No. Applicants can still qualify for a Canada Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa without a Canadian job offer. However, Canadian employers play a greater role in Canadian immigration under the federal Express Entry immigration selection system than they did previously, meaning that, for many candidates, obtaining a valid Canadian job offer significantly increases their chances of being invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Candidates in the Express Entry pool have the opportunity to increase their chances of being invited to apply by promoting themselves directly to employers through the Canada Visa Job Search tool.

Candidates should note that the Quebec Skilled Worker category of immigration and some of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) do not require a Canadian job offer in order to qualify either.

A job offer is a genuine offer of employment from a legitimate Canadian employer.

Yes. There are essentially two types of job offers that a Canadian employer can make:

• A temporary job offer is an offer of Canadian employment that is made for a specific period of time - six months, one year, etc. Individuals can only begin working, in most cases, after they receive a Temporary Work Permit.
• A permanent job offer is an offer of Canadian employment that is made for an indeterminate period of time. Individuals can only begin working after they receive a Canada Immigration Visa.

There are significant benefits to obtaining a temporary Canadian job offer:

• A job offer is the starting point for obtaining a Temporary Work Permit.
• Coming to Canada on a Work Permit is the quickest way to enter Canada and work. The Work Permit application process can usually be completed in a matter of days or weeks.
• The Canadian employer of a Work Permit holder in Canada can offer the individual a permanent full-time job of indeterminate length and the new job offer will be considered arranged employment in Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker Class.

Under Express Entry, candidates who are successful in obtaining a job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) are awarded an additional 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This boost in points will result in the candidate being issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence at a subsequent draw from the pool, therefore fast-tracking the immigration process.

No. It can never hurt.

No. Once in Canada, there are many available rewarding employment opportunities. Each day in Canada more than 50,000 job postings go unfilled. Getting a job offer from outside Canada is more of a challenge but certainly can be accomplished with a little bit of perseverance, especially with the tools and guidance that Life Ashore office offers. Many Canadian employers have a keen demand for skilled workers and professionals. There is no reason why an applicant from outside of Canada can't be a part of their solution.

The Canada Job Bank is an online search engine for open job positions across Canada that helps match candidates with Canadian employers and jobs based on their skills, knowledge, and experience. Under Express Entry, candidates are required to register with the Job Bank if they do not already have a Canadian job offer or a Provincial/Territorial nomination. Should the Express Entry candidate choose to apply to a job opportunity, the recipient employer will then be required to go through their usual interview or assessment process. If the employer finds that the Express Entry candidate meets their needs, and they are eligible to hire a foreign national, they can offer them a job.

Furthermore, candidates in the Express Entry pool have the opportunity to increase their chances of being invited to apply by promoting themselves directly to employers through the Canada Visa Job Search tool.

Life Ashore Immigration Consultancy can provide the following services in relation to finding work in Canada and obtaining a job offer from a Canadian employer:

• Everyone who is considering immigration to Canada is encouraged to use the Canada Visa Job Search Tool, which features full listings and contact information of employers that are currently hiring. The Canada Job Search Tool is updated in real-time and can be accessed as often as needed.
• Use the Canada visa Resume Builder Tool to create a custom Canadian resume. Users can store their Canadian Resume in the Canada visa Resume Bank. Canadian employers browse resumes in the Canada visa Resume Bank to search for potential employees.
• Upon request, Life Ashore will communicate with potential Canadian employers to explain the simplicity of the "job offer process" from a Canadian immigration perspective. We will provide step by step guidance to each potential employer.
• We invite users to visit Canada visa's Work in Canada Zone, where it is possible to find valuable

Work visas and employment authorizations are known as work permits in Canada. A work permit is a document issued by officials of the Canadian Government that allows a foreign individual to work at a specific job for a specific employer.

Canadian Immigration regulations define "work" as an activity for which remuneration is earned or that competes directly with activities of Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents in the Canadian labour market.

Generally, individuals who are not Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents require a valid work permit to work in Canada. However, foreign workers can do some jobs in Canada without a work permit.

As a general rule, the first step is to obtain a valid job offer from a Canadian employer. Open work permits are the exception and do not require a prior job offer. Open work permits may be available to the spouses/common law partners of certain work permit holders, the spouses/common law partners of foreign students in Canada, asylum seekers, in-land sponsored family members, and destitute students in Canada.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a department of the Canadian Government, issues work permits.

Applications for a work permit may be submitted online. Applicants must have access to a scanner or camera in order to create and upload electronic copies of all required documents and a credit card. Work permits can also be applied for from outside Canada at the Canadian visa office responsible for the country of the applicant's citizenship, or the country to which the applicant has been lawfully admitted.

Most work permit applications are processed and issued within a matter of days or weeks, depending on whether or not a medical examination is required and the workload at the particular visa office to which the application was submitted.

The length of a work permit depends entirely on the nature of the job in Canada and the work permit category under which the applicant has applied. Work permits can be extended from inside Canada, but some work permits have a maximum duration.

Separate and apart from a work permit, an applicant will need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) unless the applicant is from one of the following visa-exempt countries. Applicants must apply for a TRV at the Canadian visa office responsible for their country of citizenship or the country to which they have been lawfully admitted.

As a general rule, work permits apply to a specific employer. If an individual changes employer he or she must apply for a new work permit. Only workers admitted to Canada on an open work permit can change employer without reapplying. Open work permits are the exception and may be available to the spouses/common law partners of certain work permit holders, the spouses/common law partners of foreign students in Canada, asylum seekers, in-land sponsored family members, and destitute students in Canada.

A medical examination is always required before commencing work in an occupation in which protection of the public health is essential. Otherwise, depending on the country of residence, an applicant may be required to take a medical exam prior to approval of the work permit if the job offer exceeds six months.

Yes, a spouse/common law partner and dependent children can accompany or follow a temporary worker to Canada. In many cases, persons entering Canada on a work permit may request that an open work permit be issued for their spouse/common law partner. In some instances, children may require a study permit to attend school in Canada.

The Canadian government charges $155 CAD per work permit application. Additional fees would be necessary if a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is also required.

Often, employment and business opportunities are time sensitive and for that reason having a legal representative in Canada with expertise in the area of work permits is the most efficient way to proceed.

It is important to note that, while an applicant's qualifications are supposed to be the determining factor in the success of a work permit application, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Officer's discretion can play a crucial role in the final outcome of each case. Under Canadian immigration regulations, IRCC Officers are given a great deal of discretion in the handling of work permit applications.