• A brochure is available for foreign workers

If you are a foreign worker, you may be able to apply to Opportunities Ontario for nomination as a permanent resident, under the General Category. However, it is important to understand that Opportunities Ontario is employer-driven. This means that if you are seeking nomination, you can apply only if:

• Your prospective employer has first applied for pre-screening of a position. Investors need to have their investment endorsed.
• The position has been approved.
• Your prospective employer sends 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.

About the process

If you are seeking nomination as a foreign worker under the General Category, here is some information that will help you complete the application process:

• Who can apply as a foreign worker?
• What documents do I need to submit?
• Is there a deadline for applications?
• What are the fees?
• What happens after I am approved?

Learn more

Do you have more questions? You will find an Application Guide for Nominees on this website. You can also visit our Questions and Answers section and find information in other languages. 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.

About using a representative

Applicants are not required to hire a representative. All applications are treated equally, regardless of whether or not they were prepared with the assistance of an authorized representative. Opportunities Ontario reserves the right to contact the employer or prospective nominee directly regarding the application, if the program considers this necessary.

If you do choose to use a representative, you must use an authorized representative. Opportunities Ontario follows Canadian government regulations requiring all paid immigration representatives to meet the definition of “authorized representative”. This means that Opportunities Ontario will only conduct business with paid immigration representatives who are the following:

•   Immigration consultants who are members in good standing of
     the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC),

•   Lawyers who are licensees in good standing of a Canadian
    provincial or territorial law society and students-at-law under their
    supervision, and

•   Quebec notaries.
    

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 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.
• An approved permanent full-time job offer in a skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B).
• An offered wage which meets the prevailing wage level for the intended occupation.
• Legal status, if the prospective nominee is in Canada.
• The employer’s approval letter, Joint Verification form signed by their prospective employer, and Pre-screen Position form.

- back to top -

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.

- back to top -

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.

- back to top -

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.

- back to top -

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.

- back to top -