the CanadaVisa Team - 23 July, 2015
What was originally launched as the Ontario Pilot Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in May 2007 has now been retooled to broaden its qualifying criteria and to accept twice the amount of applicants annually.
The new Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is made up of two categories: the General Category for Ontario employers and investors who wish to hire skilled foreign workers; and the International Student Category for those seeking to hire international graduates.
Whereas previously, only those Ontario employers who were seeking to hire foreign skilled workers in a list of 20 occupations in the health, education, manufacturing, and construction sectors could qualify, now the General Category is open for all managerial, professional, and skilled occupations (listed as NOC A, B, or 0). Applicants must have at least two years of work experience in any occupation.
To hire international students, positions must be in skilled occupations (NOC A, B, or 0); however, they no longer have to be related to the student's field of study in Canada. International student applicants are not required to have any previous work experience. Their publicly-funded Canadian university or college can be anywhere in Canada, not only Ontario.
Under the General category, investors in Ontario can recruit key employees to become permanent residents in Ontario. Investments must create jobs for Ontarians and be endorsed by an Ontario Government Ministry. Previously, investor applicants were required to invest $10 million or more in the province and create at least 25 permanent full-time jobs. These requirements have been reduced under the new Ontario PNP to a $3 million investment and the creation of at least 5 new permanent full-time jobs.
The Ontario PNP fee structure has also been revised. Foreign Worker Nominee application fees remain at $2,000, unless the employer is outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), in which case the fee is $1,500. International Student Nominee applications are now $1,500 and Investor Nominee applications are $3,500.
With the new target, Ontario plans to welcome 1,000 nominees as permanent residents in 2009.
Being nominated under the Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) entitles individuals to priority processing for Canadian permanent residency.
