Skills Immigration
Ontario
Popular immigration programs for graduated international students, semi-skilled and skilled workers in the province
Candidate with semi-skilled experience in high demand occupations
Work experience
Job offer
Education
Language
International students with an eligible job offer within 2 years after graduation
Graduation
Degree, diploma or certificate of a 1-year post-graduation program within at least 50% of the program completed in Canada
Job offer
Application period
Candidate outside Canada with skilled experience and job offer
Work experience
License to practice in ON for regulatory occupations
Job offer
Candidate graduated Masters within the last 2 years in Ontario
Graduation
Are not enrolled in any program except for licensing to practice in regulatory occupations
Language
Application period
Current residence
Residency requirement
Candidate graduated PhD within the last 2 years in Ontario
Graduation
Application period
Current residence
Residency requirement
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee the applicant will receive the invitation. Applicant and employer must meet recruitment requirements to be nominated.
Process timeline of preparing and reviewing the application
between applicant with Provincial and Federal Government
Profile submission
Create an expression of interest profile on OINP e-Filing Portal. The profile is scored and ranked based on the information provided.Profile valid for 12 months
Provincial invitation
Depending on allocation quota, candidates with the highest EOI scores in the pool will be invited to submit the nomination application.
Submit the application within 14 days
Decision of Nomination
Application approved, the applicant receives a Nomination Certificate to support their PR application to IRCC, valid for up to 6 months.
Province reviews in 30 - 90 days
PR submission
Maintain the conditions of nomination, attach Nomination Certificate to the PR application, and then submit them to IRCC.IRCC reviews in 15 - 19 months
Get PR Status
Application approved, the applicant gets Permanent Resident status after landing or confirming on IRCC Portal.Confirmation valid within 12 months
Candidate who has submitted their application to IRCC before the expiry of work permit may apply for a work permit extension to continue working legally.
Crucial elements affect the decision
EOI score vary depending on program, please refer Ontario - Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development website or our calculator.
* Strategic priorities include industry, location and position of job offer
* Figures may be rounded for presentation purposes, please refer to federal or provincial government websites for the most accurate information.
Benefits the applicant and their accompanying family members are entitled to when becoming permanent residents
Family-friendly
The immigration application includes the applicant's spouse and children
Work and study
Keep working legally with the letter of support for work permit renewal
Medical
Access to high-quality modern public health care as same as Canadian
Education
Free or lower tuition for children depends on the level of education
Benefits
Access to social benefits as same as Canadian
Mobility right
Live and work anywhere under Permanent Resident status
Sponsorship
Ability to sponsor relatives if the conditions are met
Naturalization
Ability to obtain citizenship if residency conditions are met
Important requirements the applicant should note
Basic requirements
- Intend and have the ability to live permanently in Ontario
- Have a legal or maintained status until the time of nomination (visitor record, study permit or work permit)
- Must submit the application within 2 years after completing all requirements to obtain the education credential
Education
- Degree, diploma or certificate of a 2-year post-secondary program from a designated institution
- Degree, diploma or certificate of a 1-year full-time post-graduation program from a designated college or university
- License or certification to practice issued by a regulatory body in Ontario if required
Job offer
- Permanent full-time under TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 with a wage that meets or exceeds the low wage for the same position and region
Employer
- Operates at least 3 years in Ontario
- Work location is based in Ontario
- Have no outstanding orders made against them under the Employment Standards Act or the Occupational Health and Safety Act
- Have revenue of at least $1,000,000 if located in Greater Toronto Area (including City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel region), or $500,000 if outside within the last 3 years
- Have at least 5 employees if operating inside GTA area or 3 employees if elsewhere who are Canadian or Permanent Resident and working full-time
Basic requirements
- Intend and have the ability to live permanently in Ontario
- Have a legal or maintained status until the time of nomination (visitor record, study permit or work permit)
- If the license to practice is not required, candidate must accumulate work experience in the same occupation
Education
- License or certification to practice issued by a regulatory body in Ontario if required
Work experience
- At least 2 years of full-time or equivalent, in the same occupation with job offer, within the last 5 years
- If work experience in Canada, candidate must be authorized to work
Job offer
- Permanent full-time under TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 with the wage that meets or exceeds the median wage for the same position and region
Employer
- Operates at least 3 years in Ontario
- Work location is based in Ontario
- Have no outstanding orders made against them under the Employment Standards Act or the Occupational Health and Safety Act
- Have revenue of at least $1,000,000 if located in Greater Toronto Area (including City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel region), or $500,000 if outside within the last 3 years
- Have at least 5 employees if operating inside GTA area or 3 employees if elsewhere who are Canadian or Permanent Resident and working full-time
- Demonstrate enough efforts were made to hire Canadian or Permanent Resident before offering the position, unless:
○ Cadidate has a valid work permit, or
○ Employer has a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for the position
Basic requirements
- Intend and have the ability to live permanently in Ontario
- Have a legal or maintained status until the time of nomination (visitor record, study permit or work permit)
Education
- Equivalent to Canadian high-school
- Foreign education credential(s) must be assessed by Educational Credential Assessment
- License or certification to practice issued by a regulatory body in Ontario if required
Work experience
- At least 9 months of full-time (or equivalent in part-time) work experience in Ontario under the same occupation of job offer within the last 3 years
Job offer
- Permanent full-time in high-demand occupations of the region under TEER category 4 or 5 with a wage that meets or exceeds the median wage for the same position and region
Language
Minimum CLB 4, assessed by 1 of 5 language proficiency tests within the last 2 years:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP-General)
- Pearson Test of English - Core (PTE-Core)
- Test d'évaluation de français (TEF)
- Test de connaissance du français Canada (TCF Canada)
Employer
- Operates at least 3 years in Ontario
- Work location is based in Ontario
- Have no outstanding orders made against them under the Employment Standards Act or the Occupational Health and Safety Act
- Have revenue of at least $1,000,000 if located in Greater Toronto Area (including City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel region), or $500,000 if outside within the last 3 years
- Have at least 5 employees if operating inside GTA area or 3 employees if elsewhere who are Canadian or Permanent Resident and working full-time
- Demonstrate enough efforts were made to hire Canadian or Permanent Resident before offering the position, unless:
○ Cadidate has a valid work permit, or
○ Employer has a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for the position
High demand occupations
| NOC Code | Location | Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| 44101 | Ontario | Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations |
| 65202 | Ontario | Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale |
| 75110 | Ontario | Construction trades helpers and labourers |
| 84120 | Ontario | Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators |
| 85100 | Ontario | Livestock labourers |
| 85101 | Ontario | Harvesting labourers |
| 85103 | Ontario | Nursery and greenhouse labourers |
| 94141 | Ontario | Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers |
| 75119 | Ontario | Other trades helpers and labourers |
| 94100 | Outside GTA | Machine operators, mineral and metal processing |
| 94105 | Outside GTA | Metalworking and forging machine operators |
| 94106 | Outside GTA | Machining tool operators |
| 94107 | Outside GTA | Machine operators of other metal products |
| 94110 | Outside GTA | Chemical plant machine operators |
| 94111 | Outside GTA | Plastics processing machine operators |
| 94124 | Outside GTA | Woodworking machine operators |
| 94132 | Outside GTA | Industrial sewing machine operators |
| 94140 | Outside GTA | Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing |
| 94201 | Outside GTA | Electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers |
| 94204 | Outside GTA | Mechanical assemblers and inspectors |
| 94213 | Outside GTA | Industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators |
| 94219 | Outside GTA | Other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors |
| 95102 | Outside GTA | Labourers in chemical products processing and utilities |
| 14400 | Outside GTA | Shippers and Receivers |
| 14402 | Outside GTA | Production logistics workers |
| 65320 | Outside GTA | Dry cleaning, laundry and related occupations |
| 74200 | Outside GTA | Railway yard and track maintenance workers |
| 74203 | Outside GTA | Automotive and heavy truck and equipment parts installers and servicers |
| 74204 | Outside GTA | Utility maintenance workers |
| 74205 | Outside GTA | Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers |
| 75101 | Outside GTA | Material handlers |
| 75119 | Outside GTA | Other trades helpers and labourers |
| 75211 | Outside GTA | Railway and motor transport labourers |
| 75212 | Outside GTA | Public works and maintenance labourers |
| 85102 | Outside GTA | Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers |
| 94101 | Outside GTA | Foundry workers |
| 94102 | Outside GTA | Glass forming and finishing machine operators and glass cutters |
| 94103 | Outside GTA | Concrete, clay and stone forming operators |
| 94104 | Outside GTA | Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing |
| 94112 | Outside GTA | Rubber processing machine operators and related workers |
| 94120 | Outside GTA | Sawmill machine operators |
| 94121 | Outside GTA | Pulp mill, papermaking and finishing machine operators |
| 94123 | Outside GTA | Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders |
| 94142 | Outside GTA | Fish and seafood plant workers |
| 94143 | Outside GTA | Testers and graders, food and beverage processing |
| 94200 | Outside GTA | Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors and testers |
| 94202 | Outside GTA | Assemblers and inspectors, electrical appliance, apparatus and equipment manufacturing |
| 94203 | Outside GTA | Assemblers, fabricators and inspectors, industrial electrical motors and transformers |
| 94205 | Outside GTA | Machine operators and inspectors, electrical apparatus manufacturing |
| 94211 | Outside GTA | Assemblers and inspectors of other wood products |
| 94212 | Outside GTA | Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors |
| 95100 | Outside GTA | Labourers in mineral and metal processing |
| 95101 | Outside GTA | Labourers in metal fabrication |
| 95103 | Outside GTA | Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing |
| 95104 | Outside GTA | Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing |
| 95106 | Outside GTA | Labourers in food and beverage processing |
| 95107 | Outside GTA | Labourers in fish and seafood processing |
Immigration Ineligibility
- Receive a government-funded grant or scholarship that requires a return to the home country after graduation and have not yet done so
- Are in Canada and out of status
- Are living outside Ontario
- Are enrolled in a program, unless:
○ The purpose of study is to obtain a license to practice in regulatory occupations in Ontario, or
○ Are working full-time at the same time
Basic requirements
- Reside in Ontario or outside Canada
- Intend and have the ability to live permanently in Ontario
- Have a legal or maintained status until the time of nomination (visitor record, study permit or work permit)
- Must submit the application within 2 years after completing all requirements to obtain the education credential
- Have resided in Ontario legally for a total of 1 year within the last 2 years
Education
- Have graduated a Masters program of at least 1-year or equivalent from an eligible institution in Ontario
Language
Minimum CLB 7, assessed by 1 of 5 language proficiency tests within the last 2 years:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP-General)
- Pearson Test of English - Core (PTE-Core)
- Test d'évaluation de français (TEF)
- Test de connaissance du français Canada (TCF Canada)
Settlement fund
Proof of funds to support yourself and family members during the period of adaptation after your arrival, based on Low Income Cut-Off threshold and family size:
| Size of family | Funds required (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $14,690 |
| 2 | $18,288 |
| 3 | $22,483 |
| 4 | $27,297 |
| 5 | $30,690 |
| 6 | $34,917 |
| 7 | $38,875 |
| If more than 7 people, for each additional family member | $3,958 |
Eligible Ontario universities
- Algoma University
- Brock University
- Carleton University
- Lakehead University
- Laurentian University
- McMaster University
- Nipissing University
- Ontario College of Art & Design University
- Queen’s University
- Royal Military College of Canada
- Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)
- Trent University
- University of Guelph
- University of Ontario Institute of Technology
- University of Ottawa
- University of Toronto
- University of Waterloo
- University of Windsor
- Western University
- Wilfrid Laurier University
- York University
Immigration Ineligibility
- Receive a government-funded grant or scholarship that requires a return to the home country after graduation and have not yet done so
- Are in Canada and out of status
- Are living outside Ontario
- Are enrolled in a program, unless:
○ The purpose of study is to obtain a license to practice in regulatory occupations in Ontario, or
○ Are working full-time at the same time
Basic requirements
- Reside in Ontario or outside Canada
- Intend and have the ability to live permanently in Ontario
- Have a legal or maintained status until the time of nomination (visitor record, study permit or work permit)
- Must submit the application within 2 years after completing all requirements to obtain the education credential
- Have resided in Ontario legally for a total of 1 year within the last 2 years
Education
- Have completed all requirements for the PhD program from an eligible institution in Ontario
- At least 2 years of the program completed while studying and living in Ontario
Language
Minimum CLB 7, assessed by 1 of 5 language proficiency tests within the last 2 years:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP-General)
- Pearson Test of English - Core (PTE-Core)
- Test d'évaluation de français (TEF)
- Test de connaissance du français Canada (TCF Canada)
Settlement fund
Proof of funds to support yourself and family members during the period of adaptation after your arrival, based on Low Income Cut-Off threshold and family size:
| Size of family | Funds required (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $14,690 |
| 2 | $18,288 |
| 3 | $22,483 |
| 4 | $27,297 |
| 5 | $30,690 |
| 6 | $34,917 |
| 7 | $38,875 |
| If more than 7 people, for each additional family member | $3,958 |
Eligible Ontario universities
- Brock University
- Carleton University
- Lakehead University
- Laurentian University
- McMaster University
- Nipissing University
- Queen’s University
- Royal Military College of Canada
- Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson University)
- Trent University
- University of Guelph
- University of Ontario Institute of Technology
- University of Ottawa
- University of Toronto
- University of Waterloo
- University of Windsor
- Western University
- Wilfrid Laurier University
- York University
