CanadaPermanent ResidencyExpress Entry Draws

The new Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program is an immigration program that works in conjunction with Express Entry and enables Ontario to nominate individuals as well as their families for Canadian permanent residence, on the basis that they already have a pre-approved job offer for the province.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for applying to the Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program:

Step 1: Apply for Express Entry

The first step is to register for Express Entry. Upon registration, you’ll receive your Express Entry Profile Number and your Job Seeker Validation Code – both are needed to complete your provincial nominee application. In order to qualify, you must also be eligible for either the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

NOTE: When registering for Express Entry, it’s important to indicate you’d like to reside in either ‘All Provinces and Territories’, or preferably Ontario. 

Step 2: The selection process

If you submitted your Express Entry profile after June 1, 2015, and you meet the criteria of the Human Capital Priorities Stream, you will be able to apply for the program. You’ll be selected based on your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, and if you have over 400 points, your profile will automatically be considered for Opportunities Ontario. The best part? You don’t need to do ANYTHING apart from submitting your Express Entry profile.

Step 3: Your application

After submitting your profile, you will receive a PT via Express Entry. This has been described as being very similar to the ITA process. Once you’ve received yours, you’ll then have 45 days to complete and submit your application for the Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program through the Human Capital Priorities Stream.

When you submit your Nominee Application form, you must ensure that you have all the necessary supporting documents that are required for your application. You must also indicate which federal immigration program you’d like to be assessed against (either FSWP or CEC).

NOTE: There is an additional fee of $1,500.00 that must be paid to Citizenship and Immigration Canada when applying for the OOPNP. This can be paid via a money order, cashier or certified cheque, or via a postal money order or bank draft payable to the Ontario Minister of Finance. 

The application package

Your application is made up of two essential elements; the application form itself, and the required supporting documents.

To learn more about the specific supporting documents you will need, please refer to this guideline.

Upon completion of your application form, you should mail your application, along with all the supporting documents, to:

Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program  

Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade

400 University Avenue, Ground Floor

Toronto, ON M7A 2R9

Once OOPNP have received your application, it will be assessed using the Human Capital Priorities Stream eligibility criteria. It will also be checked that you meet the criteria for either the FSWP or CEC.

NOTE: Your assessment may take up to 90 days. 

Step 4: Nomination and ITA

If your Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee application is approved, you will receive a notification via your MyCIC account to notify you of your PNP nomination. You will then have 30 days to accept the Ontario nomination via the Express Entry system.

Due to your nomination, you will receive an extra 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points and an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Upon receipt, you will have 60 days to apply for permanent resident status.

Are You Interested in the New Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program?

If you interested in immigrating to Canada through the new opportunities Ontario provincial nominee program, we at Visaplace can help. We have helped hundreds of individuals and their families successfully immigrate to Canada through the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program. Our experienced immigration lawyers will be able to assess your case and recommend a course of action to best serve your needs.

The first step towards your Ontario Provincial Nominee Program application is getting an assessment of your case. Fill out our free immigration assessment form and we will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your eligibility and options.

President & CEO

Michael Niren

Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.