinTech roles. (canadiancodershub.com)
Companies like Shopify feature roles for which international applicants receive sponsorship and competitive packages. (arcbub.com)
Be prepared to negotiate and ensure you understand cost of living in Toronto (housing, transit, taxes) versus your local context.
4. How To Stand Out in Applications
Here’s a checklist to help you:
- Tailor your resume: Highlight relevant technologies (JavaScript, React, Cloud, etc), project outcomes, and international collaboration if applicable.
- Portfolio / GitHub: For developer roles especially, showcasing code, side-projects or contributions matters.
- Describe impact: Quantify where possible (“Reduced load time by 40%”, “Migrated microservices to AWS”, etc).
- Build your story: Especially for Shopify, show entrepreneurial initiative or leadership in past roles.
- Prepare for interviews: Technical rounds + culture fit. Be ready to explain a complex technical challenge you faced, your decision-making process, and what you learned.
- Make it clear you’re international-ready: If you are abroad, mention willingness to relocate and any visa/work-permit status.
5. Visa & Immigration: What You Should Know
Moving to Canada for work involves several pieces. Here is a simplified breakdown of the major elements:
Work Permit Options
- Global Talent Stream (GTS): A fast-track option for high-skilled roles — job offer + employer application can lead to approval in ~2 weeks. (InsuranceGrades.com)
- Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA): Employer must show no Canadian worker is available; sometimes more complex. (Association of Corporate Counsel)
- Intra-company transfers or specialized workers may use other avenues. (Association of Corporate Counsel)
Permanent Residency (PR)
- After gaining Canadian work experience, you may be eligible for PR via programs such as the Express Entry system or provincial nominee programs (PNPs). Some employers may assist with this. (Nigerian Education)
What you’ll need
- Job offer from employer (with required eligibility language)
- Work permit application (and in many cases, biometrics/medical exam) if outside Canada. (Association of Corporate Counsel)
- Language requirement: English or French proficiency may be required. (Nigerian Education)
- Be realistic about timing and costs (relocation, taxes, living costs).
6. SWOT Summary for Both Roles
Strengths
- Shopify & RBC are well-known, with strong hiring budgets and global orientation
- Toronto offers a vibrant tech & FinTech ecosystem
- Visa pathways exist and are being used
Weaknesses/Risks
- Competition is stiff (global applicants)
- Roles may require immediate availability or relocation readiness
- Immigration/visa delays can complicate the timeline
Opportunities
- Working in FinTech or commercetech gives exposure to cutting-edge projects (cloud, payments, API, scale)
- High career growth potential and good salaries
- Potential to transition to Canadian PR
Threats
- Changing immigration policies or employer priorities
- Cost of living in Toronto is high compared to many markets
- If you’re abroad and not prepared, delays or mis-communication could hurt your candidacy
“How to Apply” Roadmap (Step-by-Step)
Here’s your path from “thinking about it” to “offer letter in hand”:
- Self-assessment & Role Targeting
- Identify whether you prefer: (a) startup-style rapid growth role (like at Shopify) or (b) enterprise-scale finance/tech role (like at RBC)
- Map your skillset to the key technologies listed in their postings: e.g., for Shopify – React, Ruby on Rails, GraphQL; for RBC – Java, Python, Cloud/Azure etc
- Make sure your resume highlights the right keywords and outcomes
- Update your professional presence
- Clean up your LinkedIn profile; indicate “Open to Relocate to Canada” if true
- Build or update your GitHub/portfolio with relevant side-projects
- Get references or endorsements if possible
- Scan current job listings
- Go to Shopify careers page or RBC careers, filter by Toronto / Canada / “visa sponsorship” etc
- Use additional job aggregators (LinkedIn, Glassdoor) and add filters like “work permit support”, “Global Talent Stream”
- Keep track of application deadlines and requirements
- Prepare a tailored application
- Write a cover letter (optional but helpful) linking your past experience to the role, showing excitement to relocate and work in Canada
- Ensure your resume is 1–2 pages (in Canadian format), concise, results-oriented
- If still abroad: highlight your willingness to relocate / your visa eligibility
- Ace the interview process
- Expect multiple rounds: screening call → technical coding rounds → culture/behaviour rounds
- For Shopify: you’ll likely face questions about ownership, autonomy, entrepreneurial thinking. Review their “Shopify Way” culture. (RBC)
- For RBC: expect more structured questions-about engineering practices, code reviews, working at scale. (theladders.com)
- Prepare across three dimensions: Technical depth, System design (for senior roles), Behaviour-culture fit
- Work permit & relocation
- Once you have a job offer, ask the employer about visa/work permit support (LMIA, Global Talent Stream)
- Collect all documents: passport, résumé, job offer, employer details, language test if required
- Be aware of relocation costs, timeline, housing in Toronto — often companies assist, sometimes not
- Use resources on Canadian immigration and work permits to understand your status.
- After arrival / first weeks
- Engage with your new team, understand onboarding (you’ll likely have one at both Shopify & RBC)
- Use the opportunity to build your network: Toronto tech meetups, developer communities, FinTech events
- Consider how this role fits into your longer-term goal (e.g., obtaining Canadian PR, moving into architecture/management)
Toronto FinTech & Tech Ecosystem — Why This Location?
Toronto is not just any city when it comes to tech or FinTech. A few reasons why it stands out:
- Talent pool: The region has major universities, a vibrant startup community, and companies investing heavily in tech. (Tech Talent Canada)
- FinTech growth: With companies, banks and regulatory agencies increasingly embracing technology, the FinTech vertical is growing fast—this means more roles, more innovation, and often more flexibility. (canadiancodershub.com)
- Immigration friendly: Canada overall has pathways to attract global talent, and tech is often a priority sector. Hence, companies like Shopify and RBC are aligning their hiring strategies with that. (Eswiftscholar)
- Quality of life / multiculturalism: Toronto is a multicultural city, which tends to make relocation for designers/developers from abroad easier than in more mono-cultural or remote settings.
- Access to FinTech + Banking + Startup/Scale-up mix: If you like banking + startup energy, Toronto gives you both via companies like RBC, and commerce/tech companies like Shopify.
Specific Tips for International Applicants
If you’re reading this from outside Canada (or outside the Toronto region), here are a few tailored tips:
- Clarify eligibility early: When applying, email the recruiter or ask in your cover letter: “Does this role support visa/work permit applicants from outside Canada?” Be proactive.
- Demonstrate relocation readiness: Mention in your cover letter or LinkedIn that you are willing to relocate to Toronto. If you already have any Canadian ties (education, visits, work experience) highlight them.
- Budget for relocation: Even if the employer covers some costs, there will be personal adjustment costs (flight, housing start-up costs, moving goods).
- Mind time-zones: Remote interviews from abroad could mean late-night or early-morning calls; plan accordingly.
- Use your location as strength: Being from an international background might give you a unique perspective — highlight global product experience, multilingualism, cultural sensitivity.
- Prepare for cultural fit: North American (and Canadian) companies value clear communication, self-direction, collaboration and “can-do” attitude. Avoid making your application overly “we need a visa”-centric; instead sell what value you bring.
- Follow Canadian job-application norms: For example, resume style, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles — align with Canadian expectations. A short bullet-resume is often better than a long-winded CV.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Do I need to be in Canada already to apply to Shopify or RBC?
A: No. Many roles allow international applicants, and these companies have provisions for visa/work-permit support. However, being able to relocate (or being in Canada with work-authorised status) is often a plus.
Q: How fast can I get a work permit if I get an offer?
A: For the Global Talent Stream (GTS) option, processing can be as quick as 2 weeks once all documents are in order. (InsuranceGrades.com) But real-world timelines can vary (depending on nationality, medicals, biometrics etc).
Q: Does having a Canadian work permit lead to permanent residency?
A: Yes — gaining Canadian skilled-work experience helps you qualify for PR through Express Entry or a provincial nominee program. Some companies may light-the-path by supporting you. (Nigerian Education)
Q: Which role is “easier” to get into: Shopify or RBC?
A: It depends on your profile. If you thrive in startup/scale-up mode, with strong front-end or full-stack, Shopify might feel more “your style.” If you prefer large-scale systems, banking/regulatory domain, large enterprise architecture, RBC may suit you better. Both are competitive.
Q: What if I need sponsorship but the job posting doesn’t mention it?
A: You can still apply — sometimes job descriptions don’t list everything. But note: roles that explicitly mention visa support often have more established pathways and may ease the process for you.
Conclusion
Landing a tech or FinTech role in Toronto with a globally-oriented company like Shopify or RBC is absolutely within reach even from abroad. The hiring blitz is real, the visa pathways are accessible, and the ecosystem is favorable. That said, the path requires preparation: a strong technical portfolio, a clear story of your value, an understanding of the work-permit/relocation process, and readiness to engage with the Canadian job market on its terms.
If I were you, I would pick one company (say Shopify or RBC), set a timeline (3-6 months), audit your resume + skills, apply to 5-10 relevant roles, and plan for relocation readiness (documents, cost, housing, timezone shifts). Treat this as a career move, not just a job hunting exercise.
Toronto’s tech and FinTech scene is accelerating, be prepared, be bold, and be ready to make the move. Your next big developer/FinTech role might just be a job application away.