Do I need a job offer from a Canadian employer to get a work permit?

It depends on the type of work permit you are seeking. For most employer-specific (closed) work permits, you do need a job offer from a specific Canadian employer, and that employer typically must first obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) unless an exemption applies. The LMIA process involves Service Canada verifying that the position could not be filled by a Canadian or permanent resident.

For open work permits, you generally do not need a specific job offer. Open permits are available in defined circumstances — such as for Post-Graduation Work Permit holders, spouses of eligible workers, or certain PR applicants — and once issued, let you work for most employers.

Some PR pathway streams under Express Entry do not require a job offer, and whether a job offer currently adds Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points has changed by ministerial instruction — confirm the current rule with IRCC or a lawyer rather than assuming it applies. Having a valid job offer supported by an LMIA (or under an LMIA-exempt category) can meaningfully increase your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence.

The structure of your situation — whether you have a job offer, what kind, and whether it is LMIA-backed — shapes which work permit stream you are eligible for.