Jobs

The United Nations recently named Canada one of best places to live in the world. The Economist has named Vancouver the best city in the world to live in for four years in a row. What makes Canada so special?

• Canada has one of the highest life expectancies in the world.
• It is a safe place to live.
• It is very prosperous.
• It has wide open spaces and spectacular scenery.
• There is an excellent health care system.

Moreover, the current Canadian government is pushing to help new immigrants get settled in a new job more quickly. Their focus is on ensuring that immigrants' credentials, employment history and education are recognized in Canada.

Still, how quickly you will be able to find work in Canada depends on the job market in your field, your credentials and whether you will have to be licensed or not, among other criteria.

A good way to start your search is by going to job banks and other online job services. The Canadian government recommends having your credentials, i.e. diplomas, degrees, certificates etc., evaluated in order to compare to Canadian standards. You might have to take additional assessments once you're in Canada, or get licensed to practice in your field by a Canadian regulatory body.

For employers

In order for a Canadian employer to hire a foreign worker, the employer must obtain a Job Offer Validation. This is the process by which the Canadian government determines whether a particular job offer made by a Canadian employer to a foreign individual should be approved. If the employment is to take place in Montreal or another city in the Province of Quebec, the job offer must also be approved by the Quebec Government.

Approval is based on successfully establishing each of the following requirements:

• the offer of employment is genuine;
• the wages and working conditions of the employment would be sufficient to attract and retain Canadians; and
• the employment is full-time and not seasonal.

Employees

In order to work, you will need to obtain an Employment Authorization (EA), and then travel to Canada on a visitor's visa. In order to obtain the EA you must have a job offer in Canada, which should be validated by the Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC). This means, generally speaking, that your employer has to prove that your position could not be filled by a Canadian citizen or resident. Some jobs are exempt: a Software professional, a member of the Youth Exchange Program or a Spouse of Highly Skilled Temporary Worker. There are also special programs for Live-in Caregivers and Foreign Tour operators.

If you are interested in permanent immigration, the Independent Category is the most popular category and is the most straightforward option for most people. Generally it is important to show that you have experience in an occupation that is on the Canadian Occupations List. Try our points calculator to find out if you qualify. Entrepreneurs, investors and the self-employed are welcome in Canada.