A validated job offer can be worth up to 14 points on the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker selection grid, which can make or break your eligibility.

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

What exactly is a validated job offer in Quebec?
A validated job offer is a job offer from a Quebec employer. The employer must have applied to the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation, and Integration to have the job offer validated (MIFI).

The number of points you can earn for a validated job offer is determined by the job’s location. A validated job offer grants the candidate 8 points if it is located within the Région métropolitaine de Montréal (RMM), which includes the island of Montreal and surrounding regions such as Laval and Longueuil. A validated job offer grants the candidate 14 points if it is located outside the RMM.

Why is a validated job offer required for Quebec immigration?
Employers who apply to validate their job offer must demonstrate that they attempted to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the position, similar to applying for a federal Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).If the candidate is already working for the employer on a valid temporary work permit, this condition is waived.

If the candidate is not in Canada or is in Canada but not currently employed by the employer making the job offer, the employer must meet the minimum recruitment effort requirements outlined below.

How to Apply for a Job Offer That Has Been Validated:
Step 1: Job offer specifications
In order for a foreign worker to apply for a validated job offer, the position must:

Permanent and full-time employment;
Be a member of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Levels 0, A, B, or C;
The candidate must be licensed to practise if the occupation is regulated in Quebec.
Have an impact on the local labour market, either positively or negatively;
Not have any bearing on an ongoing labour dispute;
Be provided by a company that has been in operation in Quebec for at least 12 months. The employer must also provide the candidate with a written job offer, and the candidate must provide a written letter committing to the position upon admission to Canada.

 

Step 2: Submit your application and any supporting documentation.
If an employer wishes to offer a position to a foreign worker who meets the requirements outlined in step 1, the employer must submit an application for a validated job offer, along with supporting documentation.

Efforts to recruit
Unless the candidate is already working for the employer on a valid work permit, the employer must demonstrate that they attempted to fill the position with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. MIFI requires the following recruitment efforts from the employer:

They must advertise the position for four weeks in the six months prior to applying for a validated job offer;
They must post the job offer on Placement en ligne, the Quebec Employment Ministry’s online job search resource
They must use at least one additional recruitment method.

To meet the recruitment requirements, the job advertisement must include the following information:
The name and address of the company; the location of the position being offered;
A phone number to contact the person or department in charge of hiring;
The title and responsibilities of the job;
Requirements, such as previous work experience or education;
The salary that has been offered.

If the candidate is already employed by the employer under a valid work permit, the employer is exempt from meeting recruitment requirements.

Step 3: Submit an application for a CSQ
Once a candidate has a valid job offer from an employer, they can apply for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) through the Arrima portal as part of the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker (QSW) programme.

The province of Quebec then holds regular Arrima draws, inviting candidates to apply for permanent selection.

Because Quebec’s immigration system is inundated with applications every day, having a validated job offer is your best bet for obtaining a Quebec Selection Certificate. This may allow you to obtain Quebec residency and, eventually, permanent residency at the federal level.

Step 4: Establish permanent residency
Candidates who obtain a CSQ through QSW must apply for permanent residence as a Quebec-selected skilled worker. They are not eligible to apply through the federal Express Entry system.

The main applicant and all accompanying family members will be subjected to a medical and police background check by the federal government. If they are not found to be inadmissible, they will all be granted permanent residency in Canada.

NOTE: Although candidates applying through a Quebec immigration programme must intend to live in Quebec, they are granted mobility rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms once they become Canadian permanent residents. This ensures that a permanent resident can work and live anywhere in Canada.