Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program(OINP)
Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program is intended to fast track the acquirement of Canadian Permanent Resident Visas for foreign workers with skills in demand, which are necessary for the provincial labor market.
Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (Opportunities Ontario) was launched on February 20, 2009.
Through this program, skilled foreign workers and international students may be nominated for Permanent resident status in Canada. Similarly, it also helps attract investment to the province of Ontario by assisting key employees recruited by INVESTORS to obtain permanent resident status.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is structured to assist employers who are having difficulty recruiting qualified, skilled workers in Canada.
There are 2 ways individuals may qualify and apply to the OINP.
- Create a Profile in Canada’s Express Entry Candidate Pool
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the OINP.
Under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), individuals may qualify under any of the following categories:
Ontario Express Entry
Ontario Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities stream
Ontario Express Entry: French Speaking Skilled Worker stream
Ontario Express Entry: Skilled Trades stream
Employer Job Offer Category
Foreign workers with Job offer stream
Employer Job Offer In Demand Skills stream
International Student Category
International Student with a Job Offer stream
International Student – Masters Graduate stream
International Student – PhD Graduate stream
Business Category
Entrepreneur Stream
Corporate stream
Investor stream [ Closed]
Ontario Express Entry
Ontario Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities stream
Ontario Express Entry: French Speaking Skilled Worker stream
Ontario Express Entry: Skilled Trades stream
Ontario Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream
This stream enables OINP to nominate individuals that have qualified for IRCC’s Express Entry pool to help them establish and integrate into Ontario’s labour market and communities.
The eligibility criteria to be considered under the Ontario Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream are:
- Be accepted into IRCC’s Express Entry Pool of candidates with a minimum of CRS 400
- Have a profile registered in the Express Entry system
- Qualify for either the Federal Skilled worker program (FSWP) or the Canada Experience Class(CEC)
- Indicate an Interest in immigrating to either Ontario or “All Provinces and Territories” when you create a profile in Express Entry
- Have received Notification of Interest from Ontario through your IRCC Online account
To be eligible to apply under the Ontario Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream you must meet the following criteria:
- A minimum work experience of 1 year within the past 5 years under the FSW program or A minimum work experience of 1 year within the past 3 years under the CEC program in TEER Category 0,1,2, or 3 of NOC 2021
- Educational level of bachelors degree or higher
- Meet the English / French language requirement of CLB 7
- Have adequate settlement funds based on the family members
- Intent to live and work in Ontario
- Minimum of 400 CRS points of IRCC’s Express Entry system
Ontario Express Entry French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
This stream enables OINP to nominate individuals that have qualified for IRCC’s Express Entry pool to help them establish and integrate into Ontario’s labour market and communities.
- Have a profile registered in the Express Entry system
- Qualify for either the Federal Skilled worker program (FSWP) or the Canada Experience Class(CEC)
- Indicate an Interest in immigrating to either Ontario or “All Provinces and Territories” when you create a profile in Express Entry
To be eligible to apply under the Ontario Express Entry French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream you must meet the following criteria:
- A minimum work experience of 1 year within the past 5 years under the FSW program or A minimum work experience of 1 year within the past 3 years under the CEC program in TEER Category 0,1,2, or 3 of NOC 2021
- Educational level of bachelors degree or higher
- Meet the English / French language requirement of CLB 6 and CLB 7 respectively
- Have adequate settlement funds
- Intent to live and work in Ontario
Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream
This stream enables OINP to nominate individuals that have qualified for IRCC’s Express Entry pool to help them establish and integrate into Ontario’s labour market and communities.
The eligibility criteria to be considered under the Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream are:
- Have a profile registered in the Express Entry system
- Qualify for Canada Experience Class(CEC)
- Indicate an Interest in immigrating to either Ontario or “All Provinces and Territories” when you create a profile in Express Entry
- Have received Notification of Interest from Ontario through your IRCC Online account
To be eligible to apply under the Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream you must meet the following criteria:
- A minimum full time work experience of 1 year within the past 2 years from the date of your Notification of Interest from Ontario
- Work experience must be in Skilled Trade NOC 6320 or Major Group 72,73, 82, 83, 93
- Possess Trade license or certification for the relevant job that requires licensing or certification
- Currently residing in Ontario on a valid work permit
- Meet the English / French language requirement of CLB 5
- Have adequate settlement funds for self and family
- Intent to live and work in Ontario
Ontario Provincial Nominee Express Entry Streams
The Ontario PNP Express Entry Streams are considered passive because these candidates cannot actively apply or declare their Interest in being considered for Nomination through OINP.
OINP from time to time searches the Federal Express Entry pool for candidates who match their eligibility requirements and Invites them to apply for a Provincial Nomination.
In order to be considered for a Nomination under these OINP streams a candidate has to submit and have an active Express Entry profile.
IOINP’s has revised the requirement that Express Entry candidates have a ranking score of at least 400 points in order to be considered for Nomination. The minimum score will be determined based on Labor market needs and economic development priorities.
Employer Job Offer Category
Foreign workers with Job offer stream
Employer Job Offer In Demand Skills stream
Foreign Workers with Job offer stream
To be eligible as a foreign worker, prospective nominees must demonstrate that they meet the following Requirements:
- Possess two years of work experience in the intended occupation in Canada or abroad
- Obtain an approved Permanent Full time job offer in a skilled occupation listed at TEER Category 0,1,2 or 3 of NOC 2021
- Offered an appropriate wage which meets the prevailing standards for the intended occupation
- Has Legal status in Canada or abroad
Employer Job Offer In Demand Skills stream
Applicants have to meet the following criteria:
- Must have a Permanent Full time Job offer in an eligible occupation in the Agricultural or Construction sectors
- Meets the prevailing wage levels in Ontario for that occupation and region
- Job offer must be in the NOC 2021 TEER Category 4 or 5 occupations
- Have 09 months of cumulative Full time work experience in Ontario in the same in demand occupation as your job offer
- Must have the equivalent of a Canadian Secondary school education validated by a Educational Credential Assessment
- Have a valid license / certification for the job that requires certification or licensing
- Meet the English language test requirements of CLB 4 or above
- Have sufficient funds to cover the costs of settlement in Ontario
Applicants must first register in the OINP’s Expression of Interest system and receive an invitation to apply before they can apply online to be Nominated by the Ontario Government for permanent residence.
Applicants will receive a Provincial Nomination certificate allowing them to apply to IRCC for Permanent resident status.
International Student Category
International Student with a Job Offer stream
International Student – Masters Graduate stream
International Student – PhD Graduate stream
The International Student Category has three streams:
- International Student Job Offer Stream
- Masters Graduate Stream
- PhD Graduate Stream
International Student Job Offer Stream allows Ontario employers to recruit international students graduating from a publicly funded Canadian college or university in a skilled position.
International students are eligible to apply to the Ontario PNP if they obtain a permanent full time job and meet the following conditions:
- Have completed at least half of their studies in Ontario, and graduated from an eligible Ontario college or university
- Completed a two-year diploma or degree program, or One-year post-graduate degree programs and certificate programs, which require a previous degree or diploma which may have been obtained abroad, are also eligible
- Job offer has to be in a managerial, professional or skilled trades in accordance with NOC 2021 TEER Category 0,1,2 or 3 occupation list
- Have a job offer that is permanent and full-time from an approved employer
- Apply within two years from the date on which they received their degree or diploma, or may apply during the last semester of completing their degree or diploma
- Have legal status in Canada.
- Hold a valid license or certification if the job is in a regulated profession
- Processing Fee of $ 1500
Masters Graduate Stream allows graduates from Ontario publicly funded universities to apply and live permanently in Ontario. Applicants can apply without a Job offer.
- Graduates of a Masters program from a University in Ontario and completed at least one academic year in length on a full time basis
- Meet a minimum of CLB 7 on the language requirement
- Demonstrate residency in Ontario for 12 months
- Do not need a Job offer to qualify for the program
- Apply within two years of the date on which Masters /PhD was granted
- Do not have to be living in Canada at time of application
- Individuals living in Canada but outside Ontario are ineligible to apply
- Do not need to have legal status in Canada if they are applying from outside Canada
- Adequate settlement funds
- Intent to live and work in Ontario
PhD Graduate Stream allows graduates from Ontario publicly funded universities to apply and live permanently in Ontario. Applicants can apply without a Job offer.
- Graduates of a PHD program from a University in Ontario and completed at least two academic year in length on a full time basis
- Meet a minimum of CLB 7 on the language requirement
- Demonstrate residency in Ontario for 12 months
- Do not need a Job offer to qualify for the program
- Apply within two years of the date on which PhD was granted
- Do not have to be living in Canada at time of application
- Do not need to have legal status in Canada if they are applying from outside Canada
- Adequate settlement funds
- Intent to live and work in Ontario
Applications can be submitted through Ontario’s e-Filing Portal Expression of Interest system (EOI).
The International Graduate Stream targets those recent graduates who are qualified to work in accordance with NOC 2021 TEER Category 0,1,2 or 3 occupation list. The program focuses on retaining international students, graduating from Ontario universities and colleges.
Employers can recruit qualified individuals currently outside Canada or inside the country, including international students who have completed college or university studies in Ontario related to one of the occupational fields.
Applicants must first register in the OINP’s Expression of Interest system and receive an invitation to apply before they can apply online to be Nominated by the Ontario Government for permanent residence.
Business Category
Investor stream [Closed]
Entrepreneur Stream
Corporate stream
Investor Category [Closed]
Corporate Stream
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program OINP’s Corporate stream:
This category is to assist the entry of key personnel into International companies that are making major investments in Ontario who can become eligible for nomination for Permanent resident status.
Companies must meet the following criteria:
- Make a qualifying investment of $ 5 million or more to expand or purchase an existing business in Ontario
- Investment funds must be legally obtained
- Investment activity should yield economic benefit to Ontario
- Create 5 net full-time permanent positions in Ontario per key staff applicant
- Investment must receive official endorsement & comply with Immigration & Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR)
- Nomination Processing fee of $ 3500
These prospective nominees will need to meet the same eligibility criteria for foreign workers as applicable in the General Category.
Entrepreneur stream
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program OINP’s Entrepreneur stream:
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program OINP’s Entrepreneur stream is for individuals who want to implement a new Business idea or buy an existing business in Ontario.
In order to qualify for a provincial nomination, individual Entrepreneurs must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Have 24 months of full time business experience in the last 60 months as a business owner or senior manager
- Have a minimum net worth of $ 800000 if the business is to be located within the Greater Toronto area
- Have a minimum net worth of $ 400000 if the business is to be located outside the Greater Toronto area
- Have a minimum net worth of $ 800000 if the business is in ICT/Digital Communications sector irrespective of the location
- Individual will Control at least 33.33% of the equity in the business, and make a minimum $600000 investment in the business within the Greater Toronto area
- Individual will Control at least 33.33% of the equity in the business, and make a minimum $200000 investment in the business outside the Greater Toronto area
- Individual will Control at least 33.33% of the equity in the business, and make a minimum $200000 investment in the business that is in ICT/Digital Communications sector irrespective of the location
- Create at least 2 permanent full time jobs for Canadian citizens or Permanent residents
- Conduct an Exploratory visit to Ontario prior to buying an existing business
- Will have to be actively involved in the management of the business
Applicants must first register in the OINP’s Expression of Interest system and receive an invitation to apply before they can apply online to be Nominated by the Ontario Government for permanent residence.
Note: All new applications for an Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Nomination must include “Application Consent Form” as of 26 February 2024
A New Beginning
Canada wants to attract new immigrants on an annual basis with the emphasis firmly focused on immigrants with economic and professional skills from every part of the world.
In Canada you can start a new life, with never-ending opportunities ahead of you. We will help you plan your transition to the new way of life in Canada carefully, patiently and knowledgably.
If you have questions regarding your eligibility to immigrate to Canada as a Provincial Nominee, we suggest you complete our Free PNP Assessment form either for Skilled or Business categories.
