International Students: Your Path To Ontario Pr

how to get pr in ontario for international students

International students who wish to obtain permanent residence in Ontario, Canada, have several pathways to explore. One option is the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), which is the province's economic immigration program. The OINP offers various streams, including the Masters Graduate Stream and the PhD Graduate Stream, which allow international graduates with a master's or PhD degree from an Ontario university to apply for permanent residence. Additionally, the Employer Job Offer Stream is available for foreign workers with job offers in in-demand occupations in Ontario. International students can also explore the Express Entry system, which includes programs like the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, offering accelerated pathways to permanent residence. These programs often consider factors such as age, language proficiency, and level of education. To increase their chances of success, international students should ensure they meet the conditions of their study permit and carefully review the specific requirements and eligibility criteria for each program.

Characteristics Values
Who can apply for PR in Ontario? Foreign workers, international students, or business owners from outside Canada
What is OINP? Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, the province's economic immigration program
Who does OINP nominate? People with the right skills, experience, and education that the Ontario economy needs
Who makes the final decision to approve applications? The Government of Canada
What is the validity period of the work permit? 180 days
What is the fastest way to obtain Canadian permanent residence? Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program
What are the eligibility factors for the CEC program? Age, language proficiency, and level of education
What is the Federal Skilled Worker Class for? Applicants who are skilled professionals with qualifications and work experience in management positions, professions, or technical and skilled trades
Is Canadian work experience required for the Federal Skilled Worker Class? No
What are the requirements for the Masters Graduate stream? Candidates must have earned a master's degree in Ontario, register in the OINP's Expression of Interest system, show adequate settlement funds, and have legal status in Canada at the time of application
What are the requirements for the PhD Graduate stream? Candidates must have earned a PhD degree in Ontario
What is the requirement for the Employer job offer stream? Candidates must have a job offer that pays equal to or higher than the current median wage in the specific region of Ontario where work will be conducted

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Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is the province's economic immigration program. It works in collaboration with the Government of Canada through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The program recognizes and nominates people with the right skills, experience, and education for permanent residence in Ontario. The Government of Canada makes the final decision to approve applications for permanent residence.

The OINP aims to respond to skill shortages in targeted areas, make it easier to invest in Ontario, and ensure newcomers can settle and integrate well in the province. It offers several streams for immigration, including the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream, the Express Entry Skilled Trades stream, the Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream, and the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream. Each stream has its own unique processing times and requirements.

To be eligible for the OINP, candidates must meet certain criteria. In addition to having the required skills and experience, candidates must have a job offer that pays equal to or higher than the low-wage level in the specific region of Ontario where they will work. Candidates can use the OINP's Stream Selector Tool to identify which stream they may be eligible for based on their credentials.

The application process for the OINP involves creating a profile on the OINP website, choosing the eligible stream, and uploading the required documents. Candidates are then placed in a pool and ranked against other applicants. The highest-ranked candidates are invited to submit an application through the OINP e-Filing Portal. If successful, applicants will receive a Nomination Approval Letter, a work permit support letter, and a nomination certificate by email.

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Post-graduation work permits

International students can apply for permanent residence in Ontario through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The OINP is the province's economic immigration program, which works in collaboration with the Government of Canada through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The IRCC makes policy changes to the International Student Program, including PGWP eligibility and application requirements.

  • Complete a program of study at a PGWP-eligible designated learning institution that was at least eight months long.
  • Maintain full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of your study program. You may study part-time during your final semester.
  • Apply for your PGWP within 180 days of receiving confirmation that you completed your program of study.
  • Ensure that your study permit was valid at some point during the 180 days after you graduated and before you submitted your PGWP application.
  • Prove your English or French language skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7 in English or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 in French across all four language areas.
  • Graduate from a program linked to certain occupations in long-term shortage.

If your passport expires before the full duration of your eligibility, you can apply to extend your PGWP. To do so, you must apply on paper after obtaining a new passport valid for the entire period you are eligible for the work permit.

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Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an immigration stream under the Express Entry system in Canada. It is ideal for candidates who have Canadian work experience and are seeking permanent residence in the country. The CEC is one of the fastest routes to Canadian permanent residence, taking around three to four months to process.

To be eligible for the CEC, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Have obtained at least one year (1,560 hours) of skilled work experience in Canada within 36 months of the application date. This can be gained through full-time or part-time work, or a combination of the two.
  • Meet the language requirement by scoring a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 on an approved English or French language test for NOC skill level 0 or A jobs. For NOC TEER category 2 or 3 jobs, a CLB level of 5 is required.
  • Plan to live and work outside of the province of Quebec. Individuals with work experience in Quebec who plan to reside there may apply to the Quebec Experience Class.
  • Ensure that your work experience meets the requirements for skilled work experience. This includes being paid work (wages or commission), and falling under one or more National Occupational Classification (NOC) categories: Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) 0, 1, 2, or 3.

It is important to note that self-employment and work experience gained while being a full-time student do not count towards the CEC requirements. Additionally, there is no education requirement for the CEC, but if you have studied in Canada, you can gain additional points for a certificate, diploma, or degree.

If you meet the basic eligibility requirements for the CEC, you can apply from anywhere in the world. However, certain fundamental admissibility criteria must be met, including clean criminal records and satisfactory medical conditions.

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Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program

The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is one of the three programs within Canada's Express Entry system for processing immigration applications. The FSW program allows candidates with foreign work experience and no prior connections to Canada to apply for permanent residency.

The FSW program is beneficial for those pursuing immigration as it can lead to permanent residence within six months, which is a shorter processing time compared to other skilled worker programs in Canada. The program is managed under the Express Entry system and uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidates who wish to settle in Canada permanently. It is important to note that FSW candidates are not required to have Canadian work experience to enter the Express Entry pool, unlike the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.

To be eligible for the FSW program, candidates must meet the minimum eligibility requirements, which include scoring at least 67 points on the FSW points grid. This grid considers factors such as age, education, language skills, and work experience. In terms of language skills, candidates must score at least a CLB 7 or higher in each area of the approved language exam. For work experience, candidates must have at least one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) foreign work experience in an occupation skill type A, B, or 0. This work experience must be paid and within the past 10 years, totalling at least 1,560 hours or 30 hours per week.

Once an applicant submits an Express Entry profile, they will receive a CRS score. The Canadian government holds Express Entry draws approximately every two weeks, inviting the candidates with the highest CRS scores to apply for permanent residence. If an applicant receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA), they have 60 days to submit their full application and documentation to the Government of Canada. The standard processing time for Express Entry applications is six months from the receipt of the application to the issuance of a permanent residence visa.

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Job offer streams

International students with a job offer in Ontario may be eligible for the Employer Job Offer: International Student stream, which is part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). This program is designed to help international students with job offers in skilled occupations to apply for permanent residence in Ontario.

To be eligible for this stream, international students must meet certain requirements. Firstly, they must have a valid job offer from an eligible Ontario employer. The job offer must be for a full-time position in a skilled occupation, with a wage that meets the industry standards and entry-level wage levels in Ontario for that specific occupation. The job must be classified as Type/Level 0, A or B according to Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC). Additionally, if the position requires a licence to practice in Ontario, the applicant must hold a valid licence, certificate, or authorisation.

The employer must also meet certain criteria. They must have been in active business for at least three years, have business premises in Ontario where the applicant will work, and have no outstanding orders against them under relevant legislation such as the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000. It is important to note that self-employed professionals are not eligible under this stream.

Once the student has received an invitation to apply and has ensured that both they and their employer meet the criteria, they can proceed with the application process. They must register in the OINP's expression of interest system and, if invited to apply, submit their application online through the OINP e-Filing Portal within two years of completing their educational requirements. The application process typically takes around three hours to complete, and applicants have 14 calendar days to submit their application once they have registered.

Frequently asked questions

The OINP is Ontario's economic immigration program. It works in collaboration with the Government of Canada to recognise and nominate people for permanent residence who have the skills and experience the Ontario economy needs.

The OINP has several streams, including the Masters Graduate stream, the PhD Graduate stream, and the Job Offer stream. The Masters and PhD Graduate streams are for international graduates from an Ontario university with a master's or PhD degree. The Job Offer stream is for candidates with eligible job offers in Ontario from employers willing to nominate them.

Candidates must first register in the OINP's Expression of Interest system and then apply online to be nominated by the Ontario government.

International students in Canada are often eligible to apply for a post-graduation work permit, which can help them gain valuable work experience. Many of Canada's permanent residency immigration programs favour applicants with Canadian work experience or educational credentials. The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) programs are two examples of such programs.

It is important to ensure that you meet the conditions of your study permit throughout your stay in Canada, as violating these terms can jeopardise future immigration applications. Additionally, it is recommended to start preparing your application for permanent residence up to three years in advance.

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