Immigrating to Canada through Provincial Nominee Programs

Canada comprises multiple provinces and territories, each operating its own Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The initial step is to apply to the specific province or territory under the relevant program. If you meet the program's criteria, the province will nominate you. The next step is to apply to the federal government, which will review the nomination and conduct medical, criminal, and security screenings.

Ontario, with a population of over 13.5 million, is the most multicultural province in Canada. Approximately 40% of the 250,000 new immigrants who arrive each year choose to settle in Ontario. Toronto, known as the most multicultural city in the world, boasts over 100 spoken languages and dialects. If you are considering moving to Ontario, this section provides information on the immigration process and available options. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is an immigration program through which Ontario nominates individuals and their families for permanent resident status based on the province's labour market and economic development priorities. Some streams under this program target skilled workers, students, or businesses.

The process of immigrating to Canada as a permanent resident through provincial programs involves two steps. Applicants first receive a PNP nomination, which can be used to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system.

Ontario offers opportunities for the following individuals to live and work permanently in the province:
Skilled workers proficient in English
Skilled workers proficient in French
Master's degree graduates in Ontario
Ph.D. graduates in Ontario
Foreign workers with a job offer
International students with a job offer

Applicants applying through the Masters Graduate Stream and Ph.D. Graduate Stream can apply without a job offer. On the other hand, skilled workers must possess the required education, skilled work experience, language proficiency, and other characteristics that will enable them to successfully establish themselves and integrate into Ontario's labour market and communities.

The Ontario Nominee Program also assists employers in meeting their workforce needs by enabling them to recruit foreign workers and international students. Skilled foreign workers with a full-time job offer from an Ontario employer can apply to work and live permanently in the province. The Ontario Nominee Program recently introduced a new stream specifically targeting in-demand occupations in the agricultural and construction sectors.

Please note that the Province of Ontario charges a non-refundable application fee of $1,500, which covers the processing cost of your application.

Provincial Nominee Programs Frequently Asked Question