Immigrate to Canada as a Driller – Complete Guide
If you are thinking about immigrating to Canada as a driller, you’ve come to the right place. The life blood of the transportation and energy industry will depend on the earth’s supply of oil.
More so, it is common knowledge that drillers and blasters make a lot of money. Depending on how active the business is and how much the rig is working, a year in western Canada might range from $70,000 to $150,000.
Working in remote regions far from home is an issue that oil rig workers experience on a regular basis.
But what if you could work in a modern civilization with all of the family conveniences you could want, allowing you and your loved ones to enjoy the time you should be spending together?
Immigrating to Canada as a driller may be your ticket to the life you have always wanted, and with the extra benefit of permanent residency status, it’s an option worth considering.
More importantly, every occupation listed on the Canadian NOC is assigned a code, and the code for drillers seeking to immigrate to Canada is 7372.
This article will run you through the step-by-step guide, as well as the requirements to immigrate to Canada as a driller or blaster.
What do Driller or Blaster do?
According to the NOC classification handbook for drillers or blasters immigrating to Canada, drillers and blasters in surface mining, quarrying, and construction use mobile drilling machines to bore blast holes in open-pit mines and quarries, as well as to bore holes for blasting and building foundations at construction sites.
In addition, blasters in this unit group load explosives into blast holes and detonate them to dislodge coal, ore, and rock, as well as demolish structures.
Obviously, companies in the mining, quarrying, and building industries, as well as drilling and blasting contractors, use them.
Drillers and blasters work in a variety of jobs including surface mining, quarrying, and construction.
Examples of Jobs under driller or blaster role
Generally, to qualify under the code of Driller and blaster – surface mining quarrying and construction, you may be employed to work in any of these job titles or position descriptions below;
- Air-track drill operator – construction
- Blaster – quarrying
- Blaster – surface mining
- Construction blaster
- Construction driller
- Core drill operator – construction surface mining and quarrying
- Diamond drill operator – surface mining and quarrying
- Driller – quarrying
- Driller – surface mine
- Blaster (except underground mining)
- Driller – surface mining
- Drilling machine operator – construction
- Foundation drill operator
- Foundation drill operator – construction
- Open-pit blaster
- Open-pit driller
- Quarry driller
- Rotary drilling machine operator
- Rotary drilling machine operator – surface mining and quarrying
- Seismic prospecting driller
Exclusions from driller Job or roles
These jobs listed below are not included in the driller’s jobs in Canada. They include the following:
- Oil and gas wells drillers are excluded
- Construction drillers and blasters supervisors (See NOC for 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews)
- Surface mining drillers and blasters supervisors (See NOC for 8221 Supervisors, mining and quarrying)
- Mine drillers and blasters work underground (See NOC for 8231 Underground production and development miners)
- Drillers of water wells (See NOC for 7373 Water well drillers)
Main duties and tasks of drillers in Canada
This group is responsible for some or all of the following tasks:
Drillers
- In an open-pit mine or quarry, drillers drives and operate tracked or truck-mounted rotary drilling, air-track, or other drilling machines to bore massive blast holes to specified depths at staked places.
- Drillers drill blast holes in rock with drilling machinery at road or other building projects.
- Drill holes for construction foundations or pilings with a tracked or truck-mounted drill equipped with an auger or other attachment.
- Drillers may take measurements and stake out the pattern of holes to be drilled, then load explosives into blast holes and detonate them to remove coal, minerals, or rock.
Blasters
- Blasters assemble priming charges or direct other workers to do it using detonators, fuses, detonating wires, and other supplies.
- Hand-load explosives into blast holes or direct bulk explosives vehicles to the load holes.
- Link electrical wires, detonating cords, or fuses in series, then connect series to blasting equipment; detonate charges by pressing the handle or button.
- Handle, store, and transport explosives and accessories according to rules, and follow all safety measures.
- Blasters may operate air-track, rotary, down-the-hole or other drilling instruments to drill blast holes or may direct drilling of blast holes.
Employment requirements to immigrate to Canada as a driller or Blaster
To immigrate to Canada as a driller blaster, you have to meet both the some requirements to work in Canada as a driller
- On-the-job training is usually provided for drillers.
- Drillers may be required to have prior experience as a heavy equipment operator.
- For blasters, at least 4 years experience as a blaster helper in surface mining, quarrying, or building may be required.
- For blasters, a provincial blasting license is normally necessary.
- blaster trade certification is required in Nova Scotia.
Additional information
- With experience, progression to supervisory positions is possible
General requirements to immigrate to Canada
Below is the list of general requirements needed to Immigrate to Canada as a driller.
- Age
- Educational qualification
- Language ability (English or French)
- Work experience (if any)
- Job offer or arranged employment
- Partner’s skills ( not compulsory)
- Adaptability ( adapt to a new environment)
Minimum work experience for driller or blaster
Basically, you are required to have worked full-time or part-time equivalent for at least 1 year (1,560 hours total / 30 hours + a week) in the previous 10 years, however some companies may prefer you to have worked significantly more depending on your age.
Pathways to Immigrate to Canada as a driller or blaster
This section enlightens you of how to become driller in Canada. Our Canada immigration section has three main categories of programs for you to consider:
- Express entry
- Provincial Nominee Programs
- In-Demand occupations
Express entry
The Express Entry system is the most common way to immigrate to Canada. You only need to create an express entry profile and select the appropriate profile. You have three options under this heading. They really are;
- Canada experience class (CEC)
- Federal skilled worker program (FSWP)
- Federal skilled trades program (FSTP)
The FSWP is the ideal option for you if you want to immigrate to Canada as a driller or blaster. Once you complete the basic requirements, you can apply for this program and gain easy entrance to Canada.
Provincial Nominee Program
The provincial nominee program allows you to move to Canada as a driller. You must, however, choose to live and work in the province.
A provincial nominee program is a program run by Canadian provinces to attract workers who desire to relocate to their province.
Each Canadian province has its own provincial nominee program. Learn more about the requirements for various nominee programs in Canada.
Below are the nomination programs for each province and territory in Canada.
- Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
- British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
- Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
- Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NL PNP)
- Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
- Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSPNP)
- Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program (SINP)
- Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
In-Demand occupations
Individuals with a certain job offer in one of the Canadian provinces can immigrate to Canada. In fact, NOC classifies certain jobs in Canada as In-demands jobs.
As a result, you may be able to immigrate to Canada as a driller through this immigration pathway. You can see if your job title or position is on the list of in-demand jobs maintained by the NOC.
If it’s on the list, you can apply to work as a driller or blaster in Canada, which is a high-demand job.
Steps to immigrate to Canada as a driller
As with anything in life, following a step-by-step, tried-and-test process is often the best approach to get things. The entire immigration process can be simplified by following these four steps:
Step 1: Open a Valid Express Entry Profile
First, you must create an Express Entry profile in order to immigrate to Canada as a driller.
However, creating an express entry profile is useless. Express Entry is when the real work begins; it’s the start, not the finish, of your immigration journey.
You must create the best possible Express Entry profile by meeting the Canadian Immigration criteria, which will offer you those all-important Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points.
Step 2: Decide on a program
Secondly, when you create your express entry profile, you should have a clear idea of the program you want to apply to. There are numerous options available. The following are some of the programs:
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal skilled trade program
- Federal skilled worker program
- Provincial Nominee programs
Step 3: Obtain a job offer from a Canadian employer
Thirdly, finding a valid job offer from a Canadian company or firm is the next step if you wish to immigrate to Canada as a driller or blaster. The Labour Market Impact Assessment will have to approve your employer’s request.
Furthermore, the company or firm must demonstrate that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is capable of filling the vacancy.
Step 4: Get an invitation to apply
fourthly, If you meet the requirements for any of the express entry programs, you will receive an invitation to apply. The Comprehensive Ranking System will be used to evaluate your profile.
Age, language, work experience, and other criteria are taken into account by the CRS. You must have your documentation and application on hand at all times.
This is due to the fact that you must apply within 60 days after receiving an invitation.
Step 5: Submit your supporting documents
So, once you have received an invitation to apply (ITA), you only have 60 days from the time you receive an invitation to apply to submit your application and supporting documents.
Job offer letter, language proficiency exam result, identity card, proof of funds, and work experience evidence are among the supporting documents.
In addition, there is a CAD $150 application fee to pay.
Step 6: Obtain your work permit
The processing of your visa to immigrate to Canada as a driller takes roughly two weeks.
So, after you receive an email indicating that your visa has been approved, get ready to enter Canada. Your work permit will be issued at a Canadian port of entry.
Step 7: Welcome to Canada
Finally, once your application has been granted, you can enter Canada. Ensure that you pick up your work permit at a Canadian border crossing. You will not be able to work in Canada unless you have this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a driller and blaster in surface mining, quarrying, and building in Canada?
Yes, you certainly can! Drillers and blasters who work in surface mining, quarrying, and construction are qualified to move to Canada under the code 7372 on the Canadian NOC List.
Despite the fact that many Drillers and blasters have migrated to Canada in recent years, Drillers and blasters surface mining quarrying and construction are still in high demand across Canada, on both a national and provincial level.
Is it possible for me to work as a Driller and Blaster in surface mining, quarrying, and building in Canada?
It’s time to look at stage one of your Immigration to Canada Project once you’ve met the occupational and educational requirements to work as a Driller and Blaster in surface mining quarrying and building in Canada.
Conclusion
We hope that this guide on how to immigrate to Canada as a driller or blaster was informative and that you will find it simple to travel to Canada in the near future. To make the procedure less burdensome and complex, all of the immigration and visa choices have been provided.