1.. Is a job offer required for immigration to Canada under the Skilled Worker/ Professional category?

No. You can qualify for a Canada Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa without a Canadian job offer if you have at least one year (within the last 10 years) of paid work experience in one of the 29 qualifying occupations. The Quebec Skilled Worker category of immigration and some of the Provincial Nomination Programs do not require a Canadian job offer in order to qualify.

2. What is a "job offer" within the context of Canadian immigration?

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

3. Are there different types of job offers that a Canadian employer can make?

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 – 6 months, 1 year, etc… You can only begin working, in most cases, after you receive a Temporary Work Permit.

A permanent job offer is an offer of Canadian employment that is made for an indeterminate period of time. You can only begin working after you receive your Canada Immigration Visa.

4. Can I apply for a Temporary Work Permit and a Canada Immigration Visa?

Yes, you can. You may apply for a Temporary Work Permit on its own or in combination with an application for a Canada Immigration Visa. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) recognizes the concept of "dual intent" whereby, you desire to work in Canada temporarily and thereafter reside and work in Canada permanently.

5. What are the advantages of obtaining a permanent job offer from a Canadian employer?

The benefits of obtaining a permanent Canadian job offer are:

Increased opportunity for a successful application under the Skilled Worker/ Professional category and the Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) category.

Canadian Immigration Visa Offices "fast-track" applications submitted under the Skilled Worker/ Professional category, where the applicant has received a validated job offer from a Canadian employer. Likewise, priority processing is given to all applications submitted under the Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) category. In both situations a Canada Immigration Visa should be issued in less than one year unless there are medical and/or security issues.

Under the Skilled Worker/ Professional category, if you do not have at least one year (within the last 10 years) of paid work experience in one of these 29 qualifying occupations, you must have a Canadian job offer in order to qualify for a Canada Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa. Moreover, there is no limit on the number of applications that will be considered for processing when accompanied by a permanent, full-time job offer (Arranged Employment).

6. What are the advantages of obtaining a temporary job offer from a Canadian employer?

The benefits of obtaining a temporary Canadian job offer are:

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 Skilled Worker/ Professional category of immigration.

7. Is there any disadvantage to obtaining a Canadian job offer?

No.

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.8. What is a work permit?

 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.

9. How do Canadian Immigration authorities define “work”?

 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 labor market.

10. Who needs a valid work permit to work in Canada?

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

11. What do I do first to enter Canada for work

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.

12. Who issues work permits?

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

13. Are there different types of work permits?

 Yes, there are two broad categories of work permits; those that relate to jobs requiring the Canadian Government department of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) confirmation (HRSDC 2), and those that are exempt from HRSDC confirmation (HRSDC 1).

14. Where do I apply for my work permit?

 Depending on what country you are a national of, some work permits may be applied for at a Canadian Port of Entry. Other work permits must be applied for before leaving for Canada at the Canadian visa office responsible for your country of citizenship or the country to which you have been lawfully admitted. Still other work permits can be applied for inside of Canada.

15. How long will it take to get my work permit?

 Work permits that are applied for at a Canadian Port of Entry can be issued the same day. Most work permit applications filed outside of Canada are 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 you applied.

16. How long can a work permit be issued for and can it be extended?

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

17. Do I require a Visitor’s visa to enter Canada to work?

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

18. Can I change employers on the same work permit?

 As a general rule, work permits apply to a specific employer. If you change employers you 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.

19. Do I require a medical exam as part of my work permit application?

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

20. Can my spouse/common law partner and children come with me or follow me to Canada?

 Yes, your spouse/common law partner and dependent children can accompany or follow you 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, your children may require a study permit to attend school in Canada.

21. Does the Canadian Government charge fees to obtain a work permit?

 The Canadian government charges CAD 150 per work permit application. Additional fees would be necessary if a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is also required. . You can qualify for a Canada Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa without a Canadian job offer if you have at least one year (within the last 10 years) of paid work experience in one of the 29 qualifying occupations. The Quebec Skilled Worker category of immigration and some of the Provincial Nomination Programs do not require a Canadian job offer in order to qualify.