Hey Wait ??
Before you go, share your details so we can call you and help you find the right service.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
Ontario, located in central Canada, is the most popular destination for immigrants coming to the country. It is home to Toronto, Canada’s economic hub, and Ottawa, the nation’s capital. Toronto is recognized as the most multicultural city in the world, and multiculturalism is a celebrated aspect of Ontario.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program. This program allows Ontario to grant Permanent Residence to selected immigrants to address labor market shortages and contribute to the province’s economy.
The OINP assists Ontario employers by facilitating the immigration of skilled, professional, and managerial workers, as well as international students, to meet their human resource needs. The program is administered by the Government of Ontario in collaboration with the federal immigration agency, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Candidates interested in immigrating to Ontario must follow a two-stage process:
- Apply for nomination to the Government of Ontario.
- If nominated by the province, apply for Permanent Residence to the Canadian Federal Government.
What are the different immigration streams under Ontario PNP?
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers multiple immigration pathways for overseas nationals to obtain a Canada PR Visa. Strategically designed to attract immigrants who will benefit the province, the Ontario PNP targets workers in labor shortage sectors, skilled workers, investors, and entrepreneurs.
The OINP manages three immigration streams: Employer Job Offer, Human Capital, and Business Immigration. Each stream is further divided into several sub-categories.
Candidates can directly apply for a nomination from Ontario through five streams, including all three sub-streams under the Employer Job Offer stream and two sub-streams under the Overseas Student stream.
Ontario also operates three streams aligned with the federal Express Entry system, aimed at applicants with the necessary qualifications such as experience, education, language skills, and the ability to settle successfully in Ontario and contribute to its economic progress.
Among Ontario’s immigration programs, the Entrepreneur Category holds a special status. It only accepts Expressions of Interest, meaning candidates must wait to be selected and receive an invitation to apply; they cannot directly apply for a nomination. However, they do not need a valid Express Entry profile or to meet the requirements of any federal immigration program.
Human Capital Program Ontario
Ontario’s Human Capital Program includes various immigration categories aimed at attracting candidates needed for the province’s labor force. These streams prioritize experience, abilities, and skills that indicate an immigrant’s ability to easily integrate into Ontario’s labor market. Immigrants with educational or work experience in the province, proficiency in both French and English, and profiles in Express Entry can succeed through one of the following categories:
- Express Entry – Human Capital Priorities
- Express Entry – French-Speaking Skilled Worker
- Express Entry – Skilled Trades
- Masters Graduate
- PhD Graduate
Employer Job Offer Program Ontario
Ontario’s Employer Job Offer immigration streams cater to applicants with a valid job offer from an employer in the province. Both the job offer and the employer must meet specific conditions to be considered valid. Additionally, the applicant must fulfill specific eligibility criteria based on the stream they intend to apply for:
- Overseas Worker
- Overseas Student with a Job Offer
- In-Demand Skills
Business Immigration Program Ontario
Ontario’s business migration streams target affluent corporations and entrepreneurs interested in making significant investments for business development in the province. Corporations and entrepreneurs with proven success can start new business ventures in Ontario. If these projects are successful, the applicants involved will be nominated for a Canada PR Visa.
- Entrepreneur
- Investor (Currently Closed)
- Corporate (Currently Closed)
Ontario PNP draws
Ontario conducts an OINP draw every month. Periodically, it issues Notifications of Interest (NOI) to candidates in the Express Entry pool, inviting them to apply for nomination through one of the OINP streams aligned with Express Entry. The methodology and details for each search are announced after the draws are held.
What is the processing time for Ontario PNP?
OINP processing time can be divided into two periods:
- The time taken by the province of Ontario to offer the nomination.
- The time taken for the Canada PR Visa to be processed and granted.
The province currently estimates its processing times to be around 60 to 90 days for most of its immigration streams. Applications for Express Entry Skilled Trades are processed within 30 to 60 days. The complexity of individual applications determines the processing times for each business immigration application.
At the federal level, IRCC currently processes non-Express Entry nominee applications from provinces within 15 to 19 months. The average processing time for streams aligned with Express Entry remains around six months.
What is the minimum requirement to apply for OINP?
Here are the compulsory Ontario PNP Requirements for the HCP stream:
Appropriate Work Experience
You must have at least one year of uninterrupted, full-time, paid work experience. This experience must fall under skill type B, 0, or A as defined by the National Occupation Classification (NOC) List.
The work experience must have been gained within the last five years from the date of your OINP application submission. Additionally, the occupation must be the same as the one listed in your Express Entry profile.
Education Level
You must hold a graduate, postgraduate, or doctoral degree. If your degree was obtained outside Canada, you must also provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) Report.
Language Proficiency
You must achieve a minimum proficiency level of 6 bands in all four abilities (Speaking, Listening, Writing, and Reading) of the IELTS. This can be in either French or English.
Proof of Funds Statement
You must provide evidence that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependent family members upon your arrival and settlement in Ontario. Acceptable proof includes bank statements, mutual funds, or fixed deposits.
Age
You must be under 49 years of age when you submit your application to Ontario.
Settlement Plan
When applying through the OINP, you must provide a settlement plan demonstrating your genuine intention to settle permanently in Ontario.
What are the occupations in demand in Ontario?
The In-Demand Occupation List of Ontario includes occupations highly sought-after by the province, crucially needing skilled workers to fill gaps in the labor market. Thousands of skilled immigrant workers are annually invited through OINP to address shortages in Ontario’s workforce.
The OINP publishes its Occupation in Demand list annually, facilitating overseas workers to apply for specific occupations and helping Ontario employers select qualified candidates for nomination.
How to calculate points for Ontario PNP?
To apply through the HCP stream of OINP, you must first meet the minimum points requirement of 67 points and have an adequate Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Once you meet these criteria, you can create your Express Entry profile. This profile will be submitted to the Express Entry Pool along with other eligible candidates, and your CRS score will be calculated. The minimum CRS score required for Ontario PNP is determined by provincial immigration authorities.
The OINP points calculator helps immigrant applicants determine their CRS scores, which are based on factors such as education, work experience, age, etc. If you meet the minimum points requirement, you will receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) to apply for nomination from Ontario. The NOI allows candidates to proceed with their application for nomination from Ontario.
Calculate Your Points
Scoring Sections | Points |
French and/or English skills
| 28 |
Experience
| 15 |
Education
| 25 |
Age | 12
|
Adaptability
| 10 |
Arranged employment in Canada
| 10 |
Total
| 100 |
Ontario Occupation In-Demand List 2024
This page provides guidance on how skilled workers in demand in Ontario can apply for provincial nomination through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to become permanent residents.
Overview of Ontario PNP Occupation In-Demand Stream
The Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills is an immigration stream within OINP that enables foreign workers with job offers in high-demand occupations such as construction, agriculture, trucking, or personal support work to obtain permanent residency in Ontario.
Skilled workers from both within Canada and abroad are eligible to apply for this stream.
Upon successful nomination through the Ontario In-demand Skills Stream, applicants can proceed to submit their application for a Canada PR Visa to Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
What are the requirements for the Ontario In-Demand Skills Stream?
Below is a table outlining the minimum requirements for eligibility to apply under this stream:
Express Entry Profile | No |
Connection to province | Work Experience |
Job-offer | Yes |
Language Proficiency | CLB 4 |
Level of Education | High school |
Work Experience | In-Demand Occupation List 1 Year |
Investment | None |
The OINP Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream imposes mandatory requirements that both the applicant and employer must meet.
Applicant Requirements
Prior to submitting your application, you must meet the following requirements in the factors listed below:
- Work Experience: You need a minimum of 9 months of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time) in the same in-demand occupation as your job offer within three years of submitting your application to the province.
- Valid License or Authorization (if applicable): If your job offer in an in-demand occupation requires a valid license or authorization, you must possess these from the provincial regulatory body at the time of application.
- Language Skills: Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4.
- Education: You must hold at least a Canadian high school diploma or an equivalent credential (an ECA – Educational Credential Assessment report is required).
- Intention to Reside in Ontario: You must demonstrate your intention to live in the province.
Employer Requirements
To qualify under this stream, your employer must meet the following criteria:
- Have operated their business for at least three years prior to submitting your application.
- Maintain business premises in Ontario where you will be employed.
- Have no outstanding orders against them under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000, or the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
- Demonstrate that reasonable efforts were made to recruit a Canadian citizen or permanent resident before offering you the position (this requirement applies only if you are currently residing outside of Canada or employed outside of Ontario).
Ontario PNP Occupation In-Demand List
Below is the table displaying the occupations eligible for the OINP In-demand Skills Stream along with their corresponding National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes:
NOC Code | Occupation Name |
33102 | Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates |
44101 | Home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers |
73200 | Residential and commercial installers and servicers |
73300 | Transport truck drivers |
73400 | Heavy equipment operators (except cranes) |
75110 | Construction trades helpers and laborers |
85100 | General farmworkers |
85103 | Nursery and greenhouse workers |
85101 | Harvesting laborers |
94141 | Industrial butchers, meat cutters, poultry preparers, related workers |