Resettling in Canada as a refugee comes with a clear first chapter: stable housing, language support, and income assistance while you orient to your new environment. The employment chapter starts sooner than many people expect, and understanding its timeline and supports puts you ahead of the curve. This guide explains what GAR, PSR, and BVOR refugees can expect from the Resettlement Assistance Program, how you connect with an employment counsellor, and which sectors offer the most accessible first roles in the Canadian labour market.
Quick takeaways
- GAR refugees receive Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) income support for up to 12 months after arrival
- PSR and BVOR refugees have different funding structures but access the same employment services
- Settlement agencies match you with employment counsellors at no cost
- The most common first sectors are food services, manufacturing, retail, and cleaning
- Language training and your job search can run at the same time
Understanding Your Resettlement Category
Your resettlement pathway determines the type and duration of financial support you receive during your first year in Canada. Each pathway also shapes how quickly you are expected to become self-sufficient.
Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR)
As a GAR, you are matched with an Immigrant and Refugee-Serving Organization (IRSO) in your destination city shortly after arrival. This organization receives funding through the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) to help you with housing, orientation, and basic living needs during your first weeks. RAP income support is available for up to 12 months from your arrival date. The expectation is that you will begin working and gradually reduce your reliance on RAP support as soon as you are ready to do so.
Your RAP caseworker will typically be the first person who connects you with employment support. They can refer you to an employment counsellor within the same organization or a partner agency in your city.
Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSR)
If you arrived as a PSR, a private sponsor group is responsible for supporting you financially and socially for 12 months. This group is often a church, a community organization, or a group of five or more individuals. Your immediate financial needs are covered by your sponsors, and they may actively help you find work through their personal and professional networks.
Even so, you have the same access to government-funded settlement services as GARs, including employment counselling, language training, and job placement programs.
Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR)
BVOR refugees receive a combination of government funding through RAP and private sponsorship. The RAP portion typically covers your first few months, with the private sponsor group covering the remainder of the 12-month support period. Your access to employment counselling is the same as for GARs and PSRs.
How RAP Income Support Transitions Into Employment Income
One of the most common questions newcomers ask their caseworkers is whether starting work will cut off their RAP payments immediately. The answer is no, but your payments will be adjusted based on how much you earn.
RAP income support is reduced relative to the provincial or territorial social assistance rate for your family size. Starting a part-time job does not end your support entirely. Your caseworker can walk you through exactly how your earnings affect your monthly amount, so ask for a written breakdown before you accept your first job offer.
Planning for this transition before your first paycheque arrives reduces financial stress and helps you make better decisions about the hours and wages you accept in your first role. Many refugees find it useful to review these numbers with their employment counsellor as well, so you can see both the employment income side and the RAP reduction side at the same time.
How Employment Counsellors Support Your Job Search
Settlement agencies in most Canadian cities employ employment counsellors who work specifically with newcomers and refugees. Their services are free to you and funded through federal and provincial settlement programs.
What an employment counsellor can do for you
A good employment counsellor will help you with all of the following:
- Reviewing your work history and writing it in Canadian resume format
- Identifying whether your foreign credentials need to be formally recognized before you can work in your field
- Connecting you with local employers who have previously hired newcomers and refugees
- Preparing you for your interview, including practicing answers to common Canadian interview questions
- Identifying certifications you may need, such as WHMIS for manufacturing roles or a food handler certificate for food service work
- Explaining Canadian workplace norms around communication, scheduling, and safety expectations
IRCC's 2024 resettlement evaluation identified access to employment counselling as one of the key factors associated with faster transitions into the labour market for resettled refugees. If you have not yet been connected with an employment counsellor, ask your RAP caseworker or settlement agency to make the referral.
How to find employment services near you
Employment services for refugees are delivered through IRSOs and federally funded settlement agencies. Every province has a network of these organizations. You can also search for job opportunities and employment resources through RefugeeEmployment.ca, which focuses specifically on refugees and newcomers in the Canadian job market.
The Most Common First Jobs for Resettled Refugees in Canada
Based on patterns observed across resettlement cities, the most common first roles tend to cluster in sectors with accessible entry points, short certification requirements, and available training pathways.
Food Services and Manufacturing
Dishwashing, food preparation, and production line roles in food processing plants are among the most common first jobs for newly arrived refugees. These positions often offer shift flexibility and do not typically require prior Canadian work experience. A food handler certificate, which you can earn through a short course, is the main credential required for many of these roles.
Cleaning, Retail, and Warehouse Work
Commercial cleaning roles are available in most cities and are often accessible through temporary employment agencies. Retail and warehouse positions, including shelf stocking and order picking, have low language requirements at entry level and can lead to advancement as your language skills grow. Both sectors may require a background check and sometimes a WHMIS certification, which you can typically complete in a single day.
Construction and Trades Support
Some refugees with prior construction or skilled trades experience can enter the Canadian labour market as labourers or trades helpers while working toward full certification. Your employment counsellor can explain which trades have apprenticeship pathways available in your province and what the steps look like from your current experience level.
Healthcare and Care Roles
Personal support worker (PSW) programs are typically 6 to 8 months long and lead to stable employment in long-term care, retirement homes, and home care settings. Provincial funding for PSW training is available in several provinces. This is a strong pathway if you have prior care experience, and it opens doors to further healthcare education over time.
Language Training While You Search
Federal and provincial language training programs are available to you as a permanent resident or protected person. The key programs are:
- Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC): Federally funded English-language training available in most cities at no cost, with classes ranging from beginner to advanced. Some locations offer childcare support.
- Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada (CLIC): The French-language equivalent for those settling in Quebec or francophone communities.
- Enhanced Language Training (ELT): Occupation-specific language programs that connect language learning directly to your target sector, such as healthcare terminology or trades vocabulary.
Language training does not have to wait until after you find work. Many refugees work part-time or on weekends and attend LINC classes in the mornings or evenings at the same time. Your employment counsellor can help you build a schedule that supports both goals.
Credential Recognition: Start the Process Early
If you worked as a nurse, engineer, teacher, or in another regulated profession in your home country, you will need to have your credentials assessed by the relevant Canadian regulatory body before you can practice in that field. This process can take months and may require bridging programs, language testing, or additional exams.
Start early, ideally within your first few months in Canada, even before your language skills are fully developed. A World Education Services (WES) credential evaluation is a common first step for both regulated and unregulated occupations. Many provinces also offer funded bridging programs for internationally trained professionals in healthcare, engineering, law, and education. Ask your employment counsellor specifically about bridging programs available in your province and whether there is a waitlist you should join now.
Your Employment Journey Continues After RAP
Your first job in Canada is not your final destination. Many refugees start in entry-level roles and move into skilled positions over the following years as their language fluency increases, their Canadian work history grows, and their credentials are recognized. Staying connected to settlement services after your RAP period ends is worth doing. Many IRSOs continue to offer employment support for two or more years after arrival.
Use the RefugeeEmployment.ca job seekers page to browse current job openings from employers who are actively looking to hire newcomers and refugees across Canada.
FAQ
Q: How long does RAP income support last?
RAP income support is available for up to 12 months from your date of arrival as a Government-Assisted Refugee. The exact monthly amount is based on your family size and the provincial or territorial social assistance rate in your destination province. Ask your caseworker to explain the amounts and timeline during your first few meetings so you can plan ahead.
Q: Do PSR refugees receive RAP support?
Privately Sponsored Refugees do not receive RAP income support. Their private sponsor group is responsible for providing financial support for the first 12 months. BVOR refugees receive a combination of RAP funding and private sponsor contributions. All three groups, GAR, PSR, and BVOR, have access to the same government-funded settlement and employment services.
Q: Can I work while receiving RAP payments?
Yes. When you begin working, your RAP payments are adjusted based on your employment income relative to the social assistance rate for your family size. Starting a part-time job will not end your RAP support immediately. Ask your caseworker for a written breakdown of how your employment income will affect your monthly payments before you accept any job offer.
Q: How do I find an employment counsellor?
Your RAP caseworker or settlement agency can refer you to an employment counsellor within the same organization or a partner agency in your city. If you are not yet connected to a settlement agency, IRCC's online service provider locator can help you find one near you. Employment counselling for refugees is free.
Q: Do I need a Social Insurance Number to work in Canada?
Yes. You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work legally in Canada. As a protected person or permanent resident, you are eligible to apply for one at any Service Canada location. Apply as soon as possible after arrival, and bring your refugee protection document or permanent resident card with you.
Q: My profession is regulated in Canada. Where do I start?
Contact the provincial regulatory body for your profession and ask about their credential recognition process. A WES evaluation is a useful starting point for many occupations. Many provinces offer funded bridging programs for internationally trained professionals in healthcare, engineering, law, and education. Your employment counsellor can help you identify which programs are available in your province and how to apply.
Ready to take the next step? Visit RefugeeEmployment.ca at https://refugeeemployment.ca/job-seekers to browse current openings and create a candidate profile.