2024's Guide on How to Get a Reference Letter for Canada PR?

The Canadian immigration program involves work experience (skilled) classified under NOC TEER 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. In this case, how can you prove to the immigration officer that you have the required work experience?

When an applicant undergoes the process of immigration to Canada, they are asked to provide the required paperwork or documentation to support the details that are included in the application. The IRCC makes use of this documentation for the verification of the applicant for them to decide if or not to move the application further.

If you are applying for PR in Canada through the skilled worker program, one of the major benefiting factors is the professional experience within or outside the country. To prove your professional journey, you would be required to provide employment references from your current d all the past employers.

Further to this, let’s learn how to get a reference letter for Canadian immigration, what is the acceptable format of the Canada PR’s employment reference letter, and what could be the possible way out if you are not able to get the reference letter from any of the past employer.

What is Reference Letter?

In a layman’s term, A letter of reference which you generally use for employment purposes, it is a letter that recommends you (employee) to another employer as such, but a reference letter in Canadian immigration refers to a document that verifies or rather authenticates your professional experience history. This document is specifically issued upon request by the authorized manager in your current and previous organizations.

Reference Letter for Canadian Immigration

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points-based score calculator is used for weighing the applicant’s eligibility under Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Program. When opting for the economic immigration streams under the express entry, or any temporary and permanent immigration programs that require employer-specific work permits you would be required to prove your eligibility to the specified (qualifying) work experience.

Based on the applicants’ years of work experience, points are allotted or added to their profile, for example if the candidate has 3+ years of relevant work experience in a foreign country, 50 points are added to his profile but if you have only 1 - 2 year or work experience 25 points are added to the CRS score.

Now that you have the required work experience but you need to authenticate the legitimacy and ensure its alignment with the respective (Canadian) NOC codes, you would have to submit a reference letter (both from current and previous employers as well) for verification and confirmation of the same.

Only after the documents have been verified and confirmed that the candidate would receive his ITA for PR. Post receiving the ITA also, you should keep your reference letters handy because multiple verifications might be done as a part of the immigration application process at different stages and you might have to provide the documentation (reference letters) to support.

Format to Reference Letter for Canadian Immigration

The format of the reference letter needed to be submitted for Canadian immigration application must include:

1. Applicant name
2. Employer name
3. Start and end dates of the job
4. Job title
5. Roles and responsibilities of the job (must be in line with the roles and responsibilities mentioned in the NOC selected by you in your application)
6. Number of working hours per week, as if the job was full-time or part-time
7. Annual salary plus benefits (better if you could mention it in CAD)
8. Signatory’s name, signature, and designation (can be your manager, department head, HR, or someone from the company’s management team)
9. Company’s contact details

Guidelines to adhere to when requesting a letter of reference from previous employers

• Initiate the process early

No doubt that gaining a reference letter from previous employers might be a bit time-consuming mainly if you have a long career history. Suggest that you apply as soon as you apply for the application process as this would give sufficient time along with the period of 30-60 days additionally provided for filling ITA.

• Be polite while communicating

When you ask for a reference letter from your employer surely he would want to know why? Or your reason for needing it. Being polite and informing your current employer of your immigration application and the timelines, would ensure to maintain a healthy relationship professionally and most importantly would eradicate the possible delays if not. These reference letters are your valuable assets to secure a job in Canada

• Be specific with your employers about what you need

IRCC has given a detailed structure and format for reference letters. So it is your responsibility to communicate the same to your employers. For reference purposes to make the process more understandable you can share a sample reference letter or template.

• Reasonable timelines for no delays

When you have requested your employer for a reference letter it is important to give him a reasonable time (maybe a week) to draft and forward you the reference letter. But if you have started the process a little delayed or have limited time ensure to follow up with an authorized person and politely explain your situation and request them to expedite the process.

Unable to get a reference letter from any of your previous employer?

A reference letter is the most efficient way of proving your experience history for your eligibility for the immigration program, however it might not be possible to get the mentioned document in a specific time frame due to many reasons. You would also need to include a statement in your application explaining the reason why you could not get the reference letter and support the documentation provided alternatively.

Additionally, you can use the alternative documentation that could be used to verify your employment history which includes-

1. Pay slips or salary slips throughout the period you were employed in the organization
2. Bank statement as proof of salary credit by employer organization.
3. Documents such as offer letters, employment contracts, resignation letters, etc.
4. Signed affidavits from your colleagues in that organization.

Mandatory points to be considered

• Reference letters must be on Company letterheads, duly signed, and stamped.
• If you have served multiple positions in the same company ensure you have each job title separately listed along with the details.
• You need reference letters from all your previous employers along with your current employer and make sure there are no discrepancies in the details listed in the reference letter and the immigration application.

Now that you have your Reference Letter, it’s time to Apply for Canada PR!

As you move to Canada, a reference letter will not only assist you in the PR application process but also in securing well-paid employment. The key here is to realize the critical need for transparency and clarity while requesting a letter of reference from your employers, and last but not least ensuring the timely submission with no delays included.

It is not very difficult to find a job in Canada, but make sure not to lie on your resume or during the interview, because chances are the hiring company will want to cross-check the information you provided.

In the case for a reference letter for employment in Canada, do ensure to check the format they would accept the document in. As already mentioned above, not all reference letters serve the same reason and format.

Approaching an expert could be the best way out, to facilitate the Canada immigration process as a whole. GetGIS would not only assist you with your Immigration application process but also with the job search, IELTS training and a lot more at a transparent and competitive pricing.

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