Finding refugee jobs in Canada is more achievable than many newcomers expect. Government programs, employer partnerships, and settlement organizations across the country are actively working to connect Convention refugees and protected persons with real, paid employment. Whether you arrived as a Government-Assisted Refugee or through a private sponsorship, specific sectors and support systems are ready to help you take that first step.
Quick Takeaways
- Convention refugees and protected persons have the legal right to work in Canada
- The Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) provides employment support to eligible Government-Assisted Refugees during their first year
- Food manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and hospitality hire newcomers without requiring prior Canadian experience
- COSTI Immigrant Services and Catholic Crosscultural Services offer free employer matching, resume help, and interview coaching at no cost to you
- NewcomerTalentHub.ca connects newcomers with Canadian employers who are actively seeking to hire people in your situation
Your Right to Work as a Refugee in Canada
Understanding your legal status is the first step before any job search begins. Many newcomers delay starting because they are uncertain about their documentation, and that uncertainty is worth clearing up immediately.
Convention Refugees and Protected Persons
If the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has recognized you as a Convention refugee or protected person, you have the right to work in Canada. You do not need a separate work permit. Your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) serves as proof of your work authorization. Once you hold Permanent Resident status, there are no restrictions on where or how much you can work.
Refugee Claimants Waiting for a Decision
If your refugee claim is still being processed, you can apply for an open work permit while you wait. Apply for this permit as early as possible after your claim is submitted. The open work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada with no tie to a specific job or sector. Many employers in entry-level sectors are familiar with this type of authorization.
What Employers Will Need When You Start
For entry-level roles in sectors like warehousing and food processing, employers typically need three things from you: your Social Insurance Number (SIN), which you can get at any Service Canada office using your immigration documents; proof of your right to work in Canada; and a form of photo identification. Employers in these sectors are generally experienced with newcomer documentation and will not ask for more than this.
The Resettlement Assistance Program and Employment Support
The Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) is the federal program that supports Government-Assisted Refugees during their first year in Canada. Employment readiness is one of its core components and one of the most practical tools available to you early in your arrival.
What RAP Employment Services Provide
Through RAP, you can access job search workshops, resume preparation support, and referrals to employer partners who have agreed to work with the program. RAP service providers operate in most major receiving cities, including Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Halifax. Your RAP case worker understands the local labour market and can make direct referrals to employers who have successfully hired RAP clients before. This is not a passive list of job postings. It is an active placement service with real employer relationships behind it.
After Your First Year
RAP support is available during your first year as a Government-Assisted Refugee. After that, you can continue accessing employment services through the broader network of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) funded settlement agencies. These services are available to all permanent residents and protected persons and are not time-limited in the same way RAP support is. The transition from RAP to settlement agency services is a normal part of the process, and your RAP case worker will help you make that connection before your first year ends.
Sectors That Hire Newcomers Without Canadian Experience Requirements
Certain industries in Canada have consistently hired newcomers, including refugees, into entry-level and skilled roles. These sectors value reliability, physical capacity, and a willingness to learn. None of those qualities depend on having previous Canadian work history.
Food Manufacturing and Processing
Food processing plants across Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec hire in large volumes year-round. Roles include production line workers, packaging staff, quality control helpers, and forklift operators. Many plants run multiple shifts, which makes it easier to schedule language classes or settlement appointments around your work hours. Several food manufacturing employers maintain formal partnerships with settlement agencies and recruit directly through those networks rather than relying only on job board postings.
Logistics, Warehousing, and Distribution
Warehouse roles are one of the most accessible entry points into the Canadian labour market for newcomers. Positions like order picker, packer, receiver, and material handler require attention to detail and physical stamina but do not require prior Canadian credentials. Many employers will sponsor internal training for forklift certification, which raises your hourly rate significantly once you complete it.
If you held a commercial driving licence in your home country, Canadian equivalency pathways exist in most provinces. This can open the door to delivery and long-haul driving roles, both of which are in high demand across the country and offer competitive wages.
Hospitality and Food Service
Hotels, catering companies, and restaurant groups are consistent employers of newcomers in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and other urban centres. Roles in housekeeping, kitchen preparation, banquet service, and dishwashing do not require English fluency at the same level as front-desk or customer-facing positions. Employers in this sector often have multilingual supervisors and experience managing diverse teams, which makes the transition into your first role less isolating.
General Labouring and Construction Support
General labouring roles on construction sites involve moving materials, cleaning work areas, and assisting licensed tradespeople. These positions are accessible without Canadian credentials and can serve as a bridge while you pursue trade certification recognition. Newcomers with construction or mechanical backgrounds from their home countries sometimes accelerate into skilled trade roles after completing Canadian certification bridging programs offered through colleges and settlement agencies.
Settlement Organizations That Connect Refugees to Employers
Two of the most active organizations in Ontario for refugee employment placement are COSTI Immigrant Services and Catholic Crosscultural Services. Comparable organizations operate in every major city and province across Canada.
COSTI Immigrant Services
COSTI operates employment centres in Toronto and surrounding municipalities and has a long track record of supporting refugee and newcomer job seekers. Their services include one-on-one employment counselling, resume preparation, job placement referrals, and direct connections to employers who have partnered with COSTI for newcomer recruitment. Staff include multilingual counsellors with experience working across a wide range of client backgrounds and immigration pathways. COSTI services are free to you and funded through government programs.
You can access COSTI services through a direct inquiry or through a referral from your RAP worker or local settlement office. Their employment teams prioritize clients who need work quickly and can often make referrals to employer partners within days of your initial appointment.
Catholic Crosscultural Services
Catholic Crosscultural Services (CCS) serves newcomers in the Peel Region and other parts of Ontario. Their employment programs include resume and cover letter workshops, mock interview sessions, employer information sessions, and job fairs designed specifically for newcomers. CCS has established relationships with employers in manufacturing, warehousing, and service sectors who actively recruit through their network rather than relying solely on public job boards.
Employment Services Across Canada
Every province and major city has IRCC-funded settlement agencies with employment support mandates. These include ACCES Employment in the Greater Toronto Area, Immigrant Services Calgary, SUCCESS in British Columbia, YMCA Newcomer Programs in multiple provinces, and the New Canadians Centre in smaller Ontario cities. These organizations collectively maintain relationships with thousands of employers who have signalled openness to hiring newcomers without Canadian experience requirements. If you are outside a major city, contact your nearest settlement office to identify which organization serves your area.
Building Your Job Application as a Newcomer
Writing a Canadian-Format Resume
Your international work experience counts, and it belongs on your resume. In Canada, a standard resume lists your most recent experience first, uses short bullet points focused on what you accomplished rather than only what your duties were, and is typically one page for entry-level roles. If your previous employer is not a recognized name in Canada, add a single line describing what the company did so the hiring manager has context for your background.
For your first Canadian position, a resume that highlights transferable skills such as physical reliability, attention to safety, ability to follow instructions quickly, and any language abilities is more effective than a detailed academic-style document. A counsellor at COSTI or your local settlement agency will review your resume and help you reformat it to Canadian expectations at no cost to you.
Building Your First Canadian Reference
Not having a Canadian reference is one of the most common concerns for newcomers entering the job market. For entry-level roles, most employers in these sectors are familiar with this situation. A reference from your RAP case worker, a settlement agency counsellor, a volunteer coordinator, or a language class instructor is acceptable to many employers. Once you complete your first Canadian contract, even a short one, you have a Canadian reference for every application that follows.
Using a Job Board Built for Newcomers
General job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn are useful but are not designed for people in your situation. Platforms focused on connecting newcomers with Canadian employers surface opportunities from companies that are already prepared to work with newcomer documentation and do not expect years of Canadian work history in return. Visit the NewcomerTalentHub.ca job seekers page to browse current openings from employers across Canada who are actively seeking to hire newcomers.
Language Support While You Work
LINC Programs
Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) classes are free for permanent residents and protected persons. Evening and weekend LINC options allow you to keep working while improving your English or French. Consistent language progress directly expands the range of jobs available to you within one to two years. Many newcomers who start in warehouse or production roles move into supervisory or specialized positions once their language skills reach a working threshold.
Workplace Language Training
Some settlement agencies partner with employers to deliver language training at the worksite or online for employees of that company. This model reduces the scheduling difficulty of attending off-site classes and is available in some manufacturing and logistics settings. Ask your settlement counsellor or employer whether a workplace language program is available at your location.
FAQ
Can I work in Canada while my refugee claim is still being processed?
Yes. You can apply for an open work permit while your refugee protection claim is pending with the Immigration and Refugee Board. Apply as early as possible after your claim is submitted. The open work permit is not tied to a specific employer or industry and allows you to work anywhere in Canada while you wait for your claim to be decided.
Do I need Canadian work experience to get a job in food manufacturing or warehousing?
No. Most entry-level roles in these sectors do not require prior Canadian work history. Employers in food processing and logistics are experienced hiring newcomers and typically provide full on-site training for production and warehouse tasks. Your reliability, physical capacity, and willingness to follow procedures are more important than your previous Canadian employment record.
What documents does an employer need when I am hired?
You will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN), which you can obtain at a Service Canada office using your immigration documents. Your employer will also confirm your right to work in Canada using your Confirmation of Permanent Residence or other applicable immigration documentation. For entry-level roles in the sectors covered in this guide, this is typically all that is required at the time of hiring.
How can COSTI or Catholic Crosscultural Services help me find a job?
These organizations offer free employment counselling, resume preparation, interview coaching, and direct referrals to employer partners. You do not need a job offer before contacting them. Your RAP worker can refer you, or you can reach out directly. Their staff are experienced working with refugee clients and can often match you with available positions quickly, particularly in manufacturing and logistics sectors where they maintain active employer relationships.
Are there refugee jobs in Canada outside of Toronto and major cities?
Yes. Rural and smaller-city employers actively recruit newcomers because labour shortages outside large urban centres are significant. Food processing facilities, agricultural operations, and manufacturing plants in smaller Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba communities have recruited through settlement agency networks for years. Programs like the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot and the Atlantic Immigration Program also support newcomer placement in smaller communities where employers are specifically looking for workers willing to settle outside major metros.
How do I know if a job posting is legitimate?
Use job boards associated with settlement agencies or platforms specifically designed for newcomers, which vet postings before publishing them. Be cautious of any posting that asks you to pay a fee to apply or requests personal financial information before you have been officially hired and have a signed offer letter. If you are unsure about a posting, your settlement counsellor can review it with you before you apply.
Your Next Step
You have the legal right to work in Canada, and the settlement infrastructure to support your job search is real and accessible. Starting with sectors and employers that are already experienced hiring refugees shortens the time between arrival and your first paycheque. The organizations covered in this guide operate in most Canadian cities and their employment services cost you nothing.
Ready to take the next step? Visit NewcomerTalentHub.ca at https://newcomertalenthub.ca/job-seekers to browse current openings and create a candidate profile.