Express Entry guide
Express Entry reference letter sample and a blank template to copy
A complete employment reference letter for a line cook, then a blank template with every item an officer looks for. Use the template as it is, or fill it in faster with the free generator, which also checks your duties against your NOC code.
Updated
- Every item officers look for
- Duties in the employer’s own words
- Free Word download
What does a good Express Entry reference letter look like?
It is a short letter on company letterhead, signed by your supervisor or HR, that confirms you worked there and gives, for each position: your job title, start and end dates, hours per week, salary and benefits, and a list of your main duties. The duties match the lead statement and most of the main duties of your NOC code in plain, specific words, and the letter ends with the signer’s name, title, phone and email.
Sample letter: line cook, NOC 63200
Every person and company here is fictional. The duties cover the lead statement and main duties of NOC 63200 Cooks without copying them.
[Print on company letterhead]
October 1, 2026
Re: Employment reference for Arjun Mehta
To whom it may concern:
This letter confirms that Arjun Mehta has worked for Harbourfront Bistro Ltd. since March 7, 2022.
Job title: Line Cook
Dates: March 7, 2022 to present
Status: Full-time, permanent, current employee
Hours of work: 40 hours per week
Salary: $19 per hour (about $39,520 per year at 40 hours a week)
Benefits: Staff meals, vacation pay of 4%
In this role, Arjun’s main duties are:
- Prepares and cooks dishes from the menu on the grill and sauté stations during lunch and dinner service.
- Follows standard recipes, portion sizes and plating guides so every dish is consistent.
- Preps vegetables, sauces and proteins before service, and labels and dates food in storage.
- Cooks separate dishes for guests with allergies and keeps their ingredients apart.
- Checks deliveries against invoices, rotates stock and tells the chef when supplies run low.
- Shows new kitchen helpers how to prep and assigns them tasks during busy shifts.
- Cleans and sanitizes the line and equipment and follows food safety rules.
This letter is provided at Arjun’s request. If you need more information, please contact me at 604-555-0187 or office@harbourfrontbistro.example.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
Sophie Tremblay
Executive Chef
Harbourfront Bistro Ltd.
88 Water Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1A4
604-555-0187 · office@harbourfrontbistro.example
What makes this letter strong
- Numbers, not labels. “40 hours per week” and “$19.00 per hour”, with the yearly figure, instead of “full-time” and “competitive pay”.
- Duties an officer can picture. Stations, recipes, allergies, deliveries and training new helpers, all in plain words.
- Matches NOC 63200 without copying it. The duties cover preparing and cooking meals, special meals for allergies, supervising kitchen helpers, keeping track of stock and cleaning the kitchen, in the employer’s own words.
- Easy to verify. The company address, phone and email, and the signer’s name and title, are all there.
- Consistent with other documents. The dates, hours and pay should be the same as on the pay stubs and T4 that go with it.
Blank reference letter template
Copy this into your employer’s letterhead and replace every highlighted blank. Add one block of details and duties for each position you held at the company.
[Print on company letterhead]
[Date]
Re: Employment reference for [Employee’s full name]
To whom it may concern:
This letter confirms that [Employee’s full name] has worked for [Company name] since [Start date].
Job title: [Job title]
Dates: [Start date] to present
Status: [Full-time or part-time], permanent, current employee
Hours of work: [Hours] hours per week
Salary: [Salary] per year
Benefits: [Benefits, or "None"]
In this role, [First name]’s main duties are:
- [Main duties, one per line]
This letter is provided at [First name]’s request. If you need more information, please contact me at [Phone] or [Email].
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Name of supervisor or HR officer]
[Their job title]
[Company name]
[Company address]
[Company phone] · [Company email]
What every reference letter needs
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Your job duties (named by IRCC) | The officer compares them with the lead statement and main duties of the NOC code in your profile. |
| Dates you worked there (named by IRCC) | Start and end dates, or that you still work there, for every position you held. |
| Your salary (named by IRCC) | The yearly, monthly or hourly pay, plus benefits. It should match your pay stubs and tax slips. |
| Hours per week | A number, such as 37.5. It decides how many hours count toward each year of experience. |
| Job title and status | Each position you held, and whether the job is full-time or part-time, permanent or temporary. |
| Company letterhead and contact details | The company name, address, phone and email, so the officer can verify the letter. |
| Name, title and signature of the signer | Your supervisor or someone in HR, with the date it was signed. |
Common situations
You still work there
The letter says you have worked there “since” your start date, the dates read “to present”, and the duties are in the present tense.
You were promoted
List each position separately, with its own title, dates, hours, salary and duties. A promotion is a new position, and each one may have a different NOC code.
You worked part-time
Give the real hours per week. Part-time work counts toward experience: 15 hours a week for two years equals one year of full-time work.
Your employer is outside Canada
The content is the same. Give the salary in the currency you were paid in, and add a certified English or French translation if the letter is in another language.
HR will only confirm dates
Ask HR for a letter with your title, dates, hours and pay, and ask your former supervisor for a second signed letter describing your duties.
The company closed
Without anyone to sign, prove the work in other ways: tax slips, pay records, a contract and a sworn statement. What to do without a reference letter.
Sample letters for other jobs
Personal support worker
Sample letter for NOC 33102, with duties written in the employer’s own words. PSW sample
Food Service Supervisor
Sample letter for NOC 62020, with duties written in the employer’s own words. Food Service Supervisor sample
Administrative Assistant
Sample letter for NOC 13110, with duties written in the employer’s own words. Administrative Assistant sample
Accountant
Sample letter for NOC 11100, with duties written in the employer’s own words. Accountant sample
Software Developer
Sample letter for NOC 21232, with duties written in the employer’s own words. Software Developer sample
Registered Nurse
Sample letter for NOC 31301, with duties written in the employer’s own words. Registered Nurse sample
Early Childhood Educator
Sample letter for NOC 42202, with duties written in the employer’s own words. Early Childhood Educator sample
Truck Driver
Sample letter for NOC 73300, with duties written in the employer’s own words. Truck Driver sample
Electrician
Sample letter for NOC 72200, with duties written in the employer’s own words. Electrician sample
Where this information comes from
IRCC’s supporting documents page lists reference letters from employers “with your job duties, dates you worked there, and salary” as proof of work experience, and the Express Entry documents page asks for proof of work experience such as a reference or experience letter from an employer. The other items in our checklist are what officers expect to see in practice and what immigration lawyers advise; IRCC publishes no official letter form.
CVMaple is not affiliated with IRCC and does not give legal advice. A reference letter must be checked, corrected and signed by your employer, and every detail must be true. Misrepresentation on an immigration application can lead to a five-year ban.
Checked on October 15, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use this template as it is?
Yes, once every blank is filled in with true details and your employer has checked it, put it on letterhead and signed it. Do not leave placeholder text in the version you upload.
Does the letter have to be on letterhead?
Officers expect it. Letterhead shows the letter comes from the company. If a small employer has no letterhead, the company name, address, phone and email at the top, plus the signature, do the same job.
Should the duties be a list or a paragraph?
A list is easiest for an officer to compare with the NOC main duties. Keep each duty to one line about something you actually did.
How long should the letter be?
Usually one page, or two if you held several positions. Length matters less than complete, specific details.
Can the letter be signed digitally?
A scanned signed letter is what most people upload. A digital signature from your employer is also used; what matters is that the signer and their contact details are clear.
Do I need to mention the NOC code?
No. The code goes in your Express Entry profile. The letter describes duties that match it. Find your NOC code.
Skip the copying. Fill it in with the generator.
Type your details once, see your letter build live, check your duties against your NOC code and download a Word file for your employer.
Reference letters and Express Entry
- Express Entry Reference Letter Generator: Draft the employment letter IRCC expects, with your duties checked against your NOC code. Free.
- No Reference Letter? What to Do: How to prove work experience when your employer will not or cannot give a letter.
- NOC Code Finder: Describe your duties and get your NOC 2021 code, TEER and Express Entry eligibility. Free.
- Canadian Work Experience Calculator: Count your hours toward 1,560 for the Canadian Experience Class, part-time included.
- CRS Calculator for CEC: Canadian Experience Class rules, sample scores and your CRS as a worker in Canada.
- Free Express Entry Tools: NOC code finder, CRS calculator, CLB calculator and work hours calculator. Free, no account.