Occupations in the Immigration Industry
Did you know June 27, 2025 is national multiculturalism day? There are many different jobs that have a role in supporting multiculturalism or involve working with people from different cultures, including those connected to immigration. Are you interested in a career connected to immigration or working with newcomers? Do you know the difference between an Immigration Officer, Immigration Consultant or Immigration Lawyer? How much do you know about the role of an Immigration Settlement Practitioner or a Policy Analyst?”
There is a diverse range of occupations in this field and each has unique duties, responsibilities and educational requirements. Not only is it important to note similarities and differences when navigating career options, it’s also important to consider your preferences … Are you interested in work that is more administrative, analytical or helping? This article provides an overview of career options in the immigration industry, along with tips for success.
Immigration Officer and Border Services Officer
Immigration Officers work within government to enforce immigration laws and regulations by reviewing applications to determine the eligibility of individuals to enter or remain in Canada. Within the federal government they are employed by the department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). To become an Immigration Officer, a minimum of a high school diploma is required though many have post-secondary education. Compared to other occupations discussed in this article, this role may be considered the most administrative.
Looking to gain experience? … Students can work in the department of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada through the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP). This program helps students gain practical experience in their desired field while completing their post-secondary education. Visit the FSWEP webpage to learn more. Students can also gain relevant work experience through the Manitoba government’s Student Temporary Employment Placement Program (STEP).
Alongside Immigration Officers working in government are Border Services Officers. Employed with the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), they help protect the safety and security of Canada by patrolling various points of entry and borders. They enforce different laws and regulations related to immigration through various methods and procedures including screening travelers and conducting interviews. There are specialized units within the CBSA including canine and intelligence units. To become a Border Services Officer a minimum of a high school diploma is required, and completion of a 14-week training program at the CBSA College. To learn more about the requirements to become a Border Services Officer, visit the Canadian Border Services Agency qualification page. Compared to other occupations featured in the article, this role may be considered the most ‘hands on’ or provide the most opportunity for physical challenge.
Did you know…? CBSA hires students for summer positions through the Federal Student Work Experience Program. To learn more about working as a Student Border Services Officer visit the CBSA become a student border services officer webpage.
Immigration Lawyer
Immigration Lawyers are licensed attorneys who provide a wide range of services related to immigration including, legal representation and assistance with immigration and work-related applications. To become an immigration lawyer a law degree and appropriate licensing are required. To attend law school in Manitoba applicants must complete prerequisites including writing the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and an undergraduate degree or a specified number of university credit hours. To learn more about the Law admission requirements at the UM, visit Faculty of Law Admission to first-year JD Program page. After law school, graduates must complete one year of articling and pass the bar exam before they can practice as a licensed attorney. Lawyers interested in Immigration Law can work in many professional settings including private practice, legal aid, and non-profit organizations. The work of a lawyer is often considered to be both helping and analytical, as they advocate for clients and also need to understand and interpret the law.
Did you know… Each law school or university in Canada uses its own scale to assess GPA for admissions. While some may consider your cumulative GPA, others may only review your last 60 credit hours. Currently at UM, an applicant’s GPA is adjusted by removing a certain number of lowest credit hours based on the total number of credit hours completed. To learn more about this Adjusted GPA (AGPA) calculation visit the UM Faculty of Law Admission Statistics webpage.
Immigration Consultant
Immigration Consultants are professionals in the field of immigration who help their clients with the process of filing immigration related applications and documents. To become an Immigration and Citizenship Consultant (ICC) appropriate licensing and a graduate diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law is required. To be eligible for these programs, applicants must meet various admissions requirements including the completion of an undergraduate degree. For more information on the entry requirements, visit the program links provided by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. After receiving their license, ICCs can work in various professional settings including law firms and non-profit organizations. The role of an ICC may be defined as both helping and administrative.
Did you know… Completing a graduate diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law is not only useful for those who want to become Immigration Consultants. The knowledge may be valuable to professionals working in Human Resources, Public Policy and Post-Secondary Institutions International Student Services.
Immigration Settlement Practitioner
Immigration Settlement Practitioners – There are many professionals who work with newcomers, but Immigration Settlement Practitioners are specifically focused on helping newcomers adjust to life in their new country. They connect clients with community resources and their services can range from helping clients find housing, to assisting with citizenship applications. The educational requirements for Settlement Practitioners may vary depending on the employer but typically require an undergraduate degree, preferably in human services, with work or volunteer experience working with newcomers and/or diverse populations. A second language can be an asset.
Looking to gain experience? Volunteering or working part-time with newcomer support organizations is a great way to gain experience. You may consider volunteering as an after-school mentor or working as a part-time program facilitator. To discover different organizations and agencies that support newcomers visit 211 Manitoba. You could also consider working or volunteering on-campus at an office like the International Centre (IC) that supports international students. Becoming a Welcome Mentor is one example of a volunteer role at the IC.
Policy Analyst
Policy Analysts conduct research to identify emerging issues, develop policy and advocacy initiatives, and determine policy positions and solutions. If you are interested in analytical work, this might be a good role for you. Immigration policy is one area of practice, alongside others like international relations and human rights. Policy analysts may work in a range of organizations including government departments, non-profit organizations, research institutes and think tanks. To become a policy analyst the minimum requirement is an undergraduate degree, though a master’s degree is often preferred or required. For your undergraduate degree, consider studying in a discipline relevant to your area of interest (e.g. Criminology for crime analyst or justice-focused policy roles). For those who want to work within the realm of immigration policy, consider programs in social sciences or humanities where you can learn about social systems, politics, culture and/or human geography. Courses in Economics and those where you can develop your writing skills (e.g. History) may also be useful.
Did you know?… The University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg host a joint Masters of Public Administration (MPA). The program includes cooperative education (Co-op) placements which can bridge to employment post-graduation. A four-year degree in any discipline is required to be considered for admission.
Careers in the immigration industry can be interesting and rewarding. We hope these brief highlights helped you learn more about an option of interest or discover a new pathway or resource. To further your learning about these roles, and those in related areas like international relations (e.g. Foreign Service Officer), visit the UM Exploring Occupations library. For individual support and to discuss which career pathways may be best suited to you, contact Career Services and meet with a Career Consultant. You may always want to connect with professionals in your industry of interest though the UM Career Mentor Program.