Basics of the Ontario Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)

How to Immigrate to Ontario through PNP

In Canada, there are many provinces and territories that many foreign nationals would love to visit; however, the province of Ontario is one of the most popular destinations in Canada for foreign nationals to immigrate. Specifically, foreign nationals who are applying through Express Entry can obtain a provincial nomination from Ontario through the Ontario Provincial Nomination Program (PNP). Under this program, Ontario chooses individuals who have a connection with Ontario. In this article, I will address what the Ontario PNP is, how to get nominated for the Ontario PNP, and other important information.

What is the Ontario Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)

The Ontario Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) is an economic immigration program that assists Ontario meet its labour market needs and prioritizes economic development within Ontario. The program facilitates Ontario to nominate individuals that have skilled work experience for permanent residency. These individuals will then be able to contribute to Ontario’s economy. In turn, this program also helps employers in recruiting and retaining skilled foreign workers.

How do Ontario Employers Participate in this Program

This program is very beneficial for employers that conduct their business in Ontario. The program allows the approval for them to fill permanent full-time positions with foreign nationals. They may also recruit these foreign nationals to fill these intended positions. This program assists Ontario employers find skilled workers to fill positions which are difficult to fill. In most cases, the Ontario employer would find it challenging to find the right qualified, skilled worker within Ontario and must resort to finding foreign nationals to fill the intended position.

How do Foreign Nationals Participate in this Program

Foreign nationals who wish to participate in the Ontario PNP, must first be recruited by an employer and meet all of the requirements under this program in order to be nominated by the province for permanent residency. However, there are also other options to be nominated under this program, such as applying in the International Students category for example, specifically Master’s Graduate or PhD graduates streams.

In order to qualify under the Ontario PNP, the applicant must have:

• An valid job offer for a full-time permanent skilled position from an Ontario employer and this offer must be approved by the province – The wage offered must coincide with the average for the position and the location.
• At least 2 years of work experience within the 5 years prior to applying – If applicable, they must also have registration to practice their occupation.
• An “Approved Position Form” and a Joint Verification form that were submitted by the Ontario employer in the pre-screening process as well as the approval letter provided to the employer by the province.
• If the applicant is in Canada, they must have proper authorization and immigration status within Canada, for example a work permit or a study permit

How do Students Participate in this Program

Luckily for international students that have had educational experience in Ontario, specifically a Master’s degree or a PhD, and have successfully graduated, they are qualified under this program. They must also have received their degree from a publicly-funded university in Ontario. These candidates do not need to have a valid job offer to participate in this program. However, they must meet the requirements under these streams. Below I will explain in detail what is needed for the Master’s Graduate Stream and the PhD Graduate Stream.

Master’s Graduate Stream

In order to be eligible under this Stream for the Ontario PNP, the candidate must have:

• Graduated from a Master’s degree program at an eligible publicly-funded university within Ontario
• Completed a minimum of 1 year of full-time study
• A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of level 7 or above in either English or French
• Resided in Ontario for a minimum of 1 year within the last 2 years before applying
• A minimum level of income or sufficient savings to support you and your family members
• Intent to reside and work within Ontario
• Residency in Ontario with legal status, such as a study permit or work permit or must be residing outside of Canada
• Applied for this stream within 2 years of your graduation (this date is stated on your diploma/degree)

PhD Graduate Stream

In order to be eligible under this Stream for the Ontario PNP, the candidate must have:

• Graduated from a PhD degree program at an eligible publicly-funded university within Ontario
• Completed a minimum of 2 years of study within Ontario
• Intent to reside and work within Ontario
• Applied for this stream within 2 years of your graduation (this date is stated on your diploma/degree)
• Legal status within Canada, such as a study permit or work permit, if you are currently in Canada and are applying from within Canada – Keep in mind, this is not mandatory if you are living outside of Canada

Contact Akrami & Associates

It is essential that you have taken all of the aforementioned important information in consideration prior to applying for the Ontario Provincial Nomination Program. Additionally, if you are unsure what requirements are needed from you, it is always best to research beforehand. Applying under the Ontario Provincial Nomination Program for permanent residency in Canada is a difficult task to do on your own; therefore, it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to submit the application. Here, at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients apply through the Ontario Provincial Nomination Program and have helped them obtain permanent residency in Canada. If you believe that you might be eligible, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at our office at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advise.

With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!