Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OPNP)— Skilled Workers & International Students

The Ontario Provincial Nominee Program, otherwise known as Opportunities Ontario, was established to bring more jobs, investments and growth to the province through providing aid to employer and investors.

Approved employers have the option to recruit foreign workers through the Foreign Worker and International Student Category.

Foreign Workers

In order to be eligibly classified as a foreign worker, applicants must demonstrate the following:

• A minimum of 2 years of work experience within the past 5 years in the proposed occupation OR have proper registration in Ontario if apply if the position is regulated in the province;
• An authorized and approved permanent full-time job offer from a skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B);
• A wage offered by the prospective employer that meets the current wage level for that particular occupation;
• Obtain legal status if the applicant is currently residing in Canada;
• An approval letter and Joint Verification form signed by the employer and a Pre-screen Position form

International Students

The International Category of Opportunities Ontario includes the three sub-categories: students with job offer, PhD graduates and Masters graduates.

Students with a job offer

Requirements:

• Must have finished at least half of their studies in Canada and have graduated or will be graduating in the near future from an authorized publicly funded college or university in Canada;
• Completion of either a 2 year diploma program or degree and must have studied on a full-time basis;
• Must have received a job offer for a permanent, full-time position that complies with the entry level wage for that particular profession (please note that this requirement differs from that of the General Category which included the prevailing wage);
• Apply within 2 years of achieving a degree or diploma OR apply during the last semester of the program;
• Must have received legal status if candidate is currently residing in Canada;
• Must be able to present an approval letter from the employer, Joint Verification form signed by the employer and a Pre-screen Position form

International students are not required to have any previous work experience. Those who are eligible may apply for an approved position within or outside of Canada.

PhD Graduates

Those who have successfully completed a PhD program from one of Ontario’s publically funded universities may be eligible to be nominated as a permanent resident through the International Student Category’s PhD Graduate Stream included in the Opportunities Ontario program.

Those who have received a PhD from Ontario are not required to have a job offer to apply.

Prior to application, candidates must have the following:

• Graduated from a current PhD program from an acknowledged, publicly funded university in Ontario; OR
• Successfully completed any outstanding degree program requirements including finishing all necessary course work and/or have defended a thesis; AND
• Completed a minimum of 2 years in the PhD program at a recognized, publicly funded university located in Ontario;
• Applied within 2 years upon receiving the PhD degree;
• A legal status if candidate is currently residing in Canada

Those who wish to apply for this program may do so from within or outside of Canada.

Masters Graduates

Those who have graduated or will be graduating in the near future with a Masters degree from  a recognized, publicly funded university in Ontario may be eligible to be nominated as a permanent resident through the International Student Category’s Masters Graduate Stream included in the Opportunities Ontario program.

Those who have received a Masters degree from Ontario are not required to have a job offer to apply.

Prior to application, candidates must have the following:

• Intend to reside and work in Ontario;
• Graduated from a current Masters program provided by an eligible, publicly funded university in Ontario;
• Studied on a full-time basis in a one year academic degree program;
• Apply within 2 years of receiving a Masters degree OR during the last semester of the program;
• Must be currently residing in Ontario;
• Legal status in Canada;
• Acceptable language proficiency in English or French s(For English language proficiency – IELTS – General test with a minimum score of 7 or higher and for French language proficiency – TEF – with a minimum score of 5 or higher);
• Proper saving or income necessary to support themselves as well as dependents;
• Reside in Ontario for at least 1 year within the last 2 years

Employer Eligibility

Employers who wish to apply for Opportunities Ontario must:

• Be an active business for a minimum of 3 years (corporations, limited partnerships and sole proprietorships);
• Have made at least $1,000,000 in gross revenue during the most recent fiscal year (companies in the Greater Toronto area) or a minimum of $500,000 in gross revenue (companies outside of the GTA);
• Have employed at least 5 permanent full-time staff members if the company is in the GTA or at least 3 permanent full-time staff members if the company is outside of the GTA;
• A location in Ontario where the prospective nominee is able to work

To find out about your eligibility, please contact one of our immigration specialists.

• Phone: +1 (604) 636 – 4618
• Email: info@wbiimigration.com
• or  take a Free Online Assessment through our website, we will contact you within 24 hours upon your request!