Work experience and job offers

Do I need a permanent job offer for Express Entry?

No. A valid job offer for Express Entry only needs to be for 1 year or more.

Job offers must still be:

• in the NOC TEER Category 0, 1, 2 or 3
• from one employer for the FSW or CEC, or up to two employers for the FST
• supported by an LMIA (if you need one) or be for a candidate that is exempt from needing one.

What makes a job offer valid under Express Entry?

Generally, a valid offer is for a job that

• is full-time and non-seasonal
• lasts for at least 1 year
• is in a skilled job listed as TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 in the 2021 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 duties
• the 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). The employer has to apply for one from Employment and Social Development Canada/Service Canada.

If they get a positive LMIA, they must give you a copy and a written job offer.

In some cases, your employer does not need an LMIA to support your job offer. Find out more about jobs that are exempt.

Under Express Entry, a valid job offer will give you additional points in the Comprehensive Ranking System.

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

When you create your Express Entry profile, include the LMIA number to show that you have a valid job offer.

If you get invited to apply, we may ask you for the original document, so keep it in a safe place.

A job offer is not valid if your employer is:

• an embassy, high commission or consulate in Canada, or
• on the list of ineligible employers.

If your employer is not eligible, does not get a positive LMIA, or is not LMIA-exempt you will not meet the requirements of a valid job offer for arranged employment.

Find out more about offers of employment and exemptions.

What do you mean by Primary Occupation?

Your primary occupation means the job you have experience in (within the last ten years) and want to base your immigration application on, if you are invited to apply.

How do I find my National Occupation Classification (NOC) code?

Your National Occupation Classification (NOC) code is the number the job is listed under in Canada’s official job classification system.

Find the NOC code and title for a job

Why didn’t I get points for my job offer in Express Entry?

To get points from the Comprehensive Ranking System for a job offer in Express Entry, your employer will usually need to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

You should only answer “Yes” to the question “Does [your name] have a job offer in Canada?” if:

• a Canadian employer (or up to two for the Federal Skilled Trades Program) has offered you a full-time, non-seasonal job for one year or more and
• that job offer is supported by an LMIA, OR
• the job is exempt from needing an LMIA.

If you are currently working in Canada but have not been offered a job that is supported by a LMIA (or is exempt from needing one), you should:

• answer “No” and
• create a Job Match account in Job Bank.

Note: From January 1, 2015 to November 19, 2016, jobs offers that didn’t need an LMIA were not considered valid for Express Entry. We now accept certain job offers that don’t need an LMIA.

Find out more about what makes a job offer valid.

I am working in Canada on a valid work permit. Does this count as a job offer?

No, a work permit is not a job offer. A job offer is valid if your current or future employer:

• has made a written offer to give you a full-time, non-seasonal job for one year or more if you are accepted as a permanent resident and
• has a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (or the job is LMIA-exempt)

This is true whether you are working in Canada or not.

There are only two reasons that an employer making you a job offer does not need to get a new LMIA:

• if you are already working for them with a work permit based on that LMIA
• if you work in a job that does not need an LMIA.

Find out more about what makes a job offer valid.

There is no National Occupation Classification (NOC) code on my work permit. What should I put in my Express Entry profile?

If there is no National Occupational Classification (NOC) code on your work permit, you should find and use the NOC code of the job you are currently doing in Canada.

Find the NOC code and title for your job.

If I am waiting for a new work permit and I have job offer points, do I have to remove the job offer from my Express Entry profile?

“Implied status” means you can stay in Canada and keep working while we make a decision on your application.

If you have implied status, and have applied to renew your work permit, you can keep working for the same employer under the same conditions. You are still eligible for job offer points during this time.

If you are invited to apply, your Express Entry profile answers will be carried forward to your online application for permanent residence. It will show that you have a valid work permit supported by an LMIA (if you need one) in a NOC TEER 0 Major Group 00 job. You will not need to change the answers.

You must submit a copy of your LMIA with the application if your work permit was supported by an LMIA.

Note: The points you can get for a job offer has changed. You can now get:

• 200 CRS points for a valid job offer in a NOC TEER 0 Major Group 00 job
• 50 CRS points for a valid job offer in a NOC TEER Category 1, 2 or 3 job, or any TEER 0 job other than Major group 00.

What work experience can I count towards the Federal Skilled Trades Program’s two-year requirement?

In the Federal Skilled Trades program, work experience in a trade can only count if you are qualified to independently practice that trade in the region where you got your work experience.

If you are qualified in one country, you might work in another country that has different rules for practicing your trade. In that case, the work experience from the second country will only count towards the two-year work experience requirement if you also met the requirements to practice there independently.

For example, if you are a plumber from Germany and worked for one year in Poland, you need to prove that you were certified to be a plumber in Germany, and that you were qualified to work in Poland according to Polish regulations at the time for this work experience to count.

Can I count student work experience toward the Express Entry work requirement?

It depends on where you were working and studying.

To be eligible for Express Entry, you must meet the minimum requirements for 1 or more Express Entry programs. This includes the work experience requirement.

Using student work experience for minimum requirements

Federal Skilled Worker Program

Student work experience gained while you were studying in Canada or abroad counts towards the minimum requirements for the Federal Skilled Worker Program if the work:

• was paid by wages or commissions
• was continuous (no gaps in employment), and
• meets all the other requirements of the Program

This includes co-op terms and apprenticeships.

Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program

Student work experience doesn’t count towards the minimum requirements for the Canadian Experience Class or Federal Skilled Trades Program.

How student work experience affects your profile ranking

Canadian work experience gained while you were a full-time student doesn’t count towards the score used to rank your profile.

The work experience gained as a full-time student outside Canada counts towards the score used to rank your profile.

I have been working in Canada for the last 6 months but didn’t get points for work experience. Why not?

Under the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), to be awarded points for skilled work experience, you must have been:

• legally allowed to work in Canada in one or more jobs listed in TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification
• working full-time (or an equal amount of part-time) work, meaning 30 hours of work per week, and
• working for at least 1 year in the 10-year period before the day we assign you points.

We do not count work experience if you were:

• studying full-time while you were working,
• self-employed, or
• not legally allowed to work in Canada.

Please note: Work experience does not need to be continuous to get points under the CRS. But, to qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you must have at least one year of continuous full-time paid work experience, either in Canada or abroad.

If I’ve maintained my status while in the Express Entry pool, will I still get the job offer points?

If you show in your Express Entry profile that you have a valid job offer, you will automatically be awarded additional points towards your Comprehensive Ranking System score.

If your job offer is from your current employer, and you’ve maintained your status and are authorized to work, you must keep working for the employer on your existing permit and under the same conditions in order to keep your job offer points.

What if I am invited to apply for Express Entry while waiting for a new work permit?

If you applied for a new work permit before your old one expired, you are under “implied status” until we make a decision on your application.

Job offer information from your current employer in your Express Entry profile will carry forward to your application if we invite you to apply for permanent residence while under implied status.

If you are not sure you answered correctly:

1. go to the “work history” screen, under the “Intended work in Canada” section
2. scroll down to the section about Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA)
3. if your employer had an LMIA for your work permit, make sure you answered “yes” to the question “Was a positive LMIA issued for the job offer in Canada?”
4. under “LMIA number,” enter the number from the expired LMIA
5. if your work permit is LMIA-exempt, for the question “Was a positive LMIA issued for the job offer in Canada?” choose the correct answer from the “No – My work permit is exempt…” options.

To prove that you are under implied status, include a copy of your new LMIA (if this applies) and work permit applications when you apply. When you get to the document checklist, select “add letter of explanation” to upload it into the “Optional documents” section.

As long as you still have implied status at the time you apply, you do not need to wait for your new work permit to be approved.

If we issue you a new work permit before you submit your application, you need to update this information before you submit it.

If we refuse you a new work permit before you submit your application, you may want to decline the invitation to apply, since the information in your profile is no longer up to date. You will be put back in the pool, and should update your profile to show the change in your work status.

You can recalculate your score to see if you still have enough points to be invited to apply.

If losing job offer points brings your score below the minimum score for your round of invitation, we will refuse your application. If we refuse your application, we will not refund your processing fees.

I was invited to apply through Express Entry but my work permit expired. What do I do?

If you didn’t apply for a new work permit before your original one expired, it may cause your score to drop. This could cause you to not be eligible anymore.

If your score has dropped below the minimum cut-off for your round of invitations, you should decline the invitation. If you submit your application anyway, we’ll refuse it.

If we refuse your application, we won’t refund your fees.

If you decline, you’ll be put back in the pool. You should update your Express Entry profile to show the change in your work status.

You may be able to restore your status and get a work permit. If your status is restored and you still have an eligible Express Entry profile, you may be invited to apply for permanent residence again in the future.

I didn’t get a Job Seeker Validation Code in the message you sent to my account. Why not?

If you got an Express Entry profile number but not a Job Seeker Validation Code you should contact us using the Case Specific Enquiry form.

To be eligible for Express Entry, you need to meet the minimum requirements and complete a profile.

Do I need a job offer to get into the Express Entry pool?

No, in most cases you don’t need a job offer.

But, you will need one if you:

• are eligible for either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and
• do not have enough money to support yourself and your family in Canada.

Even if you don’t need one, you may want to try and find a valid job offer. It will give you a much higher point score, and so a better chance of being invited to apply.

How do I register with / create a Job Match account in Job Bank?

Job Bank is a database that can help match you with employers looking for workers with your skills.

If your Express Entry profile is found eligible, you can create a Job Match account. To do so:

• go to the Job Match sign-in page
• click the “Create an account” button
• read the privacy notice and click “I agree”
• follow the instructions to create an account.