Immigrate to Ontario

Immigrating to Ontario is the dream of many applicants to immigrate to Canada. The province which is one of the most popular provinces of Canada and the economic hub of this country, so that it has always had the highest gross national income (GDP) among Canadian provinces.

In this article, we will try to review the materials for you as someone who wants to immigrate to the province of Ontario. By reading this article, we will familiarize you with the conditions and procedures for immigrating to Ontario, the conditions for permanent residence in Ontario.

Immigration news to the province of Ontario

The latest news and acceptances of the programs under the collection

ProgramThe latest updatecurrent situation
Human capital prioritiesDecember 14, 2023: 2,359 invitations for applicants with work experience in the health sector. The CRS score of the applicants was between 473 and 480.open
French speaking skill workerSeptember 21, 2023: 63 invitations (CRS score range = 434-348)open
Professional technical workforceAugust 3, 2023: 2,844 invitations were sent to applicants with a minimum CRS score of 516-250.open
job offer: Foreign labor forceDecember 5, 2023: 1,663 invitations were issued for the health workforce with a minimum score of 43. Also, 761 invitations were issued for professional technical jobs with a minimum score of 34. 13 applicants were also invited in the Economic Mobility group.open
job offer: International studentsAugust 15, 2023: 853 invitations (minimum score 61) for professional technical jobsopen
job offer: Skills in demandAugust 15, 2023: 256 invitations (minimum 23 points)open
Postgraduate graduatesOctober 30, 2023: 1,051 invitations (minimum score 43)open
PhD graduatesOctober 30, 2023: 66 invitations (minimum 42 points)open
EntrepreneurshipMay 12, 2023: invitation of 14 applicants (score 178-135)open
corporateThe program was permanently closed in 2019.Deleted

Ontario immigration programs at a glance

As an applicant to immigrate to Ontario, you have 3 immigration paths in front of you. Let’s take a look at these apps:

  • Classification of human capital
    • Express Entry Ontario
    • Ontario Masters and PhD Graduates
  • Ontario job offer categories
  • Business Category – Entrepreneurship Ontario

Classification of human capital

Express Entry Ontario subgroup

The following programs fall under the Human Capital category of Ontario’s Express Entry branch:

  • Human capital priorities: This category includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
  • Ontario’s skilled trades workforce: For individuals with relevant work experience in Ontario in an eligible business occupation.
  • French-speaking skilled workforce: This program works like human capital priorities through FSWP and CEC. Applicants for this category must have high skills in both French and English.

If you receive a nomination through Express Entry Ontario, you will be notified. After that you have to accept or reject it. If you accept this nomination, you will be awarded an additional 600 CRS points. This means that you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in all Express Entry draws.

Requirements for the Ontario Express Entry program
  • Sufficient financial ability to financially support yourself and your family
  • Proof of intent to live in the province of Ontario

You must also meet the following conditions for this category in order to apply for immigration to the province of Ontario, Canada through this program.

GroupingNeed a job offer?Is it the same as Express Entry?Other requirements
Manpower priority programnoYesExpress entry profileAt least one year of full-time work experienceA bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degreeCLB 7 or above in English or French
French speaking skill worker programnoYesExpress entry profileAt least one year of full-time work experienceA bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degreeCLB 7 or higher in French and CLB 6 or higher in English
The workforce of professional technical jobsnoYesValid express entry profileAt least one year of full-time work experienceA valid degree or certificateYou must be a current resident of Ontario and have a valid work visa at the time of applicationCLB 5 or above (English or French)

Subgroup of master’s and doctorate graduates

The Ontario Foreign Graduate Program is not compatible with Express Entry. As an applicant, you must create a profile and register an expression of interest or EOI:

  • Master’s Graduate Program: For individuals who have received a master’s degree from an Ontario university
  • Doctoral Graduate Program: For individuals who have received a doctoral degree from the University of Ontario.

Application fee: 1500 Canadian dollars
Processing time: 60-30 days

GroupingNeed a job offer?Is it the same as Express Entry?Other requirements
Master’s programnonoMaster’s degree from a recognized Ontario universityCLB 7 or above (English or French)Be a legal resident of Ontario for at least 1 year in the last two years.
PhD programnonoMaster’s degree from a recognized Ontario universityBe a legal resident of Ontario for at least 1 year in the last two years.

Job offer category of the employer

The Job Offer Ontario program consists of three subgroups and a regional pilot program:

  • Foreign Workforce Program: For Skilled Workforce
  • Foreign Workforce Program: For Skilled Workforce
  • In-demand skills program: for mid-skilled labor in specific sectors, such as agriculture, construction and transportation
  • Regional pilot program: for workforce needs in rural and sparsely populated Ontario
Programphee applicationApplication processing time
Skilled workforce program and required skills programCAD $1,500 if the job offer is outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).$2,000 CAD if you are a job offer within the Toronto metropolitan area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel)60 to 90 days
Foreign students program1,500 Canadian dollars90 to 120 days

Minimum requirements

  • You must have a permanent full-time job offer in Ontario.
  • You must have work experience, license or other necessary permits to perform the work.
  • You must intend to live in Ontario.
ProgramNeed a job offer?Other requirements
Foreign labor programYesTwo years of work experiencePayment must be above the average wage in Ontario
Required skills programYesBe among the required jobsHave 9 months of work experienceCLB 4 or higherHigh school diplomaPayment must be above the Ontario average wage
Technical workforce programYesPayment must be above the Ontario wage levelDiploma or associate degree from a Canadian institution

How does this category work?

You must first create a profile on the OINP e-filing portal and file your Expression of Interest (EOI). Ontario regularly holds provincial lotteries to invite top-ranked candidates. If you are invited, you will receive a notification on the portal and you must submit your application within 14 days.

Read more on the Ontario Job Offer page.

Business Category – Entrepreneurship Ontario

The business category is for those looking to start a business or buy an existing business in Ontario. Currently, there is only one program under the business category, the Ontario Entrepreneurship Program.

How much does it cost to apply for the Ontario Business Program?
3500 Canadian dollars

How long does it take to process business application applications?

  • Evaluation of EOI: Less than 30 days
  • App evaluation: It depends on the complexity of the program.

What are the minimum requirements for the Ontario Business Program?

  • You must have business experience for 24 months in the last 60 months
  • If the business is located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), you must have a net worth of $800,000 CAD.
  • If your business is located outside the GTA, you must have a capital of $400,000 CAD.
  • If the business is located in the GTA, you must have a personal investment of at least CAD 600,000.
  • If your business is located outside of the GTA, $200,000 CAD is your minimum personal investment.
  • You must own at least one-third of the equity in a business.
  • You must actively participate in the management of the business.
  • If the business is located in metropolitan Toronto, it must create at least two permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents;
  • If the business is outside of metropolitan Toronto, create a permanent full-time job.
  • If the business is in the information and communication sector or the digital communication sector, it is enough to create a full-time job, regardless of the location.

How does this program work?

You should first send your Expression of Interest (EOI) to the OINP by email and ask them to send you a copy of the registration form. Then complete the form and send it via email.

You are then placed in a pool and ranked against other candidates. Ontario regularly conducts lotteries where the highest-ranking candidates intending to immigrate to the province of Ontario are invited to submit an application for the Entrepreneurship Program through the Ontario Provincial Immigration Program e-portal.

Introducing the province of Ontario

Why should I immigrate to Ontario?

  • High cultural diversity

It is interesting to know that more than half of those who live in Toronto were born outside of Canada. As the main destination of immigrants in Canada, this province receives one third of all immigrants to this country every year. This has increased the cultural richness in this province and you can get to know the cultures of most countries of the world by living in a city.

  • Countless job opportunities

There are many job opportunities in Toronto and nearby cities. Many large companies have offices in Toronto Such as Apple, Coca Cola, Google, Microsoft, Asus, Intel, SAP and Citibank. The important industries of this province include finance, technology, film and media, and tourism, and these can provide many job opportunities to immigrants. Hence, work migration to Ontario is an ideal option for skilled workers from all over the world.

  • Reputable universities

Ontario also has some of the best universities in the world including the University of Toronto, York University, McMaster University, University of Waterloo, University of Ottawa, Ryerson University, Carleton University, University of Guelph and others. Hence, studying in Ontario can be a dream option for you.

Iranian immigration to Ontario province

Iranians have always been interested in immigrating to Ontario. In 2021, applicants for Ontario provincial immigration programs from more than 130 different countries applied, among which 116 nominations were for Iranians. In the table below, you can see the number of nominations issued under the OINP program by different countries.

country of originNumber of nominations
India4,332
china1,736
Nigeria438
Pakistan211
Brazil210
South Korea139
Iran116
Morocco114
Philippines108
Portugal100

How many nominations are there in Ontario?

Each year, the federal government through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) allocates a certain number of nominations to the Government of Ontario (OINP). In 2022, the nominations allocated to Ontario were 9,750, of which 4,496 nominations were issued as of July 11, 2022.

Educational immigration to Ontario

The province that has the largest number of university institutions among the Canadian provinces is definitely a great target for those who want to immigrate to this province by studying in Ontario. The universities of Toronto, Queen’s, McMaster and York located in the province of Ontario are among the universities that move at the edge of the world’s science.

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