Arranged Offer of Employment

If you would like to hire a foreign worker on a permanent basis the company may need to obtain an Arranged Offer of Employment through Service Canada. If approved, the prospective employee would apply for permanent residence under the Skilled Worker category through a visa office abroad. Applicants for permanent residence must meet the requirements for selection as a Skilled Worker immigrant and also demonstrate good health and character.

Foreign workers in Canada on certain temporary work permits may receive extra points on their Skilled Worker immigration application without the need for an employer to obtain an Arranged Offer of Employment. They must have a valid work permit and have an offer of permanent employment from a Canadian employer in order to be eligible for these arranged employment points.

Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program

Are you an employer having trouble finding the skilled workers you need? Are you an investor who wants to bring key employees on a permanent basis? Are you a foreign worker or international student who would like to work permanently in Ontario?

Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program may be the program for you.

Opportunities Ontario: Employers

Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program helps employers meet their human resource needs for workers, by enabling them to recruit foreign workers and international students.

Employers first apply for approval of the positions they intend to fill. If the positions are approved, employers then recruit individuals who must apply to Opportunities Ontario for a nomination. Eligible individuals are nominated, along with their dependants, for permanent resident status.

Companies applying to Opportunities Ontario must:

• Have been in active business for at least 3 years (corporations, limited partnerships and sole proprietorships).
• Have a minimum of $1,000,000 in gross revenue for the most recent fiscal year (for companies inside the Greater Toronto Area), or have a minimum of $500,000 in gross revenue (companies outside the GTA).
• Have a minimum of 5 permanent full-time employees (for companies inside the Greater Toronto Area), or have a minimum of 3 permanent full-time employees (companies outside the GTA).
• Have business premises in Ontario where the prospective nominee will work.

Positions being considered for approval by Opportunities Ontario must:

• Be permanent, full-time positions.
• Be in a skilled occupation.
• Meet prevailing wage levels (for foreign workers) or entry-level wage levels (for international students). Information about wages for a variety of professions can be found on the Service Canada Labour Market Information website.
• Not affect the settlement of any labour dispute or affect the employment of a person involved in such a dispute, or adversely affect employment or training opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Ontario.
• Be necessary for the company's operations.

For more information please visit the Opportunities Ontario: Employers homepage.

Opportunity Ontario: Investors

Ontario is an ideal place to build your business. Our rich labour pool provides most business investors with the skilled and talented employees they need to succeed, right here in Ontario.

But when the investment requires key personnel who are not available in Ontario, you may find yourself in need of foreign workers to supplement your Ontario staff for your business investment to succeed.

That's why the government of Ontario has established Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program. It can help you bring the key employees you need to Ontario quickly, by fast-tracking them through the federal immigration process. You'll have the highly skilled talent you need to protect and grow your business investment.

As an investor, you may be able to take advantage of Opportunities Ontario if:

• the size of the investment is at least $3,000,000;
• it will create at least 5 net permanent, full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents located in Ontario;
• the investment is endorsed by an Ontario government ministry (to get a referral to an Ontario ministry, please contact Opportunities Ontario at 1-866-214-6820/North America or at 1-416-327-0374/worldwide);
• the investment is not a passive investment proposal; this means that if you, as the investor, are seeking a nomination, you must have an active, ongoing and direct responsibility for managing or operating the enterprise in Ontario.

For more information please visit the Opportunities Canada: Investors homepage.