Ontario Provincial Nominee Program

Introduction

If you are thinking about Ontario immigration, you should consider the Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program.

The Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program speeds up the immigration process for your permanent resident visa. It allows Ontario to nominate applicants who qualify under provincially established criteria for Permanent Resident Status.

Successful applicants will receive an Ontario Provincial Nomination Certificate, which will speed-up the Canada Immigration Permanent Resident card application process.

Individuals nominated by the Government of Ontario, together with their spouse/common-law partner and dependent children, can apply for a permanent resident visa through Canadian Immigration as a Provincial Nominee.

Under the Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program, there are three categories you can apply under:

• Skilled Worker
• Investor
• International Student

Skilled worker

Applicants must:

• have at least two years of work experience (within the previous five years) in the intended occupation, or have appropriate registration in Ontario, if applying for a position in a regulated occupation in Ontario.
• have a permanent full-time job offer in a skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B) that Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program has approved and that is still valid.
• Have legal status, if the prospective nominee is in Canada (e.g., a work permit, temporary resident visa).
• have a signed employer's approval letter and Pre-screen Position form.

Investor

To qualify, investments must be of significant importance to Ontario and must create jobs for Ontarians. New investments and expansions to current operations are eligible. Investments need to meet the following eligibility guidelines:

• The investment must receive an official endorsement from another Ontario ministry at the Deputy Minister level for the investment and the number of key positions requested.
• The amount of the investment is at least $3,000,000.
• The investment must create at least five net permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Ontario.
• The investment has to also comply with Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

Applicants must:

• be actively involved, on an ongoing basis, in the management of the business.
• control, or will control, at least 33.334% of the equity in the business, or make a minimum $1 million investment in the business.
• not have the option of redeeming the investment after a specified period.
• invest the capital in the business not for the primary purpose of deriving interest, dividends or capital gains.

International Student

International Student With Job Offer Stream

Applicants must:

• have completed at least half of their studies in Canada, and have graduated or will soon be graduating from an eligible publicly funded Canadian college or university.
• have completed a minimum of a two-year diploma or degree program, while studying on a full-time basis. One-year post-graduate degree programs and certificate programs, which require a previous degree or diploma (which may have been obtained abroad), are also eligible.
• have a job offer in a managerial, professional or skilled trades occupation (NOC 0, A or B). The job offer does not have to be related to the field of study.
• have a job offer that is permanent and full-time and meets the entry level wage for the occupation.
• apply within two years of the date on which they received their degree or diploma, or in the alternative, during the last semester of completing their degree or diploma.
• have legal status, if the prospective international student nominee is in Canada.
• have received their employer's approval letter, Joint Verification form signed by their prospective employer, and Pre-screen Position form.

International PhD Graduate Stream

Applicants must:

• have graduated from an existing PhD program at an eligible publicly funded university in Ontario
• apply within two years of the date on which their PhD degree was granted.
• have legal status, if the international PhD graduate applicant is in Canada.

International Masters Graduate Stream

Applicants must:

• intend to live and work in Ontario.
• have graduated from an existing Masters program at an eligible publicly funded university in Ontario or are completing their last semester
• apply within two years of the date on which their Masters degree was granted
• currently be residing in Ontario for the past year
• have legal status in Canada
• demonstrate high official language proficiency
• demonstrate a minimum level of savings/income to support themselves and their dependants.
• not have further studies as their main activity in the province (e.g., pursuing a PhD or another degree/diploma). Graduates are allowed to pursue further studies, if those are necessary to meet registration requirements in a regulation occupation in Ontario.

If you are an employer, business owner, investor, skilled worker, or a student looking for more information about Ontario immigration under Ontario's Provincial Nominee program, please fill out an enquiry form or contact us directly!