The French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream of the Ontario Express Entry is for French-speaking skilled workers who have a strong command of the English language and want to establish themselves and settle in Ontario.
What are the Minimum Requirements?
Candidates must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream in Ontario. You must:
- meet all the eligibility requirements for one of the Federal High Skilled programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). If you are applying through the FSWP, you must get at least 67 points based on IRCC’s Federal Skilled Worker selection factors, such as:
- education;
- work experience;
- language ability;
- age;
- arranged Canadian employment; and
- adaptability
- possess all the stream’s work experience requirements;
- demonstrate a CLB 7 or higher level of language proficiency in French and a CLB 6 or higher level of language ability in English in all four components (speaking, reading, writing, and listening). Valid test results (less than two years old) from one of the following recognized testing agencies are required to demonstrate language competency. The recognized testing agencies are:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) (General test only) for English; and
- Test d’Evaluation Du Français (TEF) or Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada) for French.
- hold a Canadian Bachelor’s, Masters’ or Doctorate degree OR foreign education and certification equivalent as accompanied by a valid Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report created by a designated organization;
- have the intention to reside in Ontario by providing documentation that demonstrates ties to Ontario;
- hold and maintain legal status in Canada from the time of application to nomination;
- show proof of sufficient financial ability to reside and establish oneself in Ontario. This criterion can be completed through one or a combination of requirements dictated by the OINP, like annual Ontario employment earnings, job offers from Ontario employers, or bank statements. The settlement funds meet the minimum sum required for each family size, which is updated annually.
Is there a Minimum Work Requirement?
Federal Skilled Worker Program
Candidates in the Express Entry pool who want to be evaluated under the FSWP must show proof of:
- Full-time, continuous, paid work of at least one year (or part-time equivalent) within the previous 5 years in Canada or overseas before the date of the NOI from Ontario;
- Full-time work refers to at least 30-hour workweeks and a minimum of 1,560 hours per year. Remember that the 1,560 hours cannot be eligible if acquired in less than a year or if done as volunteer work.
- Continuous work means that there should be no gaps between periods of employment. While back-to-back gapless jobs with the same or different employers are allowed, you should at least acquire one year in the same National Occupational Classification (NOC) class as the NOC you gave declared in your Express Entry profile.
- Part-time equivalent work implies that:
1. you acquire at least 15 hours of work per week in one job and a total of at least 1,560 hours of paid work in two years or;
2. at least 30 hours of paid work per week in various concurrent jobs and at least 1,560 hours of paid work per year.
- Work experience in the declared NOC type, either Level 0, A, or B. The duties performed in the declared job must correspond to the duties in the lead statements for the job and as outlined in the NOC type.
Canadian Experience Class
Candidates in the Express Entry pool who want to be evaluated using the CEC must show proof of:
- working in Canada while having legal status.
- cumulative, paid, full-time work of at least one year within the last three years in Canada prior to application, or part-time equivalent;
○ Full-time work comprises at least 30 hours of work in one job over the course of one week and at least 1,560 hours of paid work annually. Volunteer work and unpaid internships do not qualify as valid work.
○ Cumulative experience means that a total of one year of work experience is required. Work experience does not have to be continuous, and there can be breaks in employment.○ Part-time equivalent work implies that:
1. you acquire at least 15 hours of work per week in one job and a total of at least 1,560 hours of paid work in two years or;
2. at least 30 hours of paid work per week in various concurrent jobs and at least 1,560 hours of paid work per year.
How do I Apply to this Stream?
It’s important to know that this stream does not accept direct applications. Instead, individuals must wait for the OINP to send them a Notification of Interest (NOI) based on their Express Entry profile.
To apply for this OINP Express Entry-aligned stream, foreign nationals must have a valid Express Entry profile and an NOI letter. The OINP scans the Express Entry pool for eligible candidates who match the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream’s eligibility requirements.
An NOI is only valid for 45 calendar days, so an application to the OINP must be submitted within that time frame.
Candidates in the Express Entry pool who have received an NOI should familiarize themselves with the program’s requirements and document checklists ahead of time so that they can submit an application for the stream for which they qualify.
Candidates get a Nomination Approval Letter and an OINP Certificate of Nomination by email if they are nominated. In the Express Entry procedure, candidates have 30 calendar days to accept the nomination.
If their nomination is accepted, Express Entry candidates will get an additional 600 CRS points and an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence at a later draw from the pool.
Within 60 days of getting the ITA, submit an application to IRCC for permanent residence in Canada.
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