Do I need a job offer before applying for a work visa?

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I am a recent computer science graduate from my home country with 3 years of experience in software development, and I’m currently on a tourist visitor visa in Australia. I’ve been actively applying for tech jobs here for the past month, but haven’t received any offers yet. Considering my visitor visa doesn’t allow work, and I’m aiming to secure a permanent role in my field, I’m considering the 189 Skilled Independent Visa pathway. Given my tourist status and lack of a confirmed employment contract at this stage, I’m uncertain about the exact requirements. Given these circumstances, do I need a formal job offer before applying for a work visa?

In most cases, yes, you almost always need a genuine job offer from an employer in the destination country before you can apply for a standard work visa. Here are the key details:

  1. Employer Sponsorship: Most work visas require an employer to act as the “sponsor.” This involves:
    • Offering you a specific job position.
    • Demonstrating they could not find a suitable local candidate (labor market test or exemption proof in many countries, e.g., LMIA in Canada, Resident Labour Market Test in the UK).
    • Issuing you with formal documents required for the visa application, such as a:
      • Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) (UK, some categories in Australia)
      • Approval of the Employer’s Request (US)
      • Nomination (Australia, Canada)
      • Employer Contract or Letter of Offer
  2. Visa-Specific Requirement: The visa category itself is often designed for tied employment. Without a specific job offer matching the visa criteria, the application lacks the necessary foundation.
  3. Exceptions (Where a Job Offer is NOT Needed): While rare for standard employment, there are specific visa categories that may not require a prior job offer:
    • Points-Based Systems (e.g., Australia, Canada): Some skilled migrant visas (like Australia’s Subclass 189 or Canada’s Express Entry – FSWP) are independent applications. However, many others (like Subclass 190/491 in Australia or Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) in Canada) do require either a job offer or a provincial nomination that comes with specific requirements.
    • Investor/Entrepreneur Visas: These visas focus on the individual’s ability to invest capital or establish/expand a business generating economic benefit (e.g., US EB-5, UK Innovator/Start-up, Golden Visa programs in various countries). Employment within the company might be allowed later, but the initial visa is for the investor/entrepreneur role, not salaried employment.
    • Highly Visited/Talent Visas: Some countries offer visas for exceptional individuals in fields like science, arts, sports, or academia based on their recognition and potential contribution. Examples include the US O-1 visa or UK Global Talent visa. While a formal job offer isn’t always mandatory upfront, strong evidence of a credible employment arrangement (e.g., a contract, position confirmed by a reputable organization) is usually essential to demonstrate the purpose of the stay and ability to sustain oneself.
    • Freelancer/Independent Contractor Visas: Some countries (e.g., Netherlands, Germany – EU Blue Card with exceptions, Spain) may allow visas for freelancers, but they often still require significant proof of existing contracts, client engagements, and a viable business plan. An ongoing client relationship functions similarly to a job offer.
    • Intra-Company Transfers (ICT): Crucially, for ICT visas (e.g., UK ICT, US L-1, intra-EU transfers), you do need a job offer from the foreign branch of the company transferring you. The offer is inherent to the transfer itself – it’s the position at the overseas affiliate.
  4. Visitor-to-Work Pathways: Some countries offer pathways to switch from a temporary visitor visa to a work visa after entering and potentially securing a job offer locally. This is often complex, time-limited, and subject to specific quotas or restrictions (e.g., Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker pathway, seasonal worker programs in various countries). You still ultimately need the offer to get the work visa, even if it’s acquired during a preceding stay.
  5. Seasonal/Temporary Worker Programs: Many programs for agriculture, hospitality, etc., (e.g., H-2A/H-2B in the US, Seasonal Worker Program in Canada) absolutely require a prior job offer certified by the relevant government agency.

In Summary: For the vast majority of work visa applications for standard salaried employment, a job offer from an employer in the destination country, along with the employer’s sponsorship and supporting documentation, is the fundamental prerequisite. While specialized investor, entrepreneur, talent, or freelancer visas exist, they still require robust evidence of employment arrangements or business viability. Always consult the specific requirements of the destination country’s immigration authority for your situation.

Published: November 28, 2025