Overview of Ontario
Ontario is Canada's primary economic hub, hosting the Toronto financial district and the Silicon Valley North technology sector in Ottawa and Waterloo. Over 40% of all new immigrants to Canada choose Ontario.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) & Express Entry
Under Canada's federal-provincial immigration agreement, Ontario manages specialized nomination streams for skilled workers, healthcare professionals, international graduates, and entrepreneurs. A provincial nomination awards 600 additional CRS points in your federal Express Entry pool.
Active PNP Nomination Streams:Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). Active streams include Human Capital Priorities (Express Entry), Employer Job Offer (Foreign Worker & International Student), and Masters/PhD Graduate streams.
Expat Settlement & Compliance Steps
- Locate your nearest ServiceOntario center for health cards and DriveTest center for licensing.
- Gather original copies of your Work/Study Permit, passport, lease agreement, and bank statement.
- For non-reciprocal licenses, request an official Driving History Extract from your home country licensing authority before arriving in Canada.
- Submit your application. Your health card number is issued immediately; the physical card arrives in 4-6 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ontario
Under the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the provincial government nominates qualifying skilled workers, international graduates, and experienced professionals for Canadian Permanent Residence. A successful provincial nomination grants an automatic 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points in your federal Express Entry pool.
Public healthcare in Ontario covers medically necessary physician services and hospital visits. New residents, work permit holders (with at least 6 months validity), and permanent residents must apply for provincial health coverage immediately upon arrival. Some provinces enforce up to a 3-month waiting period before coverage activates.
Retail sales tax in Ontario depends on provincial tax law. Certain provinces use a single Harmonized Sales Tax (HST, e.g. Ontario 13%, Atlantic Canada 15%), while others charge separate Provincial Sales Tax (PST) alongside the 5% federal GST (e.g. BC 7% PST + 5% GST). Alberta levies 0% PST.
Yes. Foreign driver's licenses can be exchanged for a Ontario driver's license. Reciprocal license agreements exist for countries like the US, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, and South Korea. Drivers from non-reciprocal countries can credit previous driving experience toward the provincial Graduated Licensing System (GLS).
Employment in Ontario is regulated under provincial employment standards legislation covering statutory minimum wage, overtime pay (after 8 hours/day or 44 hours/week), statutory holiday pay, annual vacation entitlement (minimum 2 weeks), and termination notice requirements.
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