Newcomers - ontario.ca

The “Newcomers” page on Ontario.ca is the provincial government’s official gateway for immigrants and refugees settling in the province of Ontario. It consolidates key information about settlement services, employment opportunities, language training, professional-licensing/credential recognition, community integration and accessing public services in the Ontario context.
The content is managed by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) and other provincial ministries that support newcomers.

Key features

• Settlement program overview: Information on how newcomers can get settled in their community, find housing, register children in school, access childcare, and other orientation supports.
• Ontario Bridge Training: Program description for internationally trained skilled newcomers aiming to regain or obtain licensure or certification in Ontario.
• Language training: Details on courses available in English and French for newcomers to develop the language skills needed to work and live in Ontario.
• Global Experience Ontario: Explanation of supports for internationally educated individuals to evaluate and progress toward recognition of professional credentials.
• Interpreter & translation supports: Services to ensure newcomers with limited English/French or hearing/vision impairments can access settlement supports.

Strengths

• The guidance is province-wide, meaning it covers all of Ontario (urban, suburban and rural communities), so newcomers can find information relevant across the province.
• Managed by the official provincial government, ensuring information is up to date, reliable and aligned with provincial policy and programs.
• The site addresses a wide range of newcomer needs—from immediate settlement tasks (housing, schools, health) to mid-/longer-term supports (credential recognition, employment, language).
• Bilingual orientation—English and French content is available, reflecting Ontario’s dual-official-language environment in certain contexts.

Considerations

• The portal functions as information and referral rather than a direct service provider—users still need to contact local settlement agencies for one-on-one support.
• Eligibility, program availability, delivery languages and wait-lists vary by region, service provider and funding stream; newcomers should verify their local agency’s offerings.
• While the guide is province-wide, urban-rural gaps may exist in accessibility of services in smaller or remote Ontario communities, so local context matters.
• For newcomers whose needs are extremely specialised (e.g., advanced regulated-profession licensing, complex immigration cases) this portal is a starting point rather than full support.

Who it is for

New immigrants, refugees and their families choosing to settle in Ontario who need orientation and guidance on how to get started, find language training, employment support or credential recognition. Also helpful for international students or temporary workers transitioning to permanent residence, and for people re-establishing their careers in Ontario.

Final overview

This Ontario government newcomer portal serves as a clear, reliable first step for anyone arriving in or planning to live in Ontario. By bringing together settlement, language, employment and credential resources it simplifies the early phases of integration. While it does not replace local agencies, it effectively points newcomers in the right direction and helps clarify what to expect, what steps to take and whom to contact.