Work or Immigrate

Often people ask us whether it is possible to find temporary employment in Canada or obtaining a job offer before immigration. Please consider the following.

Many people are interested in working in Canada on a temporary basis; however, this generally is neither realistic nor feasible. If you are dedicated to immigrating to Canada, you may have to prepare to do this without already having a job offer.

Immigration is far more than the opportunity to procure lucrative employment. Immigration is a lifestyle change and an agreement in which you pledge to be a permanent resident and contribute on a long-term basis to the social and economic well-being of a country. In exchange, you are given the opportunity to live in a peaceful, democratic, multi-cultural country, one that has been recognized as having a top-rated quality of life in the world. Some of the benefits of immigrating to Canada and becoming a permanent resident:

Excellent social services, including FREE education and health care.

Financial benefits and social assistance for those who are unemployed or just experiencing temporary financial difficulties. Additional financial rewards are granted by the government for people who have children.

As a permanent resident, you will be entitled to sponsor your family members (including your parents, and even your brothers and sisters who are still dependent on your parents) from abroad to gain permanent residence.

You can apply for citizenship and passport after residing for just three years. Canadian citizenship is generally regarded as something valuable and respectable throughout the world. As a Canadian, you can travel to tens of countries around the world without needing to obtain a visitor/tourist visa before departure.

Those truly committed to making long-term change should understand the realities of the immigration process and the temporary employment climate in Canada. Unlike many Western European countries and others such as Saudi Arabia, Canada has very few temporary employment opportunities for overseas workers. However, Canada welcomes immigrants as permanent residents and gives them the opportunity to establish a new life. Moreover, Canada’s new residents are accorded equal status, rights, and freedoms. Again, unlike in many European countries, Canada does not treat immigrants as "second-class citizens".

Immigration applicants often desire the security and guarantee of having a job offer in Canada before they immigrate. Several factors, however, make procuring such an offer very difficult:

The uncertainty involved in every application leaves potential employers unwilling to consider international applicants until they have successfully become permanent residents.

Employers generally prefer to interview and meet applicants in person before hiring them. Again, from a logistical point of view, out-of-country applicants are less desirable than those already in the country.

Even if you find a job offer from a Canadian employer, it will be subject to validation by Human Resources Canada. In Canada, any job offer that will be considered in the selection criteria by Canadian Immigration authorities must be validated by Human Resources. In this sometimes lengthy procedure, Human Resources must conclude that there are no eligible Canadian citizens or permanent residents to fill the position. This requires that the company or individual offering you a job must document that they have made efforts to recruit and employ a Canadian. Many employers are unable or unwilling to provide this documentation and cannot be bothered by the wait or the bureaucratic measures it entails.

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