For Brazilian software engineer Manollo, moving to Canada was not a sudden idea. He had already lived in Ontario, fallen in love with the country, and returned home with a clear goal: one day, he would come back with his family.
In this conversation with VanHack, Manollo explains how he gained the support of his U.S.-based employer, navigated the relocation process through VanHack’s Canadian Engineering Office, and began a new chapter in Edmonton without leaving the job he already had.
A return to Canada years in the making
Manollo had been working as a software engineer for about a decade when he shared his story. His connection to Canada began in 2019, when he moved to the Toronto area to complete part of a master’s degree in Oshawa and lived in Ajax for six months.
The experience changed what he imagined for his future. He remembers being welcomed by Canadians and by people from many other countries who had also moved there to work. Canada began to feel less like a temporary destination and more like a place where he could build a life.
When that chapter ended around the beginning of the pandemic, he returned to Brazil. But he carried a purpose with him: he wanted to come back with his wife and give their children the opportunity to grow up in the country that had made such a strong impression on him.
The opportunity was not a new job
Manollo had known about VanHack for several years. He first discovered the community through a video featuring another Brazilian professional and began exploring whether a Canadian opportunity could eventually be possible for him.
By the time the right path appeared, however, he was already working for a U.S.-based company. He did not want to replace a good role. He wanted to find a way to bring his existing work and his family plans together.
Then Manollo saw a LinkedIn post from VanHack CEO Ilya Brotzky about the Canadian Engineering Office. He reached out, joined a conversation about how the program worked, and brought the idea to his employer.
Turning employer support into a relocation plan
There was no traditional job interview in Manollo’s case. The early conversations focused on understanding the program, setting expectations, and determining whether his employer would support the arrangement.
That employer support was essential. Manollo presented the program as a way to pursue an important career and family goal while continuing to contribute to the same company. Once the company agreed to move forward, the idea of returning to Canada became a practical plan.
“For me, it felt like a dream coming true.”
There were still many steps ahead, including finding the right Canadian structure, completing the required documentation, and moving through the work-permit process. Manollo describes that period as anxious, because the outcome mattered so much to his family. When everything was finally set, the long-held goal became real.
Support through the complicated moments
Relocation is rarely one simple transaction. It involves documents, deadlines, government processes, employer coordination, and many questions about what comes next.
Manollo says communication with VanHack remained smooth throughout his experience. Questions sent by email or Slack received replies, and the team continued helping after approval as he moved through the visa application and prepared for life in Canada.
That responsiveness gave him support at the moments when the process could otherwise have felt overwhelming. By the time of the interview, Manollo and his family were living in Edmonton, Alberta.
Why VanHack felt different from a general job board
Manollo also reflected on his broader experience with VanHack as an international software engineer. On a general job site, candidates may spend time applying before discovering that an employer wants someone who already lives in its home country.
He found the expectations clearer through VanHack. Opportunities are more closely connected to the realities of international tech talent, including remote work and, when applicable, relocation support. That focus can help candidates spend less energy filtering out roles that were never open to their situation.
As Manollo put it, candidates should be applying to opportunities where they genuinely have a chance—not guessing whether their location will disqualify them later.
His advice: build confidence by trying
Manollo’s advice to other software engineers is direct: keep improving, but do not wait for perfect confidence before taking a step. Strengthen your English where needed. Deepen your technical skills. Consider whether your current stack is helping you reach the opportunities you want.
“Even though I didn’t have the confidence yet, I tried—and I could do it.”
English had once held him back from applying to jobs in Canada, the United States, and other English-speaking markets. Eventually, he realized that being able to communicate and understand others mattered more than sounding perfect. Employers also evaluate technical ability, collaboration, and the judgment needed to do the work.
His message to the version of himself who hesitated is the same message he offers other candidates: do not decide that your English is not good enough before you have actually tried.
Could the Canadian Engineering Office fit your plans?
VanHack’s current Canadian Engineering Office is designed for software engineers who work for an international company, earn at least USD 60,000 per year with one employer, and want to relocate to Canada while continuing in their role. Through the program structure, eligible candidates may be able to secure a Canadian work permit under VanHack’s entity while VanHack subcontracts their services to the existing employer.
Every case is different. Eligibility, employer participation, documentation, fees, processing times, and program terms can change. Manollo’s story reflects his own experience at the time of recording and is not a guarantee of a future outcome.
But his experience shows what can become possible when a software engineer’s goal, an employer’s support, and the right relocation structure come together. If that sounds like your situation, review the latest criteria and apply to move to Canada with VanHack.
