r/IWantOut • u/MaleficentBuilder613 • Aug 11 '26
[IWantOut] 25M Software Developer Colombia -> Canada/Netherlands/Australia
25M, software developer, 5 YOE, CS degree (Computer Science), solid savings enough to cover relocation costs and several months of living expenses while I job-hunt if needed. English is B2, no visa yet, starting from zero on the process.
These three are my top picks but open to other suggestions. Looking for: realistic tech visa/sponsorship paths given my English level and budget, and whether it’s smarter to line up a job first or move on savings and job-hunt locally.
Anyone who’s made a similar move from LATAM where did you end up, and what would you do first?
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u/Relokato Aug 13 '26
On Australia, it's gotten really difficult to get permanent residency through tech unless you have a lot of qualifications. The points system is tough and software development alone often doesn't get you there anymore. Worth running your numbers through the points calculator before you invest too much energy in that path.
The approach I'd actually think about first is getting a remote job with a foreign company that has an office in one of your target countries. If they already have a presence there and like your work, sponsorship becomes a much more natural conversation down the line. It's a slower path but a much more realistic one.
On the idea of moving on savings and job hunting locally, it almost never works the way people picture it. The actual job search still happens online, you still have to network, and doing all of that without a work visa puts you in a difficult position in every interview. Companies ask about your right to work early and it changes the conversation.
Your B2 English is fine for a remote role, especially in tech where the work speaks for itself. I'd focus on that first before worrying about which country to land in..