Ontario
Ontario is Canada’s second-largest province, covering more than 1 million square kilometres (415,000 square miles) – an area larger than France and Spain combined. Ontario is bounded by Quebec to the east, Manitoba to the west, Hudson Bay and James Bay to the north, and the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes to the south
Ontario’s economy thrives through its unique combination of resources, manufacturing expertise, exports and a drive for innovation. Ontario generates 37% of the national GDP and is home to almost 50% of all employees in high-tech, financial services and other knowledge-intensive industries.
Ontario offers various provincial nominations programs based on different categories. There are three ways you may qualify for a nomination: Employer job offer category, Human capital category and Business category.
Employer job offer category:
If you have a permanent and full-time job offer from an employer in Ontario, you can apply under any one of the three streams under this category:
- Foreign Worker stream:for workers in skilled positions
- International Student stream: for recent graduates in Ontario
- In-Demand Skills stream: for intermediate skilled workers in specific sectors, such as agriculture, construction, trucking and personal support workers
Human Capital category:
The human capital category has two sub-categories, the international graduate streams and Ontario’s Express Entry streams:
International graduates:
It gives international graduates with an Ontario master’s degree or Ph.D., the opportunity to apply for a nomination from the OINP to permanently live and work in Ontario. You must apply within two years of getting your graduate degree from an eligible Ontario university.
Ontario Express Entry stream:
The Ontario Express Entry stream operates through the federal government express entry system. The express entry profile must be updated with the current work experience, language proficiency test and education. This category allows applying under three subcategories :
- French-speaking Skilled worker stream: for French-speaking skilled workers
- Human Capital Priorities stream: for skilled workers with the required work experience, education and language proficiency in French or English
- Skilled Trades stream: for workers with work experience in Ontario in an eligible trade occupation
Business Category:
The business category has one stream. You must be an entrepreneur from outside of Canada who is looking to implement a new business idea or buy and grow an existing business in Ontario.
- Entrepreneur Stream: This stream is for entrepreneurs from outside Canada interested in starting a new business or buying an existing business in Ontario. It gives an entrepreneur (and up to one foreign national business partner) the opportunity to be nominated for permanent residence once their business has been established in Ontario.
