Immigrate to Canada with the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
Get all details on OINP and immigrate hassle-free
Overview
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is an economic immigration initiative operated by the province of Ontario in collaboration with the federal government through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It enables Ontario to nominate individuals for permanent residence who possess the skills and experience required to meet the province’s labour market and economic development needs.
There are various options available for immigration via OINP under:
- Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream
- Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
- Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream
- Masters or PhD Streams
- Employer Job Offer Streams
Ontario: The Top Choice for Newcomers to Canada
Ontario stands out as the most preferred province among immigrants moving to Canada. Hosting nearly 40% of the country’s total population, it is not only the most populated province but also a central hub of culture, commerce, and government. Ontario is home to both the national capital, Ottawa, and Canada’s largest urban center, Toronto. Each year, the province attracts about one-third of all new immigrants. This strong appeal stems from Ontario’s thriving job market, competitive salaries, and rich multicultural environment. In fact, over 50% of Toronto’s residents are foreign-born, reflecting the city’s global diversity.
Know more details about the program
What are the different streams available under the OINP?
The OINP is divided into several immigration streams grouped under specific categories. These include:
Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream
- Targets candidates with the required skilled work experience, education, and language abilities.
Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
- For French-speaking candidates with strong English abilities who qualify under the Express Entry system.
Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream
- For skilled trades workers with work experience in Ontario in eligible trades.
Masters or PhD Streams
- Includes the Masters Graduate Stream and PhD Graduate Stream for individuals who graduated from an Ontario university.
Employer Job Offer Streams
- Includes streams for foreign workers, international students, and in-demand skills applicants who have received a valid job offer in Ontario.
What are the eligibility criteria for each stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)?
Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream
- Must have a valid Express Entry profile.
- Must qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
- Must have at least one year of work experience in the last five years under the FSWP or within the last three years under the CEC.
- Must have a Canadian bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree or an equivalent foreign credential.
- Must demonstrate a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in English or French.
- Must intend to reside in Ontario.
- Must have sufficient funds to support themselves and dependents.
Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
- Must have a valid Express Entry profile.
- Must qualify under the FSWP or CEC.
- Must demonstrate a minimum CLB level 7 in French and CLB 6 in English.
- Must have a Canadian bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree or an equivalent foreign credential.
- Must have at least one year of work experience in the last five years under the FSWP or within the last three years under the CEC.
- Must intend to live in Ontario.
- Must have sufficient settlement funds.
Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream
- Must have a valid Express Entry profile.
- Must qualify under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
- Must have at least one year of cumulative paid full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time) in Ontario within the last two years in a skilled trade listed in Minor Group 72, 73, 82, 83, 93 or Major Group 63201 (NOC 2021).
- Must hold a valid license or certification in Ontario if the occupation requires it.
- Must demonstrate a minimum CLB level 5 in English or French.
- Must be residing in Ontario with legal status at the time of application (if applying from within Canada).
Masters Graduate Stream
- Must have a master’s degree from an eligible Ontario university.
- Must have legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years before applying.
- Must have legal status (if applying from within Canada).
- Must demonstrate a minimum CLB level 7 in English or French.
- Must have sufficient settlement funds.
- Must intend to live and work in Ontario.
- Must apply within two years of completing the degree.
PhD Graduate Stream
- Must have completed at least two years of a PhD program at an eligible Ontario university.
- Must have legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years.
- Must have legal status (if applying from within Canada).
- No job offer is required.
- Must have sufficient settlement funds.
- Must intend to live and work in Ontario.
- Must apply within two years of completing the degree.
Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream
- Must have a permanent, full-time job offer in a skilled occupation at TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
- Must have two years of work experience in the same occupation as the job offer (if licensing is not required).
- If the position requires licensing, the candidate must hold a valid license or authorization.
- Job must be urgently necessary to the employer’s business.
- Must be offered a wage equal to or greater than the median wage level for that occupation in Ontario.
- The work must occur in Ontario.
Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream
- Must have a permanent, full-time job offer in a skilled occupation.
- Must have completed a program at an eligible Canadian institution that is at least two years in length, or a one-year post-graduate certificate requiring a prior degree.
- The job offer must be urgently necessary to the employer’s business.
- Must be offered a wage equal to or greater than the low wage level for that occupation in Ontario.
- The position must be based in Ontario.
Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream
- Must have a permanent, full-time job offer in an eligible occupation (mainly in agriculture, construction, trucking, and personal support work).
- Must have at least nine months of cumulative full-time work experience in Ontario in the same occupation as the job offer.
- Must have completed at least a Canadian high school education or its equivalent.
- Must have a minimum CLB 4 in English or French.
- The job must be necessary to the employer’s business.
- The wage offered must be equal to or greater than the median wage level for that occupation.
- The position must be located in Ontario.
How long does the OINP application process take?
Processing times vary depending on the stream and the volume of applications. Although no fixed processing duration is guaranteed, the Ontario government strives to process applications efficiently.
Is the OINP currently accepting applications?
As of the latest update, all streams under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program are open, except the Entrepreneur Stream, which has been closed to new Expressions of Interest (EOIs) since October 24, 2023. The reopening date for this stream has not yet been announced. All other streams remain open and active, subject to stream-specific intake limits.
