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How to Get a Validated Job Offer for Quebec Immigration

Published on: January 22nd, 2020

Last updated: April 11th, 2022

By: Rebecca Major

A validated job offer can be worth up to 14 points in the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker selection grid and can make a big difference to your eligibility.

Not only can a validated job offer make or break a candidate’s eligibility, but it can also increase one’s chances of being invited to apply for permanent selection. Many of Quebec’s recent Arrima draws have targeted candidates with a valid job offer outside of the Montreal metropolitan area.

What is a Quebec validated job offer?

A validated job offer is an offer of employment from a Quebec employer. The employer must have applied to have the job offer validated by the Quebec Ministère d’immigration, francisation et intégration (MIFI).

The number of points you can receive for a validated job offer depends on the location of the job. If it is located inside the Région métropolitaine de Montréal (RMM), which includes the island of Montreal and surrounding regions like Laval and Longueuil, a validated job offer grants the candidate 8 additional points. If it is located outside the RMM, a validated job offer grants the candidate 14 additional points.

Why do I need a validated job offer for Quebec immigration?

Similar to applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) at the federal level, employers who apply to validate their job offer have to prove that they tried to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the position. This condition is waived if the candidate is already working for the employer on a valid temporary work permit.

If the candidate is not in Canada or is in Canada but is not already working for the employer making the job offer, the employer must meet the minimum recruitment effort requirements described below.

How to apply for a validated job offer:

Step 1: Job offer requirements

In order to apply for a validated job offer, the position being offered to the foreign worker must:

1. Be permanent and full time;
2. Be in National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level 0, A, B or C;
   1. If the occupation is regulated in Quebec, the candidate must be licensed to practice;
3. Have a positive or neutral effect on the local labour market;
4. Not impact an ongoing labour dispute;
5. Be offered by a business that has operated in Quebec for at least 12 months. The employer must also provide a written job offer to the candidate, and the candidate must provide a written letter committing to the position upon admission to Canada.

Step 2: Application and supporting documents

If an employer wants to offer a position to a foreign worker that meets the requirements in step 1, the employer must submit an application for a validated job offer, accompanied by supporting documents.

Recruitment efforts

Unless the candidate is already working for the employer on a valid work permit, the employer has to prove that they tried to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the position. MIFI has some specific recruitment efforts that the employer must undertake:

1. They must advertise the position for four weeks in the six months before applying for a validated job offer;
2. They must post the job offer on Placement en ligne, an online job search resource run by the Quebec Employment Ministry;
3. They must use at least one additional recruitment method.

To meet the recruitment requirements, the job advertisement must include:

1. The business’ name and address;
2. The location of the position being offered;
3. A contact number for the person or department in charge of hiring;
4. The job title and responsibilities;
5. Requirements, like work experience or past education;
6. The salary being offered.

If the candidate is already working for the employer on a valid work permit, the employer does not need to meet recruitment requirements.

Step 3: Applying for a CSQ

Once a candidate secures a validated job offer from an employer, they can submit an expression of interest for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) through the Arrima portal as part of the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker (QSW) program.

Quebec then holds regular Arrima draws, in which they invite candidates to apply for permanent selection.

As Quebec’s immigration system is being flooded with applications every day, your best chance of securing a Quebec Selection Certificate is by holding a validated job offer. This can open the door for you to attain residency in Quebec and eventually permanent residency at the federal level.

Step 4: Permanent residence

Candidates who secure a CSQ through QSW must apply for permanent residence as a skilled worker selected by Quebec. They cannot apply through the federal Express Entry system.

The federal government will do a medical and police background check on the main applicant and all accompanying family members. If they are not found to be inadmissible, they will all be granted Canadian permanent residence.

NOTE: Although candidates applying through a Quebec immigration program must have the intention to reside in Quebec, once they became Canadian permanent residents, they are granted mobility rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This guarantees a permanent resident’s right to work and live anywhere in Canada.

If you would like more information about Arrima and your Quebec immigration options, please contact us.