Ontario is one of the most popular provinces in Canada, with vast economic activities. This province hogs the limelight of immigrants because of popular destinations such as Toronto, Ottawa, Niagara Falls, Hamilton, etc. Therefore, thousands of immigrants make Ontario their home each year to begin a new life. Being an economic hub, it unleashes massive job opportunities with handsome salaries for newcomers on a daily basis.
Most immigrants prefer to settle in Ontario than any other province as permanent residents through Express Entry and PNP. In the future years, Ontario will be inviting newcomers on a large scale through its PNP program. Ontario has a PNP program with multiple streams allowing a different set of people.
Every year, the federal government offers PNP allocations to provinces and territories supporting to PNP system. This year, i.e., 2023, Ontario will be allowing 16,500 new immigrants through its major streams under PNP. However, this is the first time the federal government has provided a multi-year allocation plan to provinces/territories. Since the multi-year allocation, provinces and territories are publishing their temporary allocation for the next three years.
As per the multi-year allocation plan, Ontario will be accepting more than 18,000 new immigrants by the end of 2025. Although the province didn’t disclose its provisional allocation for 2024.
Since the pandemic, Canada has been confronting a workforce shortage through immigration. Inviting skilled foreign workers is the only practical and approachable method to ease a workforce shortage. At the present time, there are approximately 300,000 vacant positions in Ontario. In order to suppress the workforce shortage, the province needs skilled workers from the industries like healthcare, technology, and skilled trades.
Ontraio’s immigration minister, MR. Monte McNaughton said in a media release that Ontario is significantly inviting skilled workers who can directly contribute to the development of the province socially and economically. From inviting 9,000 new immigrants in 2022 to offering nominations to more than 18,000 newcomers in 2023, we have seen a drastic changeover in the province’s immigration plan over the years.
He further added that I would like to thank Mr. Sean Fraser and the federal government on behalf of Premier Ford and the people of Ontario for increasing the PNP allocation.
In the year 2021, the Ontario immigration minister requested the federal government to double its PNP allocation. The PNP allocation in 2022 was only 9,750. Ontario accomplished its PNP allocation target in 2022 by bringing in 3,900 skilled trades workers, 2,200 IT, and software workers, and approximately 100 nurses and personal support workers.
The immigration minister, Mr. Sean Fraser, said that immigration was and will remain effective in grappling with the workforce shortage. It will help to manage the workforce shortage effectively and build a strong economy for the future.
Let’s have a look through the Ontario PNP
The OINP is the economic immigration program of Ontario, and it has a partnership with the federal government. People who wish to settle in Ontario permanently to work, study, and stay can ask for nomination from Ontario. There are multiple streams under the OINP but with different eligibility requirements. Before you opt for any stream to immigrate to Canada, ensure you satisfy the stream’s needs.
Ontario has the privilege of nominating candidates who can easily integrate into the workforce. This province usually offers nominations to those candidates who can fill in-demand occupations vacancy shortly. Despite having the right to nominate candidates, the final decision is taken by the IRCC. The IRCC is responsible for managing Canadian immigration. So, once you have got the nomination, you can submit your application with the mandatory documents to the IRCC.
Applying for Canadian PR via the PNP route is considered a two-step process. The first step is to apply for the nomination from the province. The second step is to submit the application to the IRCC for immigration.
In order to get the nomination from the province, you will have to share your expression of interest. You can express your interest via either Express Entry or Ontario’s EOI system. There are multiple Ontario PNP streams that are interlinked with the EE system.
Popular Streams of this Program that are Interlinked with the EE are as follows:
Human Capital Priorities Stream: In order to apply through this stream under Ontario PNP, you must have at least one year of full-time work experience in the occupation listed in the NOC TEER categories. Also, there is no job offer you need to be eligible for this stream.
French-Skilled Worker Program: This stream allows candidates with language proficiency in both official languages. The official languages are English and French.
Skilled Trades: This stream is mainly for those candidates with an adequate amount of work experience in the skilled trades.
Major streams with the Ontario EOI System:
Master’s Graduate: To be eligible for this stream, you must be a master’s graduate from a designated learning institution in Ontario within the past two years.
Ph.D. Graduate: This stream allows those candidates who got Ph.D. Graduate from a designated learning institute in Ontario within the past two years.
International Student: This stream under the Ontario PNP allows international students with a valid job offer letter.
Foreign Workers: Under this stream, foreign workers with a work experience in an occupation listed in NOC TEER categories can apply.
In-demand Skills: To be eligible to apply via this stream, you must have work experience in an in-demand occupation with a valid job offer.
Before you apply via any stream, ensure you stand in line with the requirements. Each stream has got different eligibility criteria. Therefore, before you choose, please refer to its requirements.
If you wish to immigrate to Canada in 2023 as a permanent resident, you can connect with us to know about your eligibility for a Canada PR visa. Our immigration professionals will help you to find the most suitable immigration pathway.
