Ontario
Key Highlights
About Ontario
Ontario is Canada’s most populous province, known for its economic strength, diverse culture, and major cities like Toronto and Ottawa. It offers abundant opportunities for both residents and immigrants, making it a key destination for newcomers to Canada.
The Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (Ontario PNP or OINP) is a provincial immigration program that allows Ontario to nominate individuals for Canadian permanent residency. It targets skilled workers, international graduates, and entrepreneurs who can contribute to the province’s economy. The OINP has several streams, including those for Express Entry candidates, job offers, and individuals with specific skills in demand. Nominees must meet the program’s criteria and, if selected, can apply for permanent residency through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Life In Ontario
- Opportunities: Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, offers abundant opportunities in cities like Toronto and Ottawa, with strong job markets and support for entrepreneurs.
- Education and Job Opportunities: Home to top universities like the University of Toronto, Ontario provides excellent education and career prospects, especially in sectors like technology, finance, and healthcare.
- Quality of Life: With safe communities, clean environments, and accessible public services, Ontario offers a high quality of life for residents in both urban and suburban areas.
- Benefits for Families: Families enjoy top-notch public education, child support programs, and plenty of recreational activities, making Ontario a great place to raise children.
- Affordable Lifestyle: While Toronto can be costly, many smaller towns in Ontario offer more affordable living, providing a good balance between cost and quality of life.
- Access to Healthcare: Ontario’s publicly funded healthcare system ensures residents have access to high-quality medical services, from general care to specialized treatments.
- Natural Environment: Ontario’s beautiful landscapes include the Great Lakes and numerous national parks, perfect for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and winter sports.
- Climate: Ontario experiences four seasons, with warm summers and cold winters, offering a variety of seasonal outdoor activities.
- Festivals and Events: Ontario hosts numerous cultural festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and local events, ensuring year-round entertainment.
- Population: With over 14 million residents, Ontario is a diverse and welcoming province, offering a mix of urban and rural lifestyles.
List of PNP Programs - Ontario
- Human Capital Priorities – FSW
- Human Capital Priorities – CEC candidates
- French-Speaking Skilled Worker – FSW
- French-Speaking Skilled Worker – CEC
- Skilled Trades – Express Entry
- Masters Graduate
- PhD Graduate
- Foreign Worker
- International Student with a Job Offer
- In-Demand Skills
Human Capital Priorities - FSW Candidates
The Ontario Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream is part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), which is designed to attract skilled workers to Ontario who can contribute to the province’s economy. The HCP Stream specifically targets candidates who have skills and experience that align with Ontario’s labor market needs.
Candidates must have an active profile in the federal Express Entry system
While there’s no specific CRS score requirement for the HCP Stream, candidates with higher scores are generally more competitive.
Human Capital Priorities - CEC Candidates
The Ontario Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream also targets candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under the Express Entry system. This stream is part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) and is designed to attract skilled workers with Canadian work experience who can contribute to the province’s labor market.
Candidates must have an active profile in the federal Express Entry system and be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class
Candidates need to have at least one year of work experience in a skilled occupation (NOC) TEER 0, 1,2,or 3 in Canada within the last three years
French-Speaking Skilled Worker - FSW candidates
This program targets skilled workers who are proficient in French. This stream is designed to attract French-speaking professionals to Ontario, particularly those who can contribute to the province’s economy and labor market needs.
Candidates must have an active profile in the federal Express Entry system . The Express Entry profile must indicate French as one of the languages spoken.
This is typically evidenced by language test results from an approved testing agency (e.g., TEF Canada or TCF Canada) with CLB level of 7. Candidates must also meet the minimum English language requirements of the Federal Skilled Worker Program, which is usually a CLB level of 7 for NOC 0 or A occupations and CLB 5 for NOC B occupations.
French-Speaking Skilled Worker - CEC candidates
CEC candidates is designed to attract skilled workers who are proficient in French and have Canadian work experience.
Candidates must have an active profile in the federal Express Entry system and be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
candidates usually need a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 7 in French.
Candidates must also meet the English language requirements for the CEC. This usually means having a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 5 for NOC B occupations and CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A occupations
Skilled Trades - Express Entry
The Ontario Skilled Trades Stream is a part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) designed to attract and retain skilled tradespeople to Ontario. This stream is particularly aimed at individuals who have experience and skills in trades that are in demand in the province
Candidates need to have at least two years of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time) in a skilled trade occupation within the last five years. The experience must be in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) code under TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) 3 or 4.
At least one year of the required work experience must have been gained in Ontario.
Masters Graduate
Masters Graduate is designed to attract and retain individuals who have completed a master’s degree from an eligible Ontario university. This stream provides a pathway for international students who have graduated from a master’s program in Ontario to apply for permanent residency.
Candidates must have completed a master’s degree from an eligible post-secondary institution in Ontario.
The degree must be obtained within the last two years from the date of application.
PhD Graduate
PhD Graduate is designed to attract international students who have completed a doctoral degree (PhD) from an eligible Ontario university. This stream provides a pathway to permanent residency for highly educated individuals who have demonstrated their ability to contribute to the province’s knowledge
Candidates must have completed a PhD from an eligible post-secondary institution in Ontario.
The institution must be publicly funded and recognized by the Ontario government
Employer Job Offer - Foreign Workers
Foreign Workers is designed to facilitate the immigration of foreign workers who have a valid job offer from an Ontario employer. This stream helps employers in Ontario fill labor shortages by attracting skilled workers from outside Canada.
Candidates must have a full-time, permanent job offer from an Ontario employer. The job offer must be in a skilled occupation classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) 0, 1, 2, or 3.
Candidates must have at least two years of work experience in the same occupation as the job offer, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
Employer Job Offer - International Students with a Job Offer
Employer Job Offer – International Students is specifically designed to help international students who have completed their studies at an eligible post-secondary institution in Ontario
Candidates must have a full-time, permanent job offer from an Ontario employer.
Unlike some other streams, candidates under this stream do not need to have prior work experience to qualify. The key requirement is the valid job offer from an Ontario employer.
Employer Job Offer - In-Demand Skills
In-Demand Skills is designed to help address labor shortages in Ontario by attracting workers with skills in specific in-demand occupations. This stream targets foreign workers who have a valid job offer in one of the high-demand sectors identified by Ontario.
Candidates must have a full-time, permanent job offer from an Ontario employer.
Candidates must have at least nine months of work experience in the occupation related to the job offer within the last three years.
Entrepreneur Category
Entrepreneur is designed to attract experienced business owners and senior managers who are interested in starting or buying a business in Ontario. This stream helps to foster economic growth by encouraging entrepreneurs who can contribute to the province’s economy through investment and job creation.
Candidates must have a minimum of 2 years of experience as an owner or senior manager of a business in the last 5 years before applying.
Candidates must have a minimum personal net worth of CAD 800,000 if the proposed business will be located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). For businesses located outside the GTA, the minimum personal net worth requirement is CAD 400,000.
Candidates must make a minimum investment of CAD 600,000 if the business is located in the GTA. For businesses located outside the GTA, the minimum investment required is CAD 200,000
Regional immigration pilot
The Ontario Regional Immigration Pilot is an initiative designed to address regional labor shortages and promote economic growth in smaller communities across Ontario. The Regional Immigration Pilot is not an immigration program
The pilot program focuses on attracting and retaining skilled immigrants in rural and smaller communities throughout the province.
In order to qualify for the Regional Immigration program, a candidate’s job offer must be from an employer located in one of the participating pilot communities