Express Entry candidates should be aware that only eligible job offers are eligible for Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points under “arranged employment.”

CRS points are a vital part of the economic immigration journey for Express Entry candidates. These points are used to rank candidates’ profiles against one another, and they play a key role in determining who receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Accordingly, all Express Entry candidates – whether they apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – are constantly looking for ways to improve their CRS scores and their chances of immigrating to Canada.

One way candidates can improve their CRS score is to have “arranged employment” when they arrive in Canada. Arranged employment is valuable because it can provide a candidate with 50 or 200 additional CRS points.

Get a free Express Entry assessment

However, IRCC has clarified that only certain job offers are considered eligible for CRS points. IRCC has also clarified that which jobs are considered eligible also varies depending on the program.

FSWP and CEC

To be eligible for CRS points under “Arranged Employment”, FSWP and CEC candidates must have a job offer:

*The qualifying employer must either have a new positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) approving the proposal and naming the employee and their position, or have a work permit issued on the basis of a positive LMIA.

**This applies to foreign nationals who are currently working in Canada in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job

Applicants for both FSTP and CEC who have a current LMIA-based work permit must:

• Work for an employer listed on your work permit
• Must be authorized to work in Canada, both on the day they apply for a PR visa and when the visa is issued
• If they are accepted as P.R. they will be offered a full time job by their current employer

Foreign nationals with a valid LMIA-exempt work permit (in a NOC TER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job) can also obtain CRS points for “arranged employment” if:

• They are currently working for the employer specified on the work permit
• They have one year of full-time work experience (or an equivalent amount of part-time work) for that employer
• They have a valid job offer from the employer for a period of at least one year from the day IRCC issues the candidate their PR visa

fstp

To be eligible for CRS points under “Arranged Employment”, FSTP workers must have a job offer (or job offers):

• A total of 30 hours of employment per week (if separate job offers from two different employers* are required)
• have been in continuous, paid, full-time work (at least 30 hours per week) for at least one year
• Is/are for work that falls under a qualified skilled trade occupation (under a qualified NOC)

*The qualifying employer must either have a new positive LMIA approving the offer and naming the employee and their position, or have a work permit issued on the basis of a positive LMIA.

**This applies to foreign nationals who are currently working in a skilled trade job in Canada

FSTP applicants should be aware that foreign nationals with a current LMIA-based work permit must:

• Work for an employer listed on your work permit
• Must be authorized to work in Canada, both on the day they apply for a PR visa and when the visa is issued
• If they are accepted as P.R. they will be offered a full time job by their current employer

Comment: This full-time job offer should be for a minimum period of one year and should be offered in a job that is at the same three-digit level of the NOC as your current job

Foreign nationals with a valid LMIA-exempt work permit for one of the listed skilled trade occupations may also receive CRS points for “arranged employment” if:

• They are currently working for the employer specified on the work permit
• have one year of full-time work experience (or an equivalent amount of part-time work) for the employer(s) offering you a job on your work permit
• They have a valid job offer from the employer for at least one year on the day IRCC issues the candidate their PR visa

Does my work permit qualify as a job offer for Express Entry?

IRCC has clarified that a work permit cannot be considered a job offer to obtain CRS points as an Express Entry candidate, regardless of whether the candidate is working in Canada or abroad.

In addition to the information listed above for each Express Entry-managed program, the job offer must also include:

• recent
• in writing
• For a full-time, non-seasonal job
• A period of at least one year from the date the candidate was accepted as a Canadian P.R.
• With a positive LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), unless LMIA-exempt
• Not from a Canadian embassy, ​​high commission or consulate
• Provides specific details about the job offered, including: salary, deductions, duties and terms of employment (working hours, etc.)

Get a free Express Entry assessment