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Ontario

Capital: Toronto

Population: 15,007,816

Climate: Summer months average around 24°C but hit highs in the mid-30s C. Winters are cold and snowy with temperatures dropping as low as -10° to -25 ° C.

Must see: Bruce Peninsula, Parliament Hill

Known for: CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Strong economic hubs and multicultural cities in  Canada

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Learn more at www.ontario.ca

Ontario is not only home to the nations capital of Ottawa, but also the countries most populous city, Toronto. With 4 very distinct seasons you get to experience a variety of weather conditions throughout the year. While the urban developments of Ontario are packed full of restaurants, cultural festivals and any activity you can imagine, just a few hours away from the more populated areas are some diverse natural experiences. Ontario has many hiking trails where you can see the crystal clear turquoise waters of Tobermory, explore Bonnechere Caves, or adventure river raft on the Ottawa River. The most well known attractions often steal the spotlight in Ontario, but the province truly offers an abundance of sights to see and activities to enjoy for those who call it home. Being the largest economy in Canada, Ontario attracts the majority of immigrants, so much so that Toronto is often seen as the most multicultural city in the world. The cost of living is much higher in the cities of Ontario compared to quieter areas, but living in the economic engine of the country can provide opportunities to help with the costs.

If you are looking to settle in Ontario, it is worth investigating the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Programs (OINP). With a few options available, they are still quite a competitive pathway given the high demand to settle in this province. Most of the programs function through an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. Registering an expression of interest will allow the OINP to gather information about you in order to rank and select the candidates most likely to meet Ontario's economic and labour market needs. If you feel you meet a streams requirements, you may register an expression of interest and complete an attestation form on the same day. There is no fee to register an EOI, application fees will apply if you are invited to apply, and your profile will remain active for 12 months time. Explore some of the OINP options below!

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Ontario immigration starting guide

Anchor 1

The Employer Job Offer
Foreign Worker Stream

This stream gives foreign workers with a valid job offer in a skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B) in Ontario the opportunity to apply for nomination. This is open to foreign workers inside and outside of Canada.

Additional requirements for applicants include:

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  1. legal status if applying from within Canada.

  2. if the occupation on your job offer requires a license or other authorization in Ontario, you must hold that from the appropriate body in Ontario. If your occupation does not require this, you must have two years cumulative full-time work experience in past five years, in the same occupation as your job offer. 

  3. a demonstrated genuine intention to settle in Ontario!

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Employers and their job offer also have criteria that must be met including advertising for the position, the business must be active for minimum three years, and revenue requirements of:

  • minimum $1,000,000 total gross annual revenue for businesses in the Greater Toronto Area, and 5 full-time employees who are Canadian PR or citizens.

  • minimum $500,00 total gross annual revenue for businesses outside the Greater Toronto Area, and 3 full-time employees who are Canadian PR or citizens.

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Invitations are sent out to candidates that have ranked highest in the EOI points based system.

The Employer Job Offer
International Student Stream

This stream gives international students with a valid job offer in a skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B) in Ontario the opportunity to apply for nomination. This is open to international students inside and outside of Canada. To be eligible for this stream you must have received from an eligible Canadian institution one of the following:

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  • a degree or diploma that takes at least 2 years to complete if studying full-time, or;

  • a degree, diploma or certificate that takes at least 1 year to complete if you study full-time and that requires a completed degree as an admission requirement.

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Additional requirements for applicants include:

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  1. minimum 50% of your studies completed in Canada in a program that meets eligibility requirements.

  2. apply within two years of completing your degree, diploma or certificate.

  3. legal status if applying from within Canada.

  4. if the occupation on your job offer requires a license or other authorization in Ontario, you must hold that from the appropriate body in Ontario. 

  5. a demonstrated genuine intention to settle in Ontario!

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Employers and their job offer also have criteria that must be met including advertising for the position, the business must be active for minimum three years, and revenue requirements of:

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  • minimum $1,000,000 total gross annual revenue for businesses in the Greater Toronto Area, and 5 full-time employees who are Canadian PR or citizens.

  • minimum $500,00 total gross annual revenue for businesses outside the Greater Toronto Area, and 3 full-time employees who are Canadian PR or citizens.

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Invitations are sent out to candidates that have ranked highest in the EOI points based system.

The Employer Job Offer
In-Demand skills stream

This stream gives foreign workers with a valid job offer in specific in-demand occupations in Ontario the opportunity to apply for nomination. This is open to foreign workers inside and outside of Canada. To be eligible for this stream you must have received an eligible job offer in an eligible occupation. 

For jobs anywhere in Ontario:

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  • NOC 3413 - nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates

  • NOC 4412 - home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers.

  • NOC 7441 - residential and commercial installers and servicers

  • NOC 7511 - transport truck drivers

  • NOC 7521 - heavy equipment operators (except crane)

  • NOC 7611 - construction trades helpers and labourers

  • NOC 8431 - general farm workers

  • NOC 8432 - nursery and greenhouse workers

  • NOC 8611 - harvesting labourers

  • NOC 9462 - industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers

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These positions must be outside the Greater Toronto Area only:

  • NOC 9411 - machine operators, mineral and metal processing

  • NOC 9416 - metalworking and forging machine operators

  • NOC 9417 - machining tool operators

  • NOC 9418 - other metal products machine operators

  • NOC 9421 - chemical plant machine operators

  • NOC 9422 - plastics processing machine operators

  • NOC 9437 - woodworking machine operators

  • NOC 9446 - industrial sewing machine operators

  • NOC 9461 - process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing

  • NOC 9523 - electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers

  • NOC 9526 - mechanical assemblers and inspectors

  • NOC 9536 - industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators

  • NOC 9537 - other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors

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Additional requirements for applicants include:

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  1. minimum 9 months of cumulative paid full-time work experience in the past 3 years in the same in-demand occupation as the job offer. This must have been gained while living and working in Ontario.

  2. valid language test results at CLB level 4 or higher.

  3. minimum secondary school (high school) diploma, with ECA showing equivalent to Canadian high school.

  4. legal status if applying from within Canada.

  5. if the occupation on your job offer requires a license or other authorization in Ontario, you must hold that from the appropriate body in Ontario. 

  6. a demonstrated genuine intention to settle in Ontario!

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Employers and their job offer also have criteria that must be met including advertising for the position, the business must be active for minimum three years, and:

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  • minimum $1,000,000 total gross annual revenue for businesses in the Greater Toronto Area, and 5 full-time employees who are Canadian PR or citizens.

  • minimum $500,00 total gross annual revenue for businesses outside the Greater Toronto Area, and 3 full-time employees who are Canadian PR or citizens.

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Invitations are sent out to candidates that have ranked highest in the EOI points based system.

Masters Graduate Stream

This stream gives international graduates with an Ontario masters degree the opportunity to apply for nomination. The degree must be from an eligible university and at least one academic year of full-time study. If you received a bursary, grant or scholarship that requires you to return home after studies you are not eligible for this program. Additional requirements include:

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  1. submit your application within 2 years of obtaining your masters degree.

  2. valid language test results showing minimum CLB 7.

  3. legally resided in Ontario for at least 1 of the past 2 years.

  4. at time of application, be currently residing with legal status in Ontario, or outside of Canada. You may not apply to this stream if living in Canada outside of Ontario.

  5. sufficient settlement funds for yourself and any dependants.

  6. a demonstrated genuine intention to settle in Ontario!

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Invitations are sent out to candidates that have ranked highest in the EOI points based system.

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PhD Graduate Stream

This stream gives international graduates with an Ontario PhD degree the opportunity to apply for nomination. The degree must be from an eligible university and at least two years of your studies must have been completed while legally living and studying in Ontario. If you received a bursary, grant or scholarship that requires you to return home after studies you are not eligible for this program. Additional requirements include:

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  1. submit your application within 2 years of obtaining your PhD.

  2. valid language test results showing minimum CLB 7.

  3. legally resided in Ontario for at least 1 of the past 2 years.

  4. sufficient settlement funds for yourself and any dependants.

  5. a demonstrated genuine intention to settle in Ontario!

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Invitations are sent out to candidates that have ranked highest in the EOI points based system.

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Ontario's Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream

This stream gives foreign workers with the required skilled work experience, language abilities and education the opportunity to apply for nomination. This stream requires a valid profile in the federal express entry system and receipt of a Notification of Interest from Ontario before applying. You must decided which federal program you want to be assessed under:

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  • Federal Skilled Worker Program - requires 1 year of skilled work experience (NOC 0, A or B), gained either in  Canada or abroad within the past 5 years. Must be in the same primary occupation identified in your profile. Or,

  • Canadian Experience Class - requires 1 year of skilled work experience (NOC 0, A or B) gained in Canada on valid status (not while studying), within the past 3 years. Must be in 1 or more NOC identified in your profile.

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Additional requirements include:

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  1. must have a degree equivalent to a Canadian bachelor's, master's or PhD (ECA required if completed outside Canada).

  2. valid language test results showing minimum CLB 7.

  3. if applying from within Canada must have legal status.

  4. sufficient settlement funds for yourself and any dependants.

  5. a demonstrated genuine intention to settle in Ontario!

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Invitations are sent out to candidates in the federal express entry pool that the OINP has found qualifies for this program. An express entry profile does not guarantee an invitation to OINP.

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Ontario's Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream

This stream gives foreign workers with Ontario work experience in eligible skilled trades the opportunity to apply for nomination. This stream requires a valid profile in the federal express entry system and receipt of a Notification of Interest from Ontario before applying. 

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Additional requirements include:

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  1. minimum one year paid full-time work experience in the past two years in a skilled trade that is listed in Minor Group 633 or Major Groups 72, 73, or 82 of the NOC. This experience must be in Ontario and obtained with legal status.

  2. if your work experience is in a compulsory trade you must have a valid certificate or license in Ontario. This must be held at time of applying, even if no longer working in the trade, and throughout the work experience claimed.

  3. valid language test results showing minimum CLB 5.

  4. must be living in Ontario and hold a valid work permit at time of application.

  5. sufficient settlement funds for yourself and any dependants.

  6. a demonstrated genuine intention to settle in Ontario!

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Check if your job is in a compulsory trade that requires a license here. Read more about NOCs here.

 

Invitations are sent out to candidates in the federal express entry pool that the OINP has found qualifies for this program. An express entry profile does not guarantee an invitation to OINP.

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Ontario's Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

This stream gives French-speaking skilled workers who have strong English skills the opportunity to apply for nomination. This stream requires a valid profile in the federal express entry system and receipt of a Notification of Interest from Ontario before applying. You must decided which federal program you want to be assessed under:

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  • Federal Skilled Worker Program - requires 1 year of skilled work experience (NOC 0, A or B), gained either in  Canada or abroad within the past 5 years. Must be in the same primary occupation identified in your profile. Or,

  • Canadian Experience Class - requires 1 year of skilled work experience (NOC 0, A or B) gained in Canada on valid status (not while studying or self-employed), within the past 3 years. Must be in 1 or more NOC identified in your profile.

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Additional requirements include:

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  1. must have a degree equivalent to a Canadian bachelor's, master's or PhD (ECA required if completed outside Canada).

  2. valid language test results showing French language at a minimum of CLB 7, and English at a minimum of CLB 6.

  3. if applying from within Canada must have legal status.

  4. sufficient settlement funds for yourself and any dependants.

  5. a demonstrated genuine intention to settle in Ontario!

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Invitations are sent out to candidates in the federal express entry pool that the OINP has found qualifies for this program. An express entry profile does not guarantee an invitation to OINP.

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Entrepreneur Stream

This stream is for entrepreneurs from outside Canada who are interested in starting a business or buying an existing business in Ontario. It allows the entrepreneur and one foreign national business partner the opportunity to be nominated by Ontario. This stream is a two stage process:

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  • Stage 1 - register an EOI by email and if invited submit an application. Attend a mandatory interview and if successful, sign a performance agreement.

  • Stage 2 - receive a temporary resident support letter from OINP and apply to IRCC for the temporary work permit. Establish your business, and within 20 months implement your business plan and submit a final report. If the business meets all the requirements and documentation is provided, OINP can nominate you for PR.

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There are many additional requirements for this program. You can find more detail here.

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