Foreign Workers

Ontario Foreign Workers is one of the Employer Job Offer streams of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) operated by the province of Ontario. Foreign Workers targets foreign nationals with skilled work experience who possess a valid job offer from an Ontario employer.

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Candidates who are successfully nominated through the Ontario Foreign Workers stream will be invited to submit an official application for Canadian permanent residence.

Program Requirements

Requirement
Express Entry ProfileNo
Connection to ProvinceNo
Job OfferYes
Language ProficiencyNo minimum
Level of EducationNo minimum
Work ExperienceNOC 0, A, or B
2 years
Investment RequirementNone
  The Ontario Foreign Workers stream has certain requirements which must be met by both the foreign national applicant and the Ontario employer.

Applicant Requirements

Job Offer

In order to qualify for the Ontario Foreign Worker stream, a foreign national must have a valid job offer from an Ontario employer. The job offer must be for a full-time position, paid at or above the median wage level for that occupation in Ontario. The position must be at National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level 0, A, or B.

Work Experience or Licence

Any person applying to this stream must meet one of the two following requirements:

  1. Work Experience: The candidate must have a cumulative amount of at least 2 years of full-time, skilled work experience obtained within the previous 5 years. This work experience must be in the same NOC code as the occupation listed on their Ontario job offer.
  2. Licence or Authorization: The candidate must show that they hold a valid licence, certificate, or authorization to practice the profession indicated on their Ontario job offer. The licence must have been issued by an eligible regulatory body in Ontario.

Intention to Reside

All applicants to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) must prove their intention to reside in the province. This can be shown through connections to the province (relatives, past education, etc.), investment in the province (purchase of property), or efforts to participate in Ontario society (volunteering, work experience, etc.).

Employer Requirements

In order for a candidate to apply to the Ontario Foreign Worker stream, they must have a valid job offer from an eligible Ontario employer.

Job Offer Requirements

The employer must offer a full-time, indeterminate position with a wage that meets industry standards.

Business Requirements

The business must be established and in good standing in Ontario with a history of good workplace and business practices. The business must also meet minimum gross annual revenue and employee requirements:

  • Inside of the Greater Toronto Area: A minimum of $1 million CAD in gross annual revenue, and; At least five full-time employees.
  • Outside of the Greater Toronto Area: A minimum of $500,000 CAD in gross annual revenue, and; At least three full-time employees.

Recruitment Requirements

The employer must demonstrate that reasonable efforts were made to recruit a Canadian to fill the position prior to offering the position to a foreign national unless the foreign national already has authorization to work in Ontario.

Did you know?

Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA): If an LMIA is necessary for the work permit of the foreign national, then a copy of the positive LMIA must be included with the application.

Application Procedure

Eligible applicants can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through OINP’s e-Filing Portal for the chance to be invited to apply for nomination. Profiles are ranked on an OINP points-based system. The highest-ranking candidates will be issued an invitation to apply in one of the OINP draws.

Once an invitation is received, the applicant has 14 calendar days to apply for nomination.

If the province approves the application, Ontario will notify the applicant they have been selected for provincial nomination. This notification will be sent to the applicant’s ONe-Key account within the e-Filing Portal.

After receiving a provincial nomination, an applicant must submit a federal application for Canadian permanent residence. Applicants in this program must complete and submit a paper-based application for permanent residence and submit it by mail to the appropriate application centre. Paper-based PNP applications for permanent residence are generally processed within 18 months.

Ontario Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream Ranking System

FactorMaximum Points
Job offerNOC skill level10
NOC type10
Wage10
Canadian Work Experience Length4
NOC skill level3
Earnings history3
Regional Immigration Location of job offer10
Strategic ProritiesOntario may award additional points to address labour market needs as required10
Total Available Points60

Ontario Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker Stream - Recent Draws & Invitation History

Below is the information regarding recent Ontario Employer Job Offer draws under the Foreign Worker categories.

Date of drawNumber of invitations issuedDate profile createdMinimum score Description
April 4, 20236November 22, 2022 – April 4, 2023N/ATargeted draw for Economic Mobility Pathways.
Project candidates. Please refer to IRCC’s project page for more information
March 14, 20232November 22, 2022 – March 14, 2023N/ATargeted draw for Economic Mobility Pathways.
Project candidates. Please refer to IRCC’s project page for more information
February 10, 2023304November 22, 2022 - February 10, 202330 and aboveTargeted draw for tech and health occupations.
Please refer to the OINP Program Update page for a list of targeted occupations.
February 10, 20231November 22, 2022 - February 10, 2023N/ATargeted draw for Economic Mobility Pathways.
Project candidates. Please refer to IRCC’s project page for more information
January 31, 2023611November 22, 2022 - January 31, 202353Targeted draw for tech and health occupations.
Please refer to the OINP Program Update page for a list of targeted occupations.
January 24, 20232November 22, 2022 - January 24, 2023N/AFederal Economic Mobility Pathways Project under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream.
January 10, 20232November 22, 2022 – January 10, 2023N/AEconomic Mobility Pathways Project candidates targeted
September 27, 20223N/AN/AEconomic Mobility Pathways Project candidates targeted
August 30, 20221N/AN/AEconomic Mobility Pathways Project candidates targeted
27 June 20222July 27, 2021 – July 27, 2022 N/AEconomic Mobility Pathways Project candidates targeted
29 June 20222June 9, 2021 –June 29, 2022 N/AEconomic Mobility Pathways Project candidates targeted
30 March 2022155April 28, 2021 – March 30, 2022 23Select skilled trades occupations targeted
1 March 2022456April 28, 2021 – March 1, 2022 39General Draw
22 February 20228October 22, 2021 – February 22, 2022N/AEconomic Mobility Pathways Project candidates targeted
9 February 2022476April 28, 2021 – February 9, 202224 Select skilled trades occupations targeted
9 February 2022166April 28, 2021 – February 9, 202241 General Draw
January 11, 2022 264April 28, 2021 – January 11, 2022 38General Draw
December 7, 2021470April 28, 2021 – December 7, 2021 37 General Draw
December 7, 202133April 28, 2021 – December 7, 2021 N/ARegional Immigration Pilot candidates targeted
October 20, 20214April 28, 2021 – October 20, 2021 N/AEconomic Mobility Pathways Project candidates targeted
21 September 2021406April 28, 2021-September 21, 2021 37 General Draw
21 September 202136April 28, 2021-September 21, 2021N/ARegional Immigration Pilot candidates targeted
6 August 20211April 28, 2021 – August 6, 2021N/AEconomic Mobility Pathways Project candidates targeted
13 July 202124April 28, 2021 – July 13, 2021 N/ARegional Immigration Pilot candidates targeted
13 July 20211,211April 28, 2021 – July 13, 2021 33General draw
16 June 2021569April 28, 2021 – June 16, 2021 38General draw
25 May 202164April 28, 2021 – May 25, 2021 N/ARegional Immigration Pilot candidates targeted
11 May 202181April 28, 2021 – May 11, 2021 31Select health and skilled trades occupations targeted

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