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The Job Offer

In most cases, employers must make a formal job offer before a foreign worker can apply for a work permit. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) cannot issue a work permit without seeing this job offer. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) also needs the information on the offer before they can confirm the job for a foreign worker.

As an employer, you can make the formal job offer with a written letter or with a more formal employment contract. The job offer must contain the following information:

• A job title for the job you are offering.
• A description of the job, listing duties and responsibilities.
• A list of education, skills and experience that workers must have for the job. Include a list of licences and professional credentials.
• Details on when the job will start and end. Work permits are only issued for foreign workers who are coming to work in Canada for a limited time. If your workers are coming to live and work permanently in Canada, they must apply for permanent residence through the skilled worker program.
• Details of the salary you are offering, including wages and other forms of payment (for example: room and board or commission.) Remember that HRSDC will check that the wages and working conditions you are offering are consistent with the Canadian labour market.
• The name and address of the employer, and the address where the foreign worker will be working. CIC and HRSDC officers will check that your business and the job being offered are genuine. Include the name and phone number of a contact at your business who is familiar with the job offer so that CIC and HRSDC can confirm the offer.

You must send a copy of the job offer to HRSDC so that they may confirm the job for a foreign worker. A copy of the job offer must be included with the worker’s application for a work permit. Please make sure that all copies of the job offer are the same.

Learn more about HRSDC’s role in bringing foreign workers to Canada.