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Job offer

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Job offer basics

If you have a new job offer (offer of arranged employment), you need to update your Express Entry profile in your IRCC secure account with the:

Your job offer must:

A work permit on its own is not a job offer, even if it is an open work permit.

Your job offer must also meet other criteria to be valid under the Express Entry program you qualify for below.

If you’re a physician with a job offer in Canada

We introduced a temporary public policy for foreign national physicians who:

  • were invited to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry on or after April 25, 2023, and submitted an application
  • have a job offer to provide publicly funded medical services in Canada

Under the policy, your job offer:

  • is valid under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) even if the job being offered is not continuous and does not last for at least 1 year after we issue your permanent resident visa
  • allows you to earn points:

Learn more about our updated requirements for a valid job offer to work as a physician.

Other requirements by program

Federal Skilled Workers Program and Canadian Experience Class

A valid job offer has to be:

  • for 1 employer
  • continuous
  • paid
  • full-time (at least 30 hours a week)
  • not seasonal
  • for at least 1 year after we issue your permanent resident visa
  • in a NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3

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 TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 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 TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 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 under any work permit
    • have a valid job offer from that employer for at least one year after we issue your permanent resident visa

Federal Skilled Trades Program

A valid job offer has to be:

  • made by up to 2 employers
  • for continuous, paid, full-time work (at least 30 hours a week)
  • for at least 1 year
  • for a job under one of these NOC 2021 TEER 2 and 3 categories:
    • Major Group 72, technical trades and transportation officers and controllers:
      • excluding Sub-Major Group 726, transportation officers and controllers
    • Major Group 73, general trades
    • Major Group 82, supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production
    • Major Group 83, occupations in natural resources and related production
    • Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers
    • Major Group 93, central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors, excluding Sub-Major Group 932, aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
    • Minor Group 6320, cooks, butchers and bakers
    • Unit Group 62200, chefs

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 occupations 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 made the offer, and
    • have a valid job offer from that employer for at least one year after we issue your permanent resident visa

Examples of a valid and non-valid job offer

In both examples, the LMIA supports the job offer as set out above, or is exempt from needing an LMIA.

Example of a valid job offer

Two companies hire a heavy equipment operator. The LMIA lists both. Each employer is offering 16 hours of work per week for a minimum of one year.

This job offer is valid.

Example of a non-valid job offer

A construction company offers a plumber a position for 25 hours per week. It’s on a non-contract basis.

This job offer isn’t valid. A job must be for at least 30 hours a week to be full-time.

Who needs an LMIA

In most cases, your employer needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to support your job offer for Express Entry.

Your future employer is responsible for getting you an LMIA if you need one.

Your employer must get a new LMIA if:

There are only 2 reasons the employer making you the offer doesn’t need to get a new LMIA:

  1. if you’ve already been working full-time (or an equal amount of part-time) for them with a work permit based on an LMIA, and you have a valid job offer
  2. if you work in a job that doesn’t need an LMIA

Who doesn't need an LMIA

Your employer doesn’t need an LMIA to support your job offer if:

  1. you’ve been working full-time for the employer(s) on your work permit for at least 1 year (or an equal amount of part-time work)
  2. you have a valid job offer, and
  3. you have a valid work permit that is exempt from an LMIA under:
    1. an international agreement (like CUSMA or GATS, and non-trade agreements)
      • This includes professionals, traders and investors.
    2. a federal-provincial agreement
      • This includes “significant investment” projects.
    3. “Canadian interests” reasons, including:
      1. significant benefit: Your employer must show that hiring you will bring social, cultural, or economic benefits to Canada. This includes:
        • self-employed engineers, artists, and technical workers
        • intra-company transferees with specialized knowledge that will benefit Canada
        • workers under the Francophone Mobility program
      2. reciprocal employment: If Canadians have similar opportunities abroad, you may get a job in Canada. This includes:
        • professional coaches and athletes for Canadian teams
        • International Experience Canada participants
        • exchange programs, like professors and visiting lecturers
      3. designated by the Minister: This includes:
        • academics (researchers, lecturers, and professors) under a recognized federal program
        • post-doctoral fellows, medical residents, and people with academic awards from Canadian schools
      4. charity and religious work: This doesn't include volunteers.

Ability to do the work

You must convince our officers that you will:

Each province and territory designates their professions and trades in their jurisdiction. Requirements to be designated or certified vary by province.

Get more information on licensing and regulatory requirements for specific professions or contact the relevant body in the province/territory where you plan to live.

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