Skilled workers and professionals: Who can apply—Arranged employment
If you have an offer of permanent employment from a Canadian employer, it can improve your chances of having your federal skilled worker application approved.
Depending on your circumstances, the requirements for a valid offer of employment are different.
1) If you are currently working in Canada:
•your current employer must have made an offer to give you a permanent job if you are accepted as a federal skilled worker, and
•your temporary work permit must be valid both when you apply for a permanent resident visa and when the visa is issued.
In addition:
•your work permit must have been confirmed by Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) through a positive labour market opinion or
•you must be in a category that is exempt from an Arranged Employment Opinion
in order for your offer of employment to be valid.
2) In all other cases:
You must not be working in Canada and you either
•do not have a valid work permit or
•you have a work permit, but your circumstances are different from those described in the first example.
In this case, the offer of employment is valid if your prospective employer
•has made an offer to hire you on an indeterminate basis if you are accepted as a federal skilled worker, and
•has obtained a positive Arranged Employment Opinion from HRSDC
and you
•meet all required Canadian licensing or regulatory standards associated with the job.
Note: You cannot arrange for an HRSDC confirmation of a job offer. Your employer must do this.