Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA)

Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA) is an Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) funded program that delivers free pre-arrival services for job readiness, success and retention.  

 

SOPA Helps Newcomers Arrive Prepared to Canada

  • SOPA offers various resources and courses at no charge. These include: one-on-one orientation, job search support, employment counselling, and workplace culture training, as well as referral to a wide range of post-arrival services upon entry to Canada.
  • SOPA offers nine (9) online courses that introduce newcomers to the Canadian Labour Market and give them the opportunity to learn about the unique characteristics of the Canadian workplace and how to integrate effectively into their field of employment in Canada. The program also highlights the importance of Soft Skills for success in the workplace.

Arrive in Canada Prepared

784 SOPA clients across Canada are working

45% SOPA clients across  Canada found a job within the first  3 months

SOPA is represented in 6 provinces

Offers 9 courses

SOPA Extends Services to Help Newcomers Arrive Prepared

  • Ready to Work program launched in 2021 to further help newcomers arrive prepared for new life in Canada
  • Newcomer Network Ambassador program created that welcomes SOPA alumni to share their settlement experience through social media and encourage others in their journey

Eligibility Criteria for the Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA)

  Live outside Canada

  Have received approval from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to immigrate to Canada. You must have one of the following documents:

 

– A confirmation of Permanent Residence document

– A letter notifying pick up of Canadian visa (for Permanent Resident applicants only)

– A request for medical examination letter

– A passport request letter

– A Canadian visa (but have not landed in Canada yet)

– An IRCC invitation letter to obtain pre-arrival services

 

  English level (IELTS) 5.5 or higher

Access to a computer and high speed Internet

Program Frequency

  • Ongoing

See What Past Clients Have to Say About Their Experience

SOPA is changing lives. It is making a significant impact and, ultimately, gains loyalty from every single person that was lucky enough to be their client. I encourage recruiters to partner with this amazing organization, as the results of the partnership won’t take long to see. SOPA has helped me in so many ways, both professionally and personally. I wish I could be here today in front of you, so you could see how I light up whenever I speak about SOPA.

Astrid Ene, SOPA Ontario Client

I am very pleased to announce that I finally  got the position I applied for and will be moving to Canada in a few weeks. I want to extend my thanks to SOPA for being so helpful with everything that I needed.  I used the skills learned in the course, especially for the resume build-up to apply for jobs.

Dinny Mathew, SOPA Ontario Client

Discover Some of the Other Workshops, Programs and Services World Skills has to Offer

Man at laptop working

The Job Search Workshop

The Roadmap To Employment (RTE) Program

Professional woman and man at table looking at laptop and smiling

The Workplace Language Training Program

Learn More About the SOPA Program

Are you approved to immigrate to Canada? Join SOPA today! You’ll arrive in Canada better prepared, more confident and enter the workforce sooner!

 

Contact Us

Phone: (613) 233-0453
Email: ws@ottawa-worldskills.org
237 Argyle Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1B8
Canada

Funders

World Skills gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our funders:

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