The Ontario Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream allows foreign employees who have a job offer in a given occupation to reside and work in Ontario permanently.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) can nominate foreign nationals who have the requisite work experience to enable them effectively establish and integrate into Ontario’s labor market and communities under the Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream.
What are the Minimum Requirements for the Applicants?
| Work Experience* | Have nine months of total job experience in Ontario within the previous 3 years leading up to the submission of the application. Work experience must be paid, full-time (at least 30 hours of paid work per week, equating to at least 1,200 hours per year) or part-time equivalent** in Ontario, and in an eligible job. |
| Education | Have earned the equivalent of a Canadian secondary school (high school) diploma or above, as evidenced by a valid Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). |
| Valid certificate or license | Hold a valid certificate or license for any work experience claimed in an occupation that requires certification or licensing at the time of application. |
| Language | Have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 or above in all language abilities, either in English or in French (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Valid language test results from government-approved organizations*** are required to demonstrate language competency. |
| Settlement Funds | Have enough money and/or income in Ontario to pay for the settlement. The OINP lists a number of ways to meet this condition, including bank statements, annual earnings from continued work in Ontario, and/or a job offer in Ontario. |
| Intent | A desire to live in Ontario, as evidenced by a list of established links to the province. |
| Legal Status | If the applicant is resident in Canada at the time of application, he or she must have legal status (e.g., a visitor record, study permit, or a work visa) and must keep it until nomination. |
*Seasonal job experience does not count toward the required work experience. The OINP will ask for proof that the work experience is in the same NOC as the employment being offered.
**Part-time equivalent work is defined as at least 15 hours each week in one job over the period of 18 months, equating to at least 1,200 hours of paid work, or at least 30 hours per week in several jobs, equating to at least 1,200 hours of paid work in 9 months.
***For English assessment, use the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP). For French testing, use the Test d’Evaluation du Français (TEF) or the Test de Connaissance du Français (TCF).
What are the Requirements for the Job Offer?
An applicant must have a signed employment offer from both himself and an Ontario employer that fits the following requirements to be eligible to apply to Ontario’s Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream:
- It must be for indefinite full-time employment in an eligible occupation under NOC Skill Level C or D (as listed below); and
- Match or surpass the median pay for the occupation in the Ontario region where the applicant will be employed. If the candidate is currently employed in the position for which the job offer is being made, the compensation offered must be at least as high as the median wage in the area.
What are the Requirements for the Employer?
The Ontario employer must meet the following requirements in order to be qualified for this immigration category:
- Have been operating for 3 years minimum;
- Have a place of business where the applicant will work in Ontario;
- Observe all provincial labor laws, including, but not limited to, employment standards, health and safety regulations, and labor relations laws;
- If the candidate will be working in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the employer must show proof of a minimum of $1,000,000 in gross yearly sales for the previous fiscal year, as well as five permanent full-time workers who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents in the site where the applicant would operate (per job to be filled each calendar year); and
- Should the applicant be working outside the GTA, the employer must prove that it has at least $500,000 in gross annual revenue for the most recent fiscal year, as well as three permanent, full-time workers who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents (per position to be filled each calendar year) at the location where the applicant will work.
How do I Apply?
Should you meet the above requirements, applicants can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the OINP’s online e-Filing Portal. The online profiles will be ranked on a points-based system with the top-ranking candidates receiving an invitation to apply in one of the OINP draws.
Once an invitation is received, the applicant has two weeks to apply for nomination.
If the application is approved by the province, Ontario will inform the applicant that they have been chosen for provincial nomination through the OINP’s online portal.
An applicant must file a federal application for permanent residency after getting a provincial nomination. Applicants in this program must fill out and mail a paper-based application for permanent residence to the relevant application center.
In general, paper-based PNP applications for permanent residency are handled around 18 months.
Here Are Related Topics You Can Read Now
Ontario Employer Job Offer: Human Capital Priorities Stream
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Canadian Immigration Pathways