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Difference between Job Offer Letter and Letter of Employ

LES1910

Star Member
Jun 23, 2019
104
70
Hi - Going through my document checklist and I have been asked for the below, on top of proof of employment for previous years. What is the difference?

I was expected the first one, but have never seen the letter of employment mentioned anywhere before.

Job Offer Letter:

You must provide a job offer letter from the employer who wants to hire you. It must be printed on company letterhead, and state that you will be employed permanently in Canada by that company. The letter must specify whether the job is: for continuous, paid, full-time work (at least 30 hours a week), for work that is permanent and not seasonal, skill type 0, or skill levels A or B of the 2011 National Occupational Classification (NOC) (Note – in most cases, the job offer must be for a permanent job. For some types of jobs, it has to be for at least one year.) The job offer letter must include contact information for the company (address, telephone number and email address).

Letter of Employment:

An employment letter is an official document printed on company letterhead stating that you will be employed in Canada by that company for a specified period of time. The employment letter must include your name, the details of your employment in Canada, and the company's contact information. It may also include: details such as your tenure with the company your title, position and duties approved vacation periods (if travelling to Canada for holidays), or information about whether the company will cover all your travel expenses (if travelling on business for this company), etc
 

RefugeeHelp1

Hero Member
May 23, 2019
975
949
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Hi - Going through my document checklist and I have been asked for the below, on top of proof of employment for previous years. What is the difference?

I was expected the first one, but have never seen the letter of employment mentioned anywhere before.

Job Offer Letter:

You must provide a job offer letter from the employer who wants to hire you. It must be printed on company letterhead, and state that you will be employed permanently in Canada by that company. The letter must specify whether the job is: for continuous, paid, full-time work (at least 30 hours a week), for work that is permanent and not seasonal, skill type 0, or skill levels A or B of the 2011 National Occupational Classification (NOC) (Note – in most cases, the job offer must be for a permanent job. For some types of jobs, it has to be for at least one year.) The job offer letter must include contact information for the company (address, telephone number and email address).

Letter of Employment:

An employment letter is an official document printed on company letterhead stating that you will be employed in Canada by that company for a specified period of time. The employment letter must include your name, the details of your employment in Canada, and the company's contact information. It may also include: details such as your tenure with the company your title, position and duties approved vacation periods (if travelling to Canada for holidays), or information about whether the company will cover all your travel expenses (if travelling on business for this company), etc

Job Offer Letter:

Basically is the letter that you get when after you have had a succesful interview, and they offer you the job, its like a Contract or no like but it is a contract this letter outlines:
  • Job Description
  • Job Title
  • Reporting Structure
  • Starting Date of Employment
  • Salary
  • Benefits Information and Eligibility
  • Acknowledgment of Offer and Confirmation of Acceptance.
Letter of Employment:

This is a letter that you get after you have been hired it is way shorter that the first one normally one page that said

XYZ has been employed with ABC company since June 20, 1897 as a full time Teacher, who is paid a an annual salary of $1 a year.
if you need more information contact us at information in letter head.

HR Department
ABC Company
12323422212232343
 

LES1910

Star Member
Jun 23, 2019
104
70
Job Offer Letter:

Basically is the letter that you get when after you have had a succesful interview, and they offer you the job, its like a Contract or no like but it is a contract this letter outlines:
  • Job Description
  • Job Title
  • Reporting Structure
  • Starting Date of Employment
  • Salary
  • Benefits Information and Eligibility
  • Acknowledgment of Offer and Confirmation of Acceptance.
Letter of Employment:

This is a letter that you get after you have been hired it is way shorter that the first one normally one page that said

XYZ has been employed with ABC company since June 20, 1897 as a full time Teacher, who is paid a an annual salary of $1 a year.
if you need more information contact us at information in letter head.

HR Department
ABC Company
12323422212232343
Ah ok thank you for your help! So the contract is enough for the job offer letter, even though I have been working in that job for a year in Canada?

For letter of employment I will include the same letter as in the reference section, just without the paystubs etc.
 

RefugeeHelp1

Hero Member
May 23, 2019
975
949
Category........
Other
Ah ok thank you for your help! So the contract is enough for the job offer letter, even though I have been working in that job for a year in Canada?

For letter of employment I will include the same letter as in the reference section, just without the paystubs etc.
Well i would put both, the reason is the offer letter would have a date when you received the offer from your employer.

and the Letter of employment would have date that is more recent that proves you are still employed with said company.
 

jes_ON

VIP Member
Jun 22, 2009
12,091
1,421
Category........
Visa Office......
New York
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-May-2010
AOR Received.
13-Aug-2010
File Transfer...
01-Mar-2011
Passport Req..
30-Jun-2011
VISA ISSUED...
12-Jul-2011 (received 25-Jul-2011)
LANDED..........
03-Sep-2011
Hi - Going through my document checklist and I have been asked for the below, on top of proof of employment for previous years. What is the difference?

I was expected the first one, but have never seen the letter of employment mentioned anywhere before.
I think maybe you have that backwards...

Job Offer Letter:

This is only needed if you are claiming the 50 bonus points for having a valid offer of FUTURE employment, for at least one year after you become a Permanent Resident.

Letter of Employment:

AKA Letter of Reference or Experience letter, this is the single most important document in your application, as the key document under proof of work experience. You need a letter of employment for each job for which you are claiming for eligibility purposes and/or CRS points. See the section, Proof of Work Experience:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/permanent-residence/express-entry/applications-received-on-after-january-1-2016-completeness-check.html
 

jes_ON

VIP Member
Jun 22, 2009
12,091
1,421
Category........
Visa Office......
New York
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-May-2010
AOR Received.
13-Aug-2010
File Transfer...
01-Mar-2011
Passport Req..
30-Jun-2011
VISA ISSUED...
12-Jul-2011 (received 25-Jul-2011)
LANDED..........
03-Sep-2011
Ah ok thank you for your help! So the contract is enough for the job offer letter, even though I have been working in that job for a year in Canada?

For letter of employment I will include the same letter as in the reference section, just without the paystubs etc.
Follow that advice at your peril, you could be refused...
 

LES1910

Star Member
Jun 23, 2019
104
70
Ok let me clarify my situation -

I have been asked for:

Job offer letter
Letter of employment
Employment reference letters (from my time in the UK and Canada).

My situation is:

Work experience in the UK - Company A
Transfer to Canada under closed work permit (LMIA exempt) - Company A
Job offer (current job is a full time continuous contract) - Company A

I am claiming the 50 bonus points

What I am providing:

Letter of employment - contract of employment, I could also get a letter from HR stating I will be continued to be employed indefinitely under my current contract after PR approved. It's full time, non-contract, non-seasonal, skilled work.
Employment ref letters - the standard letter from the UK and Canada meeting all the requirements laid out
Job offer letter - this is what has confused me, as it seems duplicative of the above letter of employment

Any guidance/clarification appreciated
 

jes_ON

VIP Member
Jun 22, 2009
12,091
1,421
Category........
Visa Office......
New York
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-May-2010
AOR Received.
13-Aug-2010
File Transfer...
01-Mar-2011
Passport Req..
30-Jun-2011
VISA ISSUED...
12-Jul-2011 (received 25-Jul-2011)
LANDED..........
03-Sep-2011
Ok let me clarify my situation -

I have been asked for:

Job offer letter
Letter of employment
Employment reference letters (from my time in the UK and Canada).

My situation is:

Work experience in the UK - Company A
Transfer to Canada under closed work permit (LMIA exempt) - Company A
Job offer (current job is a full time continuous contract) - Company A

I am claiming the 50 bonus points

What I am providing:

Letter of employment - contract of employment,
A contract is an optional document, usually only provided if other documents are not obtainable. It is not the same thing as a letter of employment.

I could also get a letter from HR stating I will be continued to be employed indefinitely under my current contract after PR approved. It's full time, non-contract, non-seasonal, skilled work.
The Letter from HR is exactly what you need as proof of the offer of employment.

Employment ref letters - the standard letter from the UK and Canada meeting all the requirements laid out
IRCC uses the term Letter of Employment and Letter of Reference interchangeably. Letter of Employment is an older term, IRCC has started changing to use ¨Letter of Reference¨ because the old term confuses people, but it still appears in places... For employers in Canada, Letter of Employment usually refers to proof of current employment (as opposed to a previous job).

Job offer letter - this is what has confused me, as it seems duplicative of the above letter of employment
No, they are very different, although they may sometimes share some of the same details.

Letter of Employment/Reference addresses the PAST - it is about work experience that you have completed. It is the main proof that you have the experience to qualify for a program.

Job Offer Letter addresses the FUTURE - it is proof that you have a confirmed offer of employment after you become a PR.
 
Last edited:

adikeval

Newbie
Mar 12, 2021
5
1
Thanks for the clarification. so basically Letter of employment = Reference letter. What confused me is the explanation on IRCC website said "An employment letter is an official document printed on company letterhead stating that you WILL BE employed in Canada by that company for a specified period of time. " doesn't it means it is something about FUTURE?
 

akashayc

Full Member
May 24, 2024
25
0
I am currently on intra-company closed work permit. My employer has issued me a letter that captures the below information. Can I use this letter for both 1) Letter of Employment and 2) Offer of Employment? Thanks.

1. Job duties
2. Confirmation that I am currently employed with them.
3. Date of my joining
4. My work permit end date
5. Confirmation that they expect me to be employed for 1 year after securing the PR
6. My salary
7. Work hours per week
8. Confirmation that it is a full-time role.
9. My designation
10. Name and contact information of authorized signatory
 

Taran D

VIP Member
Oct 1, 2020
3,227
578
I am currently on intra-company closed work permit. My employer has issued me a letter that captures the below information. Can I use this letter for both 1) Letter of Employment and 2) Offer of Employment? Thanks.

1. Job duties
2. Confirmation that I am currently employed with them.
3. Date of my joining
4. My work permit end date
5. Confirmation that they expect me to be employed for 1 year after securing the PR
6. My salary
7. Work hours per week
8. Confirmation that it is a full-time role.
9. My designation
10. Name and contact information of authorized signatory
No this can be used as letter of employment, offer of employment needs to mention that the employer is offering you the said employment, the duties you will be doing, the salary and working hours, the date you are intended to start the job .
Letter of Employment is issued when you are already working with the company, offer letter is basically that you have applied and qualified for a job and the company is offering you the job to start on an intended date.