Opportunities Ontario: Applying as a Foreign Worker

Who can apply as a foreign worker?

To be eligible as a foreign worker, prospective nominees in the General Category must demonstrate that they qualify for the approved position by providing evidence that they have:

• At least two years (24 months) of work experience (within the previous five years) in the intended occupation, or have appropriate registration in Ontario, if applying for a position in a regulated occupation in Ontario.
  • For work experience obtained abroad and in Canada, Opportunities Ontario will only accept full-time work experience that is verifiable, relevant, and paid. Unpaid or volunteer experience will not be accepted. In addition, for work experience obtained in Canada, Opportunities Ontario will only accept Canadian work experience that is obtained with proper work authorization from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (e.g., work permit) within the most recent five years.
• A permanent full-time job offer in a skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B) that Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program has approved and that is still valid.
  • Foreign workers already working in the position that Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program approved need to be paid a wage that is equal to or greater than the wage approved for that position. So if the wage for the position was approved at $25/hour, the temporary worker in that position will need to be paid $25/hour or more before the program nominates them.
• Have legal status, if the prospective nominee is in Canada (e.g., a work permit, temporary resident visa). Refugee claimants and asylum seekers are not eligible for the program.
• The employer’s approval letter, Joint Verification form signed by their prospective employer, and Pre-screen Position form.

What documents do I need to submit?

Once your prospective employer has submitted the Employer Pre-Screen Application Form and has been approved by Opportunities Ontario, your prospective employer will send you the employer’s approval letter, Joint Verification form signed by your prospective employer, and Pre-screen Position form. You can then visit the Forms and Guides page of this website to complete and download the nominee application form.

You will need to submit the following original documents provided by your employer:

• Employer Pre-Screen Approved Position Form.
• Joint Verification Form.
• Job offer which will indicate your prospective occupation title and wage for the full-time, permanent position being offered.

You will also need to submit the following supporting documents, along with your application, to demonstrate that you meet Opportunities Ontario eligibility criteria and to confirm your identity, family situation and work experience:

• A copy of your Birth certificate.
• A copy of all the pages of your passport. All prospective nominees should ensure that their passports will be valid for at least two years from the time that they submit their nominee application.
• Copy of each dependant’s passport page which shows his/her photo and personal information.
• A copy of your work permit (if applicable), temporary resident visa (if applicable), and/or any other Canadian immigration document or entry stamp you have received. If these documents are inside your copied passport, you do not need to make additional copies.
• A copy of your resumé.
• Proof of membership and/or registration in regulated occupations if you intend to work in an occupation that requires registration or certification in Ontario.
• Reference letters showing at least 2 years of experience in the previous 5 years for your intended occupation. For work experience obtained in Canada, Opportunities Ontario will accept full-time work experience that is verifiable, relevant, paid and obtained with proper work authorization from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (e.g., work permit) within the most recent five years. Unpaid, unauthorized or volunteer experience will not be accepted.(Updated on Aug. 4, 2010)

Is there a deadline for applications?

As a prospective nominee, you have 60 days after the date of issue of the Employer Pre-screen Approved Position Form to submit a completed application to Opportunities Ontario. If the nominee application is not received in connection with a position after 60 days, Opportunities Ontario may reassign the nominee position.

If a prospective nominee cannot submit a completed application within 60 days, either the 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 the extension is discretionary and no further extension will be granted.

Opportunities Ontario 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.

What are the fees?

Opportunities Ontario will charge a non-refundable processing fee, payable with each nominee application. The fee is $2,000 for all General Category applicants who will be working for an employer located in the GTA and $1,500 for all General Category applicants who will be working for an employer located outside the GTA. For employees of investors, the fee is $3,500.

What happens after I am approved?

A Provincial Nomination Certificate will be issued for all successful nominees. Successful nominees must then apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for permanent residence. A successful provincial nomination replaces the selection component under other immigration classes (such as the Federal Skilled Worker Class, and the Family Class). Provincial nominees will receive priority processing from CIC.

For more information, please visit our Nominees: What’s next section of our website.