Ontario Immigration - Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program

Opportunities Ontario: What happens after you apply

Applications to Opportunities Ontario are processed in the order in which they are received. Space is limited, and applicants are encouraged to submit their applications early.

You may want to immigrate to Ontario as a skilled worker. Visit our How to Apply section to find out about other ways to immigrate to Canada.

If additional information is required to process your file, you will be contacted. Documents submitted to Opportunities Ontario during this process will not be returned.

It is important to remember that a number of factors may result in delay or denial of your application:

Illegible forms or applications
Incomplete forms or applications
Incomplete (or uncertified) translations

If your application is not successful, you will be notified by Opportunities Ontario. If your application is successful, you will receive a package of materials.

Approval of Opportunities Ontario applications

Employers are pre-screened by Opportunities Ontario.

What to do if you are approved

If your Pre-screen application is approved, you will receive an approval letter. You will also receive a Joint Verification form and Pre-screen Position form for each approved position. Prospective nominees can then visit the Forms and Guides page of this website to complete and download the nominee application form.

Important: Nominee applications must be received within 60 days

Your prospective nominees will have 60 days after the date of issue of the Pre-screen Position form to submit completed applications to Opportunities Ontario. The date of issue is located on the Employer Pre-Screen Approved Position form. If a nominee application is not received in connection with a position after 60 days, Opportunities Ontario may reassign the nominee position to a different employer.

If a prospective nominee cannot submit a completed application within 60 days, either the prospective nominee or the approved employer may, in writing to Opportunities Ontario, request an extension of 30 days, providing reasons for the extension request. Approval of an extension is discretionary and no further extension will be granted.

Checking on the status of your application

Opportunities Ontario will make every effort to process applications promptly, and has two processing targets:

Complete employer application packages will be processed within 90 days, on a first-come-first-served basis.
Complete nominee application packages will be processed within 90 days, on a first-come-first-served basis.

Opportunities Ontario reserves the right to not respond to requests about the status of applications so that our time can be focused on the processing and finalization of applications under assessment. Please do not contact our office to inquire about the status of your application as this may result in delays in our ability to process applications.

For questions on the application process call Opportunities Ontario at
416-327-0374 or toll-free at 1-866-214-6820 (within North America only).

Helping your new employees settle in Ontario

In order to meet your need for skilled workers, you have recruited and hired new staff. But you also want to retain them. A key part of retaining foreign workers is helping them integrate into the workplace and the wider community.

Settling in a new country is exciting and rewarding, but it can also be challenging. Ontario offers a world of opportunities to newcomers. This section provides employers with important information about settlement and integration.

Newcomers might need to find a place to live, enrol their children in school, arrange health insurance and maybe sign up for language classes. You can help them during these early stages by providing them with guidance and support.

Once your new employee has been nominated as a provincial nominee, encourage them to contact us at 416-327-0374 or toll-free at 1-866-214-6820 (within North America only) to receive important information about settling in Ontario. You may also wish to refer them to the useful information and guides found on the After You Arrive section of this website.

The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration’s Welcome to Ontario guide also provides valuable information on living, learning and working in Ontario. This guide is available in English, French and 14 other languages.

When you are developing a plan to help your new employee get oriented and settled, consider some of the following questions:

Where will your new employee live?
How will your new employee commute to work?
What questions will your new employee have about health care?
Will he or she need to open a bank account?
How will you communicate workplace safety and employment standards?
Are there community agencies with services for newcomers nearby?
Are language classes needed for your new employee or his or her family?
How will the family enrol children in school?
How will you prepare other employees for the arrival of your new employee?
What information will you need to provide during the first days at work?

Additional information about hiring, integrating and retaining foreign workers and best practices can be found at Hire Immigrants.

Can you provide a list of employers who are hiring for required occupations?

Opportunities Ontario does not maintain a list of eligible employers searching for employees. It is the responsibility of an Ontario employer to apply to Opportunities Ontario, and, if approved, recruit a qualified individual for the approved position. Learn more about the Ontario labour market and occupation classifications.
Can my family immigrate with me?

Accompanying ‘eligible’ family members of nominees may immigrate to Ontario once medical and security checks have been passed. Federal immigration law defines which family members can be included with a permanent resident application. Learn more about ‘eligible’ family members.
What happens to my application when the full quota has been reached?

Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. When the program reaches its target, submitted applications will be assessed in the next calendar year. All applications received will be processed. The processing fee is non-refundable, but guarantees the processing of the application irrespective of the calendar year. You can stay up to date by checking what’s new with Opportunities Ontario.
My work permit is about to expire. What should I do?

Even if nominated by Opportunities Ontario, it is your responsibility to ensure you remain in proper status in Canada until you receive permanent resident status from the federal government. You should either renew, extend or apply for proper temporary resident status throughout your stay in the country. Learn more about work permits in Canada and how to apply.
Do you accept IELTS or TOEFL results as proof of English proficiency?

Only Master’s graduate students require a language proficiency test. Opportunities Ontario accepts only IELTS – General with an overall band score of 7 for English, or TEF with an overall band score of 5 for French, that has been obtained within 12 months of applying.
Can I change jobs or temporarily leave Canada after I submit my application?

Once you become a permanent resident, you can live and work anywhere in Canada. If you leave your current employer during either the nomination process or the permanent residence application process, your nomination and application can be denied by Opportunities Ontario. Prolonged absences from Ontario can also affect your eligibility for the program. You should keep Opportunities Ontario informed.
What documents are required to prove my residency in Ontario?

To prove your intention to settle in Ontario, you will need to demonstrate one year of physical residence in Ontario, in the past two years, and your presence in the province at the time of your application. You should provide credit card statements, leasing documents or bills and accounts with your name and Ontario address. See Page 12, Demonstrating Residence in Ontario.
As a student, does my overseas money count towards the funds requirement?

If the account is in your name, your overseas bank statements will be accepted in support of your nominee application. If you have received financial support from your parents or any family member, you will need to submit a letter of support, stating their ongoing financial support, original bank statements and account balance.
As an international student, my final semester is part-time. Is that okay?

To qualify for Opportunities Ontario, international students are expected to study on a full-time basis. You may be considered eligible for the program if you have proof that course offerings at your university compelled you to complete your final semester on a part-time basis. However, studying part-time by choice rather than by compulsion may affect your eligibility for the program.
How long will it take to process my nomination and permanent resident application?

Opportunities Ontario aims to process nominee and employer applications on a first-come first-served basis within 90 days, provided they are complete. Federal government application processing times vary across visa offices. More information is available at your respective visa office.