How To Get Work Permit For Canada Without Job Offer
Do you want to live and work in the Great White North but don’t quite have the job offer? Never fear: there are other avenues available to help you immigrate to Canada. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get a work permit for Canada without a Canadian job offer.
Who says that you have to have an offer from a company in order to get a work permit for Canada? This is simply not true. You can apply for your work permit without having an offer from a Canadian employer because this is the one exception that does allow people to do so.
A work permit is a way for companies to get the best talent from all over the world. Because of this, the government is strict with how they handle applicants and their applications for a Canadian work permit.
You’re determined to move to Canada, but you don’t have a concrete job offer or a letter of invitation. The immediate problem that comes in your way is the fact that you will not be able to get your visa unless you have a congenial job on hand.
How To Get Work Permit For Canada Without Job Offer
If you’ve applied for a work permit before you’ve probably heard of Express Entry. This is the “new” system to find qualified workers who can come to Canada and work.
Canada has a booming job market for international students and graduates. There are many reasons for this including language, an educated workforce, safety, high quality of life, etc. While Canadian university education is known worldwide to be of high quality and standards, the cost can make it prohibitive for many to earn their degree here. It’s estimated that over 50 000 international students entered Canada in 2015 (source: CIC).
Canada’s economy is growing, and its workforce is aging out. The combination has created a unique scenario where positions are opening up at a rapid pace as senior Canadians retire, and thousands of new jobs are being created by startup and growing companies every year. Our problem? Our own population isn’t growing fast enough to meet the demands of the labour market. Our solution? Invite the best and brightest skilled foreigners to become permanent residents of this incredibly beautiful multicultural country. A win-win!
If you are qualified for an in-demand job, the federal government of Canada, or even a provincial government, may want you to come over as soon as possible. There are two programs that make it possible to immigrate to Canada without a job offer:
1. The Express Entry System
The first and most important step in applying for permanent residence in Canada through the Express Entry System is to determine whether you are eligible. Once you know that you meet the requirements, you can create an online profile. The information you provide will be used to calculate a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, and you will be entered into a pool of applicants for one of the following programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program – for people with qualifications and skills in managerial and professional occupations;
- Federal Skilled Trades Program – for people with qualifications or experience in trade occupations; and
- Canada Experience Class – for people in the above categories who have one or more years of experience working in Canada in that trade/profession.
If you are eligible for one of the above programs, maximizing your CRS is of the utmost importance as you will be competing for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency against skilled workers and tradesmen from all over the world. With the help of a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, you will have the best chance of being successful in receiving your ITA. START YOUR JOURNEY HERE
2. The Provincial Nomination Program
Another great way to immigrate to Canada without a job offer is to appeal to provinces directly through the Provincial Nomination Program (PNP). Every province in Canada has unique labour demands that depend on which industries are more prevalent, for example, the IT industry is booming in British Columbia and in Ontario, where you will be handed permanent residency on a silver platter as a truck driver. Once again, assuming you are eligible. While each province has different streams with different names, there is a common thread in the program types:
- in-demand/critical impact categories – these cater to severe labour shortages in provinces, from nurses to farmworkers, each province will differ;
- skilled worker categories – much like in the express entry program, these are for people with significant experience or qualifications in their occupations. Applying directly to the province means entering a smaller pool of applicants and improving your chances of success; and
- International Graduate categories – study at a Canadian post-secondary institution and the province you study in will motivate your application to become a permanent resident, granted you intend to continue living and working in that province.
The applications for provincial nominations are not as clear-cut as the Express Entry Program. There are numerous forms that require supporting documents that have to be submitted at different times, and so the help of a professional immigration consultant will go a long way in making sure your application is up to scratch and everything is in order the first time you apply.https://www.youtube.com/embed/UTKm_3lNu0g
Remember, only a licensed Canadian immigration consultant or lawyer in good standing with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) is legally allowed to assist you with your application. If your application is submitted to the Immigration and Refugee Council of Canada (IRCC) by anyone other than yourself or a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), it will be immediately rejected.