The General Category is for Ontario employers and for investors who wish to hire foreign workers in a skilled occupation (occupations classified as skill type ‘A’, ‘0’, or ‘B’ in the National Occupation Classification). In order to be eligible, the foreign workers must have at least two years of full-time experience in their respective skilled occupations.
For companies setting up locations in Ontario, eligible investments must exceed CDN $3-million and create at least 5 permanent, full-time jobs in the province. For individuals to be eligible, an investment of at least $1 million is required as well as a 33.3% control in the company and involvement in the day-to-day management of the business.
This category allows Ontario employers to hire foreign students who have completed a program of study of at least two years or more at publicly-funded post-secondary educational institution in Canada. The student must have completed at least half their studies in Canada, and must either be in the final semester of their program or have graduated within the last two years. In addition, the student must have studied full-time.
NOTE: Students who have obtained a Master's degree or PhD from a publicly-funded Ontario university do not need a job offer to qualify for the program.
No. However, it must be in a managerial, professional or skilled occupation (classified as skill type ‘0’ or skill level ‘B’ in the National Occupation Classification).
The program is employer-driven, which means that the employer or investor and the job offer must first be approved by Opportunities Ontario before the foreign worker can apply for Provincial Nomination. Once the applicant receives a Provincial Nomination Certificate from Ontario, the application must be submitted at the federal level for approval of
criminal and medical checks.
No. Once you receive your
Provincial Nomination Certificate, you must submit your file to immigration authorities in order to have your application for Permanent Residence processed. Citizenship and Immigration Canada is responsible for processing your
security and medical checks and issuing your Canadian Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa. However, as your qualifications will have already been assessed at the provincial level, you will not need to have them assessed at the federal level.
