Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) for skilled workers

The economic immigration program designed by the Province of Ontario is focused on the labour market and economic priorities of the province. Under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) nominations for permanent residence are made to candidates that have valuable skills and experience.

Candidates nominated under the OINP can later apply for permanent residence through IRCC, whom will make the final decision and issue the permanent resident visas to successful candidates.

The OINP accepts applications under the following immigration categories:

  •     Human Capital Priorities Stream
  •     French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
  •     General Category : Foreign Workers with a Job Offer Stream
  •     International Students:
    • with a Job Offer Stream
    • Masters Graduate Stream
    • PhD Graduate Stream

Ontario Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream

Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream is designed for skilled workers who want to live and work permanently in Ontario and have the required education, skilled work experience, language ability, and other characteristics.

To be eligible to apply under Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream, candidates must meet provincial and federal eligibility criteria, and will be assessed against both as part of the nomination process. To be eligible under Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream, candidates must meet the following provincial criteria:

  • Have the intention to live in Ontario
  • Demonstrate work experience of a minimum 1  year work experience either (a) within the past five years according to the criteria under the Federal Skilled Workers Program or (b) within the past three years according to the criteria under the Canadian Experience Class
  • Have education equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor’s degree or higher
  • Knowledge of English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or more
  • A minimum level of funds to support the candidate’s settlement in the province when arriving
  • Have at least 400 points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score of IRCC’s Express Entry system

Ontario Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

French-speaking skilled workers who have also strong English language abilities can apply to the Ontario’s Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream.

To be eligible, candidates must meet the following provincial criteria:

  • Have the intention to live in Ontario
  • Have work experience of a minimum of 1 year either (a) within the past five years according to the criteria under the Federal Skilled Workers Program or (b) within the past three years according to the criteria under the Canadian Experience Class
  • Have education equivalent to a at least a Canadian Bachelor’s degree
  • For language, demonstrate a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 7 in French and 6 in English
  • Have a minimum level of funds to support the settlement of the candidate in the province when arriving

General Category – Foreign Workers with a Job Offer Stream

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers an opportunity for skilled foreign workers with a job offer to permanently live and work in Ontario.

To be eligible to apply, a foreign worker must:

  • Have an approved permanent, full-time job offer in a highly skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B), which meets the prevailing wage levels in Ontario for that occupation
  • Have two years of relevant work experience in the last five years, or the relevant mandatory licensing in Ontario for a regulated occupation; and
  • Be residing abroad or residing, working or visiting Canada on a valid work permit, study permit or visitor record.

International Student Category – International Students with a Job Offer Stream

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers international students with a job offer the opportunity to permanently live and work in Ontario.

To apply, an International Student must:

  • Have an approved permanent, full-time job offer in a high-skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B), which meets the entry-level wage levels in Ontario for that occupation
  • Have graduated from or have met the requirements of a full-time degree or diploma program at an eligible publicly-funded Canadian college or university that is at least two (2) years in length or a one year post-graduate certificate program, which requires a previous degree in order to qualify
  • Have completed at least half of their studies in Canada and
  • Apply within two years from the date on which they graduated.

International Student Category – Masters Graduate Stream

Through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) international students with a Master’s degree obtained in Ontario can apply to live and work permanently in Ontario without needing to have a job offer.

To be eligible to apply for the Masters Graduate Stream, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Be graduated or have met all degree requirements from a Master’s degree program at an eligible publicly-funded university in Ontario and have completed at least one academic year in length on a full-time basis
  • Have a minimum level of knowledge of English or French under the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of Level 7 (or above) in English or French
  • Demonstrate having resided in Ontario for at least 12 of the last 24 months before the application date
  • Have the minimum required level of savings for  settlement in Ontario
  • Have the intention to reside and work in Ontario
  • Be residing in Ontario with legal status (i.e., study permit, work permit, visitor record) OR residing outside of Canada (Candidates residing in Canada, but outside of Ontario do not qualify).
  • Apply to the program within the two years of receiving the Master’s degree.

International Student Category – PhD Graduate Stream

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers an opportunity for international students with a PhD degree obtained in Canada to live and work permanently in Ontario. Through the PhD Graduate Stream, candidates can apply without a job offer.

To be eligible to apply for the PhD Graduate Stream, candidates must:

  • Have graduated or have met all degree requirements from a PhD degree program at an eligible publicly-funded university in Ontario
  • Have completed at least two years of study in Ontario
  • Have the intention to reside and work in Ontario
  • Apply within two years of the date when the PhD degree was granted.