Immigrate to Canada with a job offer

You do not need a job offer to immigrate to Canada, however, applicants with an approved job offer (also called arranged employment) in hand will have a greater chance of being invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

You do not need a job offer to immigrate to Canada, however, applicants with an approved job offer (also called arranged employment) in hand will have a greater chance of being invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

1. What is a job offer letter?

A job offer letter is a document for a potential employee to work in a specific position for an employer. This letter typically includes the following information:

• Salary
• Benefits
• job responsibilities…
• work hours
• start date
• and additional details that are important for the prospective employee to know

Generally, a job offer letter is less detailed than an employment contract.

2. What makes a valid job offer under Canadian Express Entry programs?

Canadian Express Entry is a faster way for eligible skilled workers to immigrate to Canada. This is an online system used to organize, process, and manage applications of skilled workers who wish to acquire Canadian permanent residence status. There are three programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Trades (FST)

Candidates submit their online profiles through the system to be determined if they are eligible for a program managed by Express Entry.

Eligible candidates are accepted into the pool and are ranked according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Generally, a valid offer is for a job that is:

• full-time and non-seasonal,
• for at least one year,
• in a skilled job listed as Skill Type 0, or Skill Level A or B in the 2016 National Occupational Classification.

A job offer must be in writing, and must set out details of the job they are offering you, such as:

• your pay and deductions
• your job duties
• conditions of employment, like your hours of work.

In most cases, a valid job offer must be supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) which is a document issued by the Government of Canada, approving a Canadian employer to hire one or multiple temporary foreign workers (TFW).

The Canadian employer has to apply for one from Employment and Social Development Canada/Service Canada.

If an Employer receives a positive LMIA, they must give you a copy and a written job offer.

When you get a new job offer, you need to update your profile in the Express Entry system with the:

• start date
• employer name and address
• LMIA number (if applicable)
• NOC code

3. How many CRS points do you get for a job offer for Express Entry?

Under Express Entry, if you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, you can earn between 50 and 200 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), depending on the skill level of your position:

• 200 points: Job offers at NOC codes beginning with 00
• 50 points: All other job offers at NOC skill level 0, A, or B

4. A valid job offer under Federal Skilled Workers and Canadian Experience Class

A valid job offer has to be:

• made by one employer
• continuous
• paid
• full-time (at least 30 hours a week)
• not seasonal
• for at least one year after we issue your permanent resident visa
• in a job that is NOC:
  • Skill Type 0 or
  • Skill Levels A or B

It also must be made:

• by an employer with a new positive LMIA that approves the offer and names you and your position OR
• if you’re currently working in Canada in a NOC 0, A or B job on a work permit that was issued based on an LMIA, and:
  • you’re working for an employer listed on your work permit
  • you’re authorized to work in Canada on the day you apply for a permanent resident visa, and when the visa is issued
  • your current employer made you an offer to give you a full-time job for at least one year if you’re accepted as a permanent resident OR
• if you have a valid work permit for a NOC 0, A or B job that is exempt from needing an LMIA, and you:
  • are currently working for an employer specified on the work permit
  • have one year of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work) for that employer
  • have a valid job offer from that employer for at least one year after we issue your permanent resident visa

Jobs exempt from the LMIA

5. A valid job offer under Federal Skilled Trades workers

A valid job offer has to be:

• made by up to two employers
• for continuous, paid, full-time work (at least 30 hours a week)
• for at least one year
• in a skilled trade occupation (jobs with 2016 NOC codes that start with 72, 73, 82, 92 as well as 632 and 633)

It also must be made:

• by employer(s) who have a new positive LMIA that approves the offer and names you and your position OR
• if you’re currently working in Canada in a skilled trade job a work permit that was issued based on a positive LMIA, and:
  • you’re working for an employer listed on your work permit
  • you’re authorized to work in Canada on the day you apply for a permanent resident visa and when the visa is issued
  • your current employer(s) offered you a full-time job if you’re accepted as a permanent resident, in a job that is in the same three-digit level of the NOC as your current job, for at least one year OR
• you have a valid work permit for one of the listed skilled trade occupation and it’s exempt from needing an LMIA, and you:
  • are currently working for an employer specified on the work permit
  • have one year of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work) for the employer(s) on your work permit who is making the offer and
  • have a valid job offer from that employer for at least one year after we issue your permanent resident visa

6. How a Canada job offer can lead to permanent residence

Canada encourages applications for Permanent Residence from people with skills, abilities, education and work experience that will contribute to the Canadian economy. The Canada immigration system favors individuals with either work experience or a job offer when granting Permanent Residence. A job offer in Canada can provide several pathways to obtaining Permanent Residence via Express Entry.

6.1 Federal Skilled Worker Program

The federal skilled worker program is only open to certain occupations. If you have an offer of employment and the LMIA, the occupation list does not apply to you. You only need a job offer in an occupation in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) A, B or O skill levels, and meet the other requirements of the program.

To immigrate to Canada under the Federal Skilled Workers program, you have to be in the Express Entry pool with eligible profile. If your CRS score is at the top, you will get an invitation to apply permanent residence.

6.2 Canadian Experience Class

With an LMIA job offer, you can apply for a work permit. After working in Canada for 12 months in an NOC A, B or O skill level job full-time (or equivalent), you can apply for permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class – CEC – category.

To immigrate to Canada under the Canadian Experience Class program, you have to be in the Express Entry pool with eligible profile. If your CRS score is at the top, you will get an invitation to apply permanent residence.

6.3 Provincial Nominee Programs

If your job offer does not get a positive LMIA, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) system allows the territorial and/or provincial governments to select immigrants based on the specific economic needs of that territory or province.

Many provincial nominee programs will evaluate job offers from employers to determine if they meet a need in the province. The provincial criteria are different from the federal criteria, so an unsuccessful LMIA could be a successful job offer application through a Provincial Nominee Program.

If accepted by the province, you can apply for permanent residence as a provincial nominee.

If you are looking for assistance on your immigration to Canada, you can contact our office at 1-778-366-0660 or send us an email at silvesterandassociates@gmail.com and we would be happy to assist you.

Book your appointment with our accredited immigration consultant here.