Ontario PNP : Provincial Nominee Program (OINP)

Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program: Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is Ontario’s economic immigration program that works in partnership with the Federal Government’s Immigration, Refugees, & Citizenship Canada.

Eligible candidates (Foreign workers, International students and others) with the required skills, work experience, & education apply to OINP for a nomination from the province. The OINP recognizes and nominates people for permanent residency and the IRCC makes the final decision on those applications.

For those looking to Immigrate to Canada & call Ontario their new home, Province of Ontario issues Nominations to those candidates through the 9 different streams:

If you have a job offer in Ontario:

In Ontario PNP, the following streams operate via a notification of interest (NOI) based system, to participate, you must register an expression of interest and receive an invitation to apply.

• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream
• Employer Job Offer: International student stream
• Employer Job Offer: In-demand Skills stream

If you have Master’s degree or PhD from an Ontario University:

The following streams operate via a notification of interest (NOI) based system, to participate, you must register an expression of interest and receive an invitation to apply for Ontario PNP (provincial nominee program).

• Master’s Graduate Stream
• PhD Graduate Stream

If you have the skills Ontario needs to fill critical labour gaps:

• Human Capital Priorities Stream
• Skilled Trades Stream
• French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

If you are an entrepreneur with a great business idea:

• Entrepreneur Stream

You may be interested in:

• AAIP Alberta Express Entry Latest Draw Results
• Moving to Canada? Know what to expect and how to adapt

Ontario PNP Latest Draw Results:

Ontario PNP latest draw date, number of Nomination of Interest (NOIs) issued, & the lowest cut off score of the last candidate invited to apply. The table is updated after every draw.

Ontario PNP most Latest draw:

Date of draw: March 10, 2023

Number of NOIs Issued: 815

CRS Range: 479-489

Notes: Targeted draw- Tech draw.

View targeted occupations for this draw

How to become eligible for Ontario PNP Streams:

Ontario is the most populous province in Canada and has a diverse economy, which makes it an attractive destination for immigrants. The province offers 9 different streams for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), which is designed to help skilled workers, business people, and international students who want to settle in Ontario. Next, we will discuss the eligibility requirements for each of the available streams.

1. Employer Job Offer Stream:

The Employer Job Offer Stream is for individuals who have a permanent job offer from an Ontario employer. To be eligible for this stream, the applicant must:

• Have a job offer from an Ontario employer that meets the requirements of the stream and has been approved by the OINP.
• Have the necessary qualifications, training, and work experience to perform the job offered.
• Have legal status in Canada, either as a temporary resident or as an international student with a valid work permit.
• Meet the language requirements of the stream.
• Have a minimum level of settlement funds to support themselves and their family members.

1.1 Foreign Worker Stream:

• The Foreign Worker Stream is for foreign workers with a job offer in Ontario. To be eligible for this stream, the applicant must:
• Have a job offer from an Ontario employer that meets the requirements of the stream and has been approved by the OINP.
• Have at least nine months of full-time work experience in the same occupation as the job offer.
• Have legal status in Canada, either as a temporary resident or as an international student with a valid work permit.
• Meet the language requirements of the stream.
• Have a minimum level of settlement funds to support themselves and their family members.

1.2 International Student Stream:

The International Student Stream is for international students who have graduated from an eligible institution in Ontario. To be eligible for this stream, the applicant must:

• Have a full-time job offer from an Ontario employer that meets the requirements of the stream and has been approved by the OINP.
• Have graduated from an eligible institution in Ontario with a degree, diploma, or certificate.
• Have completed at least half of their studies in Canada.
• Have legal status in Canada, either as a temporary resident or as an international student with a valid work permit.
• Meet the language requirements of the stream.
• Have a minimum level of settlement funds to support themselves and their family members.

1.3 In-Demand Skills Stream:

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers an In-demand Skills Stream for skilled workers with work experience in specific occupations in demand in Ontario. This Ontario PNP stream aims to attract skilled workers to Ontario who have the necessary work experience, education, and language abilities to meet the province’s labor market needs. The eligibility requirements for the In-demand Skills Stream are as follows:

• Work experience: Applicants must have a minimum of one year of full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work, in the last five years in one of the eligible occupations.
• Education: Applicants must have a Canadian or foreign educational credential that is equivalent to a Canadian certificate, diploma or degree. A completed foreign credential assessment by a designated agency is required.
• Language abilities: Applicants must have a minimum language proficiency of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in English or French in all four language abilities (speaking, reading, writing, and listening).
• Settlement funds: Applicants must have a minimum level of settlement funds to support themselves and their dependents after arriving in Canada.
• Legal status in Canada: Applicants must have legal status in Canada if they are residing in Canada at the time of application. Applicants who are residing outside Canada at the time of application are also eligible to apply.
• Intent to reside in Ontario: Applicants must demonstrate a genuine intention to reside in Ontario, which includes indicating why they want to live and work in the province and providing evidence of ties to Ontario, such as having previous work or education experience in the province, family or friends living in the province, or a job offer from an Ontario employer.
• Occupations: The OINP maintains a list of eligible occupations for the In-demand Skills Stream, which is subject to change based on the needs of Ontario’s labor market. As of February 2023, the eligible occupations are: Eligible occupations for In-demand Skills

2. Masters Graduate Stream:

The Ontario PNP’s Masters Graduate Stream is for international students who have graduated from a Master’s degree program at an eligible institution in Ontario. To be eligible for this stream, the applicant must:

• Have graduated from a Master’s degree program at an eligible institution in Ontario.
• Have legal status in Canada, either as a temporary resident or as an international student with a valid work permit.
• Intend to live and work in Ontario.
• Meet the language requirements of the stream.
• Have a minimum level of settlement funds to support themselves and their family members.

3. PhD Graduate Stream:

The PhD Graduate Stream is for international students who have graduated from a PhD program at an eligible institution in Ontario. To be eligible for this stream, the applicant must:

• Have graduated from a PhD program at an eligible institution in Ontario.
• Have legal status in Canada, either as a temporary resident or as an international student with a valid work permit.
• Intend to live and work in Ontario.
• Meet the language requirements of the stream.
• Have a minimum level of settlement funds to support themselves and their family members.

4. Human Capital Priorities Stream:

The Ontario PNP’s Human Capital Priorities Stream is an immigration program offered by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) for skilled workers who have the necessary education, work experience, language abilities, and other factors to successfully establish themselves in Ontario’s labor market. To be eligible for the Human Capital Priorities Stream, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Express Entry Profile: Applicants must have an active profile in the federal Express Entry pool and meet the minimum criteria for one of the three Express Entry programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, or the Canadian Experience Class.

• Work experience: Applicants must have at least one year of full-time or equivalent part-time work experience in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) level 0, A or B occupation within the last five years.

• Education: Applicants must have a Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma or an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from a designated agency indicating that their foreign education is equivalent to a Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma.

• Language abilities: Applicants must have a minimum language proficiency of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in English or French in all four language abilities (speaking, reading, writing, and listening).

• Settlement funds: Applicants must have a minimum level of settlement funds to support themselves and their dependents after arriving in Canada.

• Legal status in Canada: Applicants must have legal status in Canada if they are residing in Canada at the time of application. Applicants who are residing outside Canada at the time of application are also eligible to apply.

• Intent to reside in Ontario: Applicants must demonstrate a genuine intention to reside in Ontario, which includes indicating why they want to live and work in the province and providing evidence of ties to Ontario, such as having previous work or education experience in the province, family or friends living in the province, or a job offer from an Ontario employer.

In addition to meeting the above requirements, applicants must also score a minimum of 400 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) used by the Express Entry system. The OINP selects candidates from the Express Entry pool who meet the eligibility criteria and have a CRS score that meets or exceeds the minimum threshold set by the OINP.

5. Skilled Trades Stream:

The Ontario PNP’s Skilled Trades Stream is for skilled trades workers who have a valid job offer in Ontario and meet the necessary requirements. To be eligible for this stream, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Work experience: Applicants must have at least one year of full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work, in a skilled trade occupation in Ontario in the last two years.
• Job offer: Applicants must have a valid job offer from an Ontario employer in a skilled trade occupation that meets certain criteria.
• Certification: Applicants must have a certificate of qualification in their skilled trade issued by a Canadian authority or a certificate of qualification or a trade credential issued by an authorized regulatory body outside Canada.
• Language abilities: Applicants must have a minimum language proficiency of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in English or French in all four language abilities (speaking, reading, writing, and listening).
• Settlement funds: Applicants must have a minimum level of settlement funds to support themselves and their dependents after arriving in Canada.
• Legal status in Canada: Applicants must have legal status in Canada if they are residing in Canada at the time of application. Applicants who are residing outside Canada at the time of application are also eligible to apply.
• Intent to reside in Ontario: Applicants must demonstrate a genuine intention to reside in Ontario, which includes indicating why they want to live and work in the province and providing evidence of ties to Ontario, such as having previous work or education experience in the province, family or friends living in the province, or a job offer from an Ontario employer.

6. French-Speaking Skilled Workers Stream:

The Ontario PNP’s French-Speaking Skilled Workers Stream is for French-speaking skilled workers who have strong French language abilities and meet the necessary requirements. To be eligible for this stream, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Work experience: Applicants must have at least one year of full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work, in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) level 0, A or B occupation in the last five years.
• Language abilities: Applicants must have a minimum language proficiency of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in French and CLB 6 in English in all four language abilities (speaking, reading, writing, and listening).
• Education: Applicants must have a Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma or an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from a designated agency indicating that their foreign education is equivalent to a Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma.
• Settlement funds: Applicants must have a minimum level of settlement funds to support themselves and their dependents after arriving in Canada.
• Legal status in Canada: Applicants must have legal status in Canada if they are residing in Canada at the time of application. Applicants who are residing outside Canada at the time of application are also eligible to apply.
• Intent to reside in Ontario: Applicants must demonstrate a genuine intention to reside in Ontario, which includes indicating why they want to live and work in the province and providing evidence of ties to Ontario, such as having previous work or education experience in the province, family or friends living in the province, or a job offer from an Ontario employer.

7. Entrepreneurs:

The Ontario PNP’s Entrepreneur Stream is designed for individuals who are interested in starting a new business or purchasing an existing business in Ontario. The program is intended to support the growth of the province’s economy and create jobs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Here are the eligibility requirements for the Entrepreneur Stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP):

• Business experience: The applicant must have at least 36 months of full-time business experience as an owner or senior manager in the past 60 months before submitting the application.
• Net worth: The applicant must have a minimum net worth of CAD $800,000 if the business is located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and $400,000 if it is located outside the GTA.
• Personal investment: The applicant must make a minimum personal investment of $600,000 if the business is located in the GTA or $200,000 if it is located outside the GTA.
• Job creation: The applicant must create at least two full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents within the first two years of being in business.
• Business plan: The applicant must submit a comprehensive business plan that outlines the proposed business, including market research, marketing and sales strategies, and financial projections.
• Language skills: The applicant must demonstrate language proficiency in English or French equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 in all four language abilities (speaking, reading, writing, and listening).
• Residency: The applicant must intend to reside in Ontario.
• Legal status: The applicant must have legal status in the country where they are currently residing.
• Investment verification: The applicant must provide documentation to verify that their personal investment in the business is from lawful sources.

In addition, the applicant must participate in an interview with an OINP representative to discuss their business proposal and demonstrate their readiness to establish and operate a business in Ontario.

It is important to note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee approval for the Entrepreneur Stream of the OINP. The program has a limited number of spots available, and the applications are assessed based on various factors, including the quality of the business plan, potential for job creation and economic growth, and the applicant’s experience and ability to run a successful business in Ontario.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OINP) is a popular and highly sought-after immigration program for those looking to settle in Ontario. It offers various streams to help skilled workers, business people, and international students make Ontario their new home. Eligibility requirements for each stream vary, but they all have the same goal of filling labor gaps and growing the economy. The program works in partnership with the Federal Government’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, and successful nominees receive permanent residency in Canada. If you are interested in the Ontario PNP, carefully review the eligibility requirements for each stream to determine which one suits you best.