IRCC employment verification: will they call your employer?
Short answer
IRCC can call or email your reference letter's signer, check the company online, or order a site visit. They confirm your dates, title, hours, salary and duties. If the answers don't match your letter or your NOC code, expect a refusal or a procedural fairness letter.
Do your reference letter duties support the NOC code you're claiming?
Check my duties →What triggers a check
- Generic letters or duties copied from the NOC.
- Small or family businesses, or a company with little online presence.
- Experience that makes you eligible for a category draw.
- Letters that differ from your job postings, LinkedIn or earlier applications.
How to prepare
- Tell the signer an IRCC call is possible and give them a copy of the letter.
- Make sure the phone number and email on the letter are direct and working.
- Check that the duties on the letter really match your code. See how to check your NOC code.
- Keep pay stubs, contracts and tax slips ready. See proof of work experience.
If the employer won't cooperate, read what to do when your employer won't write a letter.
IRCC refused 23% of Express Entry applicants at the eligibility stage. A $9.99 check is insurance against a $1,500+ mistake.
FAQ
- Does IRCC call employers to verify work experience?
- Yes, sometimes. Officers may phone or email the person who signed your reference letter, check the company online, or ask the local visa office to visit. It's more common when the letter looks generic or the company is small.
- What does IRCC ask during an employment verification call?
- Usually whether you worked there, your dates, job title, hours, salary and main duties. The answers must match your letter.
- What if my old employer closed or the signer left?
- Explain it in a letter of explanation and add other evidence: pay stubs, contracts, tax records, and a statutory declaration. Give contact details for someone who can still confirm your work if possible.
- Can verification lead to a refusal?
- Yes. If the employer can't be reached, denies the job, or describes different duties, IRCC can refuse or send a procedural fairness letter, and possibly allege misrepresentation.
Would your employer's answers match your NOC?
Score your reference-letter duties against the official NOC 2021 duty list in about 30 seconds — before IRCC does it for you.
Check my NOC →Refusal risks: Letter rejected · Wrong TEER · Misrepresentation · Employer verification
General information, not legal advice. Get case-specific guidance from a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer.
Last updated: September 2026