This page is general information only. Sardar Jagmohan Singh is not a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer and does not process applications. Always confirm details on official Government of Canada websites.
Every week, people in Pakistan and India receive messages promising a “confirmed Canada job with LMIA and free visa.” Some are real recruitment efforts. However, many are a Canada job offer scam. The good news: you can check most of what matters yourself, for free, in under 30 minutes, using Canada’s own official tools.
Use this checklist before you pay anyone anything.
Why overseas applicants are targeted
Scammers rely on two things: applicants rarely know Canadian rules, and official processes can look complicated. Then they fill that gap with urgency (“only 3 seats left”), fees (“file charges”) and fake documents. As a result, knowing the rules is the strongest protection.
The 10 checks to spot a Canada job offer scam
1. Find the job on Canada’s Job Bank.
Search the employer and job title on Job Bank. Most employers who hire temporary foreign workers through the LMIA process have to advertise the job in Canada first, and Job Bank is the national job site. If nobody can show you a matching public posting, ask why.
2. Confirm the employer is a real business.
First, look for a working website, a physical Canadian address and a phone number you can find independently. Don’t rely on the number in the message. Call the company’s main line and ask HR whether the job and the recruiter are genuine.
3. Check the employer against the government’s non-compliant employers list.
The Government of Canada publishes employers found non-compliant with foreign worker program rules. If the employer appears there, be very cautious.
4. Know that employers can’t charge you recruitment fees.
Since the September 2022 amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, employers are prohibited from charging or recovering recruitment fees from workers. They also can’t use third-party recruiters who charge those fees (IRCC, CIMM briefing). Anyone asking you to pay for “the job,” “the LMIA” or “the offer letter” is a major red flag.
5. Expect a written employment agreement.
Under the same rules, employers must give temporary foreign workers an employment agreement covering duties, wages and working conditions. In other words, a one-line “selection letter” with no duties or wage is not enough.
6. Compare the wage with Job Bank data.
Job Bank publishes wage ranges by occupation and region. A food processing labourer (NOC 95106), for example, has published wage data for each province. Therefore, an offer far above the normal range for unskilled work is a warning sign, not good luck.
7. Check the job title matches the official occupation.
Use the National Occupational Classification. NOC 95106 (labourers in food and beverage processing) covers duties such as packing products by hand, feeding and unloading machines, and cleaning work areas. For instance, titles include frozen food packer, meat packager and production helper. If an “offer” lists vague duties, or a title that doesn’t exist, ask questions.
8. Verify anyone who charges you for immigration help.
In Canada, paid immigration representatives must be authorized. Licensed consultants appear on the CICC public register, and lawyers must be members of a provincial or territorial law society. In addition, IRCC explains this on its page about authorized representatives.
9. Pay government fees only to the Government of Canada.
Official IRCC application fees are paid online through IRCC. Check the official fee list. Also, a private representative’s fee is separate and never “goes to the embassy.”
10. Never send passport scans or money because of pressure.
“Pay today or lose your seat” is a sales tactic, not an immigration rule. Instead, slow down, verify, and keep copies of every message.
Where to report fraud
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: report online
- IRCC fraud information: Protect yourself from fraud
- Foreign worker program abuse: ESDC fraud reporting
- In Pakistan: online fraud complaints go to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA)
Printable checklist
- ☐ Job found on Job Bank
- ☐ Employer verified independently
- ☐ Not on the non-compliance list
- ☐ No recruitment fee requested
- ☐ Written employment agreement
- ☐ Wage matches Job Bank
- ☐ Title matches NOC
- ☐ Representative on the CICC register or a law society
- ☐ Fees paid only via IRCC
- ☐ No pressure or deadlines
FAQ
Is a job offer enough to move to Canada? No. A job offer may support a work permit application, but IRCC decides each application, and many work permits also need a positive LMIA. See IRCC’s work permit eligibility page.
Can an agent “guarantee” a visa? In fact, no one outside IRCC can guarantee a visa decision.
Who pays for the LMIA? The employer applies for the LMIA, and since 2022 employers cannot recover recruitment fees from workers. Check the ESDC program requirements for current details.
Related: How to verify a Canada job offer · Food packer NOC code · Job Bank from India
Last reviewed: October 2026. For consultation, WhatsApp: +1 (902) 905-4222.