How Ontario’s permanent residency pilot program could help international students

What is the REDI pilot program and how does it work?

The REDI pilot program processes applications through the OINP’s Employer Job Offer streams. Participating regions will receive an additional 200 nominations, which employers can use to offer job opportunities in sectors with high demand for workers.

“These regions are Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton, and Thunder Bay, located in the rural northern Ontario region. If approved, applicants will receive a provincial nomination, which they can use to apply for PR with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC),” said Kapurthala-based educational consultant Gurpreet Singh.

By offering additional nominations, the REDI program will assist local employers with recruitment. It also seeks to help these regions grow economically by bringing in skilled workers. Estimates suggest it could add up to 100 billion CAD to Ontario’s GDP over the next five years.

Who can apply for the REDI pilot program?

International students, foreign workers, and those with in-demand skills can apply. To be eligible, applicants must meet the requirements for one of the OINP’s Employer Job Offer streams and have a valid job offer from an employer in one of the targeted regions. Additionally, they must plan to live in Ontario, and if the job is regulated, they need to be licensed or authorised to practice in the province.

• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream

  • Full-time, permanent job offer in a TEER (training, education, experience and responsibilities) 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation

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  • Job must align with the employer’s needs and be critical to their business

  • Wage must meet or exceed the median wage for the position in Ontario

  • Candidate must have at least two years of relevant work experience or a valid license if required for the job

• Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream

  • Full-time, permanent job offer in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation

  • Candidate must have graduated from a recognised Ontario institution within the last two years

  • Job must meet the minimum wage for the position

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  • The job must be essential for the employer’s operations

• Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

  • Full-time, permanent job offer in an eligible occupation

  • Position must pay at least the median wage for the role in Ontario

  • Candidate must have at least nine months of relevant work experience, a high school diploma, and language proficiency of CLB 4 or higher

Applicants can visit Canada’s Job Bank website and search for the job title and NOC code to confirm whether the wage meets the program’s standards.

How it could help international students

The REDI pilot program gives opportunities to international students who have graduated from an Ontario institution to apply for PR in Canada.

“If one has completed a program at an eligible Ontario college or university, one may be eligible under the Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream. This pathway helps international students stay in Ontario and contribute to the province’s growth… By offering a permanent job in a critical industry, one could make an impact in rural or northern Ontario, while securing one’s future in Canada,” said Tirath Singh of Pinnacle Immigration, Jalandhar.

He added that the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows some provinces in Canada to nominate individuals for immigration based on their specific labour needs and students must keep an eye out for such programs in other provinces too.