If you are thinking about immigration to Toronto, Ottawa or any other city in Ontario, consider the Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Successful applicants will receive an Ontario Provincial Nomination Certificate, which will speed-up the Canada Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa application process.
The Ontario PNP is an employer-driven program in that candidates cannot apply unless they have a permanent full-time job offer from an Ontario employer. There is a two-step process to nomination.
Step1: Ontario employers must complete the pre-screen application process and they must obtain approval for the positions they wish to fill.
Step 2: If the positions are approved, the Ontario employer must recruit foreign skilled workers to fill the positions. These candidates must then apply to the Opportunities Ontario PNP for a nomination.
Employer Eligibility
To be eligible, companies in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) must:- Have been in existence and operation for at least three years preceding the application;
- Have at least $1,000,000 gross revenue in the previous fiscal year;
- Have at least five permanent full-time employees;
- Have a place of business located in Ontario.
- Have been in existence and operation for at least three years preceding the application;
- Have at least $500,000 in gross revenues in the previous fiscal year;
- Have at least three permanent full-time employees;
- Have a place of business located in Ontario.
There are two categories under which you may qualify for the Ontario PNP:
Ontario PNP General Category
The General Category allows approved Ontario employers and investors to recruit foreign workers.To be eligible to apply for Ontario nomination as a foreign worker, candidates must have:
- A full-time job offer, for which they are qualified, from an approved Ontario employer in a skilled occupation (listed as NOC A, B, or 0);
- At least 2 years of work experience or have appropriate registration in Ontario (if the occupation is regulated in Ontario);
- Received an Employer Pre-Screen Approved Position Form, along with the nominee application package from the Ontario employer;
- An offered wage that meets the prevailing wage level in Ontario for the occupation;
- Legal status, if the prospective nominee is in Canada.
For Ontario investors
This sub-section of the General Category is to facilitate the entry of key personnel into companies that are making major investments in Ontario. Nominees must meet the same qualifying criteria as above. Before nominating applicants, Ontario employers must first complete the pre-screen application process and they must obtain approval for the positions they wish to fill. To be eligible, Ontario employers must:
- Make a qualifying investment of $3 million or more in Ontario;
- Create at least 5 net full-time permanent positions.
International Student Category
The International Student Category allows approved Ontario employers to hire international students. Potential nominees must submit their applications for nominationTo be eligible to apply for Ontario nomination as an international student, candidates must have:
- Graduated (or soon be graduating) from an approved publicly funded Canadian college or university in the past two years;
- A full-time job offer, for which they are qualified, from an approved Ontario employer in a skilled occupation (listed as NOC A, B, or 0).
- Received an Employer Pre-Screen Approved Position Form, along with the nominee application package from the Ontario employer;
- An offered wage that meets the prevailing entry-level wage in Ontario for the occupation;
- Legal status, if the prospective nominee is in Canada.
You can begin your job search for employment in Ontario with our free Canada Job Search Tool.
For more information on the Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), see our Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program FAQ.
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