Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily. Some Canadian immigration programs do not require a job offer. For example, a job offer is not required to qualify under the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Worker Program, although you must still meet all other eligibility requirements.

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is different. To qualify, you generally need either a valid job offer for at least one year or a Canadian certificate of qualification in your skilled trade.

Provincial Nominee Program requirements vary by province and stream, and some pathways require employer support while others do not.

Because eligibility depends on your individual circumstances and the program you are applying under, it is important to assess the requirements that apply to your situation.

Express Entry is Canada’s application management system for three immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.

Eligible candidates enter the Express Entry pool and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on factors including age, education, work experience, and language ability. IRCC holds different types of invitation rounds and invites the highest-ranking candidates who are eligible for that particular round to apply for permanent residence.

You may be eligible to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for permanent residence if you meet IRCC's sponsorship requirements.

Sponsors must generally be at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered in Canada under the Canadian Indian Act. Canadian citizens living outside Canada may be eligible to sponsor if they can show they plan to return to Canada when their partner becomes a permanent resident. Permanent residents living outside Canada cannot sponsor.

You must also meet the other applicable sponsorship requirements and sign an undertaking to support the person you are sponsoring.

Yes. A Canadian citizen living outside Canada may sponsor a spouse or common-law partner, provided they meet the applicable sponsorship requirements and can show that they plan to live in Canada when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.

You may be eligible to work off campus while studying if you meet IRCC's requirements.

You must generally:

• Be a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI)

• Be enrolled in a post-secondary academic, vocational, or professional training program or a secondary-level vocational training program in Quebec.

• Be enrolled in a program that is at least six months long and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.

• Have a valid study permit that allows you to work

• Have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Eligible students may work up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular academic sessions and may work unlimited hours during scheduled breaks.

You can only begin working once your study program has started. If you are on an authorized leave or are switching schools and are not currently studying, you cannot work off campus until you resume your studies.

Yes. You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work legally in Canada.

If you are an international student, your study permit must include conditions that authorize you to work before you can apply for a SIN.

Temporary residents should also make sure their SIN remains valid for the period they are authorized to work in Canada.

After you submit your application, IRCC will review it to ensure you have provided the required information and documents.

Depending on your application, IRCC may:

• Ask you to provide biometrics, if required.

• Request additional documents or information.

• Ask you to complete a medical examination.

• Request a police certificate.

• Ask you to attend an interview.

• Conduct eligibility, admissibility, and background assessments

Once processing is complete, IRCC will notify you of the decision on your application.

If you applied online, you should receive a confirmation after submitting your application. This confirms that IRCC received your submission, but it is not the same as an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR).

Once IRCC opens your application, checks that it is complete, and begins processing it, you may receive an acknowledgement of receipt letter or email with your application number.

If you submitted a paper application, you can use your postal or courier tracking number to confirm delivery while you wait for IRCC to open and review the application.

How you track your application depends on the type of application you submitted and how you applied.

If you applied online, you can usually check your application status and messages through the IRCC account or portal you used to apply.

For some applications, you can also use IRCC's online application status tools. If your application type is eligible, you can link your paper application to an IRCC secure account.

If you submitted a paper application by courier, you can also use the courier tracking number to confirm delivery to IRCC.

IRCC provides different status tools for different application types, so it is important to use the option that applies to your application.