Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Explained

Immigrate to Canada: Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Explained

The OINP Express Entry Streams

The following is a summary of the basic requirements of each of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Programs (OINP). The OINP has programs that are linked to Express Entry and programs that do not require applicants to have a valid Express Entry profile.

Please note that as the following are only summaries of the basic essential requirements for each program. If you believe you meet the criteria of the program, you will need to review the full OINP program guidelines to make sure that you meet all of the OINP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

Human Capital Priorities Stream

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) will contact applicants if they have decided to choose them. Applicants cannot apply directly to the OINP, they have to wait to receive a notification of interest first. If an applicant has not received a notification of interest from the OINP, then they cannot apply for a provincial nomination. The Human Capital Priorities Stream does not require a job offer. In order to be considered under the OINP’s Human Capital Priorities Stream, applicants need to meet all of the following criteria:

  • Have the intention to live and work in Ontario;
  • Have a valid Express Entry Profile and Job Seeker Validation code;
  • Meet the criteria of the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class;
  • Possess a minimum of a Bachelors Degree or higher (three-year diplomas will not qualify);
  • Have a valid educational credential assessment if your degree was obtained outside of Canada;
  • Achieved a minimum score of CLB 7 in listening, reading, writing and speaking on an approved language test in English or French;
  • Have the settlement funds required for their family size;
  • Have valid immigration status in Canada if applying from within Canada.

When selecting individuals the OINP looks at both the applicant’s main NOC code on their Express Entry profile and their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The OINP conducts Human Capital Priorities Stream draws which can be general or targeted.

For the OINP Human Capital Priorities Tech targeted draws, they selected those with the required work experience in the following NOC codes:

  • NOC 20012 – Computer and information systems managers
  • NOC 21211 – Data scientists
  • NOC 21223 – Database analysts and data administrators
  • NOC 21230 – Computer systems developers and programmers
  • NOC 21231 – Software engineers and designers
  • NOC 21232 – Software developers and programmers
  • NOC 21233 – Web designers
  • NOC 21234 – Web developers and programmers
  • NOC 21311 – Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the OINP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you meet all of the OINP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

The OINP will contact applicants if they have decided to choose them. Applicants cannot apply directly to the OINP, they have to wait to receive a notification of interest first. If an applicant has not received a notification of interest from the OINP, then they cannot apply for a provincial nomination. The French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream does not require a job offer. In order to be considered under the OINP’s French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream, applicants need to meet all of the following criteria:

  • Achieved a minimum of CLB 7 in listening, reading, writing and speaking on an approved French test AND a CLB 6 in listening, reading, writing and speaking on an approved English test;
  • Have the intention to live and work in Ontario;
  • Have a valid Express Entry Profile and Job Seeker Validation code;
  • Meet the criteria of the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class;
  • Possess a minimum of a Bachelors Degree or higher (three-year diplomas will not qualify);
  • Have a valid educational credential assessment;
  • Have the settlement funds required for their family size;
  • Have valid immigration status in Canada if applying from within Canada.

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the OINP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you meet all of the OINP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream

The OINP will contact applicants if they have decided to choose them. Applicants cannot apply directly to the OINP, they have to wait to receive a notification of interest first. If an applicant has not received a notification of interest from the OINP, then they cannot apply for a provincial nomination. The Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream does not require a job offer. In order to be considered under the OINP’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, applicants need to meet all of the following criteria:

  • At least one year of cumulative paid full-time work experience (or the equivalent in paid part-time work) obtained in Ontario with legal status in Major Groups 72 (excluding occupations under transportation officers), 73, 82, 83, 93 (excluding aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors) or Minor Group 6320 (excluding cooks) National Occupational Classification (NOC) obtained within the last two years from the date of submitting your application to the OINP;
  • If the applicant is claiming work experience in a compulsory trade, even if they are no longer working in that trade, they must have a valid certificate or licence in Ontario at the time they apply to the OINP;
  • Are currently living in Ontario AND have a valid work permit at the time you apply;
  • Have the intention to live and work in Ontario;
  • Have a valid Express Entry Profile and Job Seeker Validation code;
  • Meet the criteria of the Canadian Experience Class;
  • Achieved a minimum score of CLB 5 in all sections of an approved language test in English or French;
  • Have the settlement funds required for their family size.

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the OINP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you meet all of the OINP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

The OINP Expression of Interest (EOI) Programs

Masters Graduate Stream

The OINP Masters Graduate Stream requires applicants to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) on the OINP website. This EOI will be used to assign applicants a score, which will be used to select applicants. Try our free OINP Points Calculator to view your score as well as which documents you would require to support your EOI.

If the applicant is then selected based on their EOI, they will be given a set date to submit their full application to OINP. If that application is then approved, they will receive a Provincial Nomination. The Masters Graduate Stream does not require an Express Entry profile. This means that applicants who receive a provincial nomination under this stream will not submit their application for permanent residence through the Express Entry system.

In order to submit an EOI under the OINP’s Masters Graduate Stream, applicants need to meet all of the following criteria:

  • Applicants must have completed at least one academic year of full-time study and obtained their Masters from an eligible university in Ontario;
  • Applicants must have passed an approved language test in English or French with a minimum score at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in listening, reading, writing and speaking (The test must not have been taken more than two years from the time you submit your application, not from the time you received the invitation to apply);
  • Applicants must have lived in Ontario on valid legal status for at least one year in the past two years before applying;
  • Applicants need to be able to show they have the required amount of settlement funds for their family size;
  • Applicants must intend to live and work in Ontario;
  • Applicants must be living in Ontario with legal status, or outside of Canada at the time of their application;
  • Applicants must submit their application within two years of the date listed on their Masters degree.

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the OINP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you meet all of the OINP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

PhD Graduate Stream

The OINP PhD Graduate Stream requires applicants to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) on the OINP website. This EOI will be used to assign applicants a score, which will be used to select applicants. Try our free OINP Points Calculator to view your score as well as which documents you would require to support your EOI.

If the applicant is then selected based on their EOI, they will be given a set date to submit their full application to OINP. If that application is then approved, they will receive a Provincial Nomination. The PhD Graduate Stream does not require an Express Entry profile. This means that applicants who receive a provincial nomination under this stream will not submit their application for permanent residence through the Express Entry system.

In order to submit an EOI under the OINP’s PhD Graduate Stream, applicants need to meet all of the following criteria:

  • Applicants must have obtained their PhD from an eligible university in Ontario and two of the years of their PhD studies must have been completed while living and studying in Ontario on a valid study permit;
  • Applicants must have lived in Ontario on valid legal status for at least one year in the past two years before applying;
  • Applicants need to be able to show they have the required amount of settlement funds for their family size;
  • Applicants must intend to live and work in Ontario;
  • Applicants must maintain legal status if applying from within Canada;
  • Applicants must submit their application within two years of the date listed on their PhD degree.

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the OINP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you meet all of the OINP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream

The OINP Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream requires applicants to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) on the OINP website. This EOI will be used to assign applicants a score, which will be used to select applicants. Try our free OINP Points Calculator to view your score as well as which documents you would require to support your EOI.

If the applicant is then selected based on their EOI, they will be given a set date to submit their full application to OINP. If that application is then approved, they will receive a Provincial Nomination. The Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream does not require an Express Entry profile. This means that applicants who receive a provincial nomination under this stream will not submit their application for permanent residence through the Express Entry system.

For the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream, the applicant needs to have a full-time (minimum of 30 hours per week), paid, permanent position with an indeterminate duration from an employer in Ontario. Self-employed professionals, including physicians, are not eligible under OINP Employer Job Offer streams.

For the Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream, the following criteria apply:

The job offer needs to meet the following criteria:

  • Full-time (minimum of 30 hours per week), paid, permanent position with an indeterminate duration from an employer in Ontario;
  • In TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupation Classification;
  • The wage being offered must be at the median wage level for that occupation, in the specific region of Ontario where the applicant will be working;
  • The position offered must be necessary to the proposed employer’s business;
  • The work must take place primarily in Ontario;
  • The applicant or their family members cannot hold equity in the employer’s company which exceeds 10%;

The applicant needs to meet the following criteria:

  • The applicant must have at least two years of paid full-time (or the equivalent in part-time) work experience in the same occupation as the job offer gained within the five years prior to submitting their application to the OINP OR a licence or other authorization for the job that they have been offered;
  • The applicant must have a license or other authorization for the job that the applicant has been offered if the job is in an occupation that requires a license or other authorization in Ontario;
  • The applicant must have the intention to live in Ontario;

The employer needs to meet the following criteria:

  • Have been in active business for at least three years prior to submission of the application;
  • Have business premises in Ontario where the applicant will work;
  • Can demonstrate that enough effort was made to recruit a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident prior to offering the position to the applicant (does not apply if the applicant is currently living and working in Ontario on a valid work permit OR the employer has obtained a LMIA)
  • Has earned a minimum of $500,000 in total gross annual revenue in the most recently completed  fiscal year if the applicant will work or report to work at a location outside the Greater Toronto Area or a minimum of $1,000,000 in total gross annual revenue in the most recently completed  fiscal year if the applicant will work or report to work at a location in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions);
  • Employ a minimum of five full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the same location where the applicant will work, or will report to work, if they will work or report to work at a location in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions) or a minimum of three full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the same location where the applicant will work, or will report to work, if the applicant will work or report to work at a location outside the Greater Toronto Area.

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the OINP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you meet all of the OINP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream

The OINP Employer Job Offer: International Student stream requires applicants to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) on the OINP website. This EOI will be used to assign applicants a score, which will be used to select applicants. Try our free OINP Points Calculator to view your score as well as which documents you would require to support your EOI.

If the applicant is then selected based on their EOI, they will be given a set date to submit their full application to OINP. If that application is then approved, they will receive a Provincial Nomination. The Employer Job Offer: International Student stream does not require an Express Entry profile. This means that applicants who receive a provincial nomination under this stream will not submit their application for permanent residence through the Express Entry system.

For the Employer Job Offer: International Student stream, the applicant needs to have a full-time (minimum of 30 hours per week), paid, permanent position with an indeterminate duration from an employer in Ontario.

For the Employer Job Offer: International Student stream, the following criteria apply:

The job offer needs to meet the following criteria:

  • Full-time (minimum of 30 hours per week), paid, permanent position with an indeterminate duration from an employer in Ontario;
  • In TEER Category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupation Classification;
  • The wage being offered must meet or be above the low wage level for that occupation, in the specific region of Ontario where the applicant will be working;
  • The position offered must be necessary to the proposed employer’s business;
  • The work must take place primarily in Ontario;

The applicant needs to meet the following criteria:

  • The applicant or their family members cannot hold equity in the employer’s company which exceeds 10%;
  • The applicant completed an undergraduate degree or diploma at an eligible Canadian institution that took at least two years to complete if they studied on a full-time basis, or a graduate degree, diploma or certificate at an eligible Canadian institution that took at least one year to complete if they studied on a full-time basis (More than half of your studies must have been completed at an eligible Canadian institution while living and studying in Canada);
  • The applicant must have a licence or other authorization for the job that the applicant has been offered if the job is in an occupation that requires a license or other authorization in Ontario;
  • The applicant must have the intention to live in Ontario;
  • The applicant must submit their application to the OINP within two years of the date on their degree, diploma or certificate.

The employer needs to meet the following criteria:

  • Have been in active business for at least three years prior to submission of the application;
  • Have business premises in Ontario where the applicant will work;
  • Has earned a minimum of $500,000 in total gross annual revenue in the most recently completed  fiscal year if the applicant will work or report to work at a location outside the Greater Toronto Area or a minimum of $1,000,000 in total gross annual revenue in the most recently completed  fiscal year if the applicant will work or report to work at a location in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions);
  • Employ a minimum of five full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the same location where the applicant will work, or will report to work, if they will work or report to work at a location in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions) or a minimum of three full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the same location where the applicant will work, or will report to work, if the applicant will work or report to work at a location outside the Greater Toronto Area.

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the OINP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you meet all of the OINP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation witne of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

The OINP Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream requires applicants to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) on the OINP website.  This EOI will be used to assign applicants a score, which will be used to select applicants. Try our free OINP Points Calculator to view your score as well as which documents you would require to support your EOI.

If the applicant is then selected based on their EOI, they will be given a set date to submit their full application to OINP. If that application is then approved, they will receive a Provincial Nomination. The Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream does not require an Express Entry profile. This means that applicants who receive a provincial nomination under this stream will not submit their application for permanent residence through the Express Entry system.

For the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream, the applicant needs to have a full-time (minimum of 30 hours per week), paid, permanent position with an indeterminate duration from an employer in Ontario.

For the Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream, the following criteria apply:

The job offer needs to meet the following criteria:

  • Full-time (minimum of 30 hours per week), paid, permanent position with an indeterminate duration from an employer in Ontario;
  • Must be in one of the following occupations if the job offer is in any location in Ontario (inside and outside the Greater Toronto Area) :
    • NOC 44101 – Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations
    • NOC 65202 – Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale
    • NOC 75110 – Construction trades helpers and labourers
    • NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
    • NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
    • NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers
    • NOC 85103 – Nursery and greenhouse labourers
    • NOC 94141 – Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
  • Must be in one of the following occupations if the job offer is outside the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions):
    • NOC 94100 – Machine operators, mineral and metal processing
    • NOC 94105 – Metalworking and forging machine operators
    • NOC 94106 – Machining tool operators
    • NOC 94107 – Machine operators of other metal products
    • NOC 94110 – Chemical plant machine operators
    • NOC 94111 – Plastics processing machine operators
    • NOC 94124 – Woodworking machine operators
    • NOC 94132 – Industrial sewing machine operators
    • NOC 94140 – Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing
    • NOC 94201 – Electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers
    • NOC 94204 – Mechanical assemblers and inspectors
    • NOC 94213 – Industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators
    • NOC 94219 – Other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors
    • NOC 95102 – Labourers in chemical products processing and utilities
  • The wage being offered must be at the median wage level for that occupation, in the specific region of Ontario where the applicant will be working;
  • The position offered must be necessary to the proposed employer’s business;

The applicant needs to meet the following criteria:

  • The applicant must have at least 9 months of full-time (or the equivalent in part-time) paid work experience in Ontario, in the same in-demand occupation (same NOC code) as the job they are being offered which was obtained on a valid work permit;
  • The applicant must have gained the above work experience within the three years prior to submitting their application to the OINP;
  • The applicant must have a licence or other authorization for the job that the applicant has been offered, if the job is in an occupation that requires a license or other authorization in Ontario;
  • The applicant needs to have achieved a minimum score of a CLB 4 in all sections of an approved language test in English or French;
  • The aplicant needs to have a minimum of a high school diploma which has been assessed by an approved organization;
  • The applicant must have the intention to live in Ontario;
  • The applicant must have the settlement funds required for their family size;

The employer needs to meet the following criteria:

  • Have been in active business for at least three years prior to submission of the application;
  • Have business premises in Ontario where the applicant will work;
  • Has earned a minimum of $500,000 in total gross annual revenue in the most recently completed  fiscal year if the applicant will work or report to work at a location outside the Greater Toronto Area or a minimum of $1,000,000 in total gross annual revenue in the most recently completed  fiscal year if the applicant will work or report to work at a location in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions);
  • Employ a minimum of five full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the same location where the applicant will work, or will report to work, if they will work or report to work at a location in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions) or a minimum of three full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the same location where the applicant will work, or will report to work, if the applicant will work or report to work at a location outside the Greater Toronto Area.

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the OINP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you meet all of the OINP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

OINP Business Programs

Entrepreneur Stream

The OINP Entrepreneur Stream is a points-based system and those with the higher scores will be selected. To be eligible to enter an Expression of interest to the OINP Entrepreneur Stream, applicants need to meet the following basic requirements:

  • Intention to reside in Ontario
  • Ability to listen, read, write and speak English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4;
  • Commitment to be actively involved, on an ongoing basis, in the management of the business;
  • Minimum investment of $600,000 Canadian Dollars if operating a business in the Greater Toronto Area OR $200,000 Canadian Dollars if operating a business outside of the Greater Toronto Area OR in any part of Ontario but the business is in the information and communications technology/digital communications sector;
  • Minimum net worth of $800,000 Canadian Dollars if operating a business in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto and Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions) OR $ 400,000 Canadian Dollars if operating a business outside of the Greater Toronto Area;
  • May identify a business partner for nomination to assist in the establishment of the business in Ontario;
  • Must control at least ⅓ of the equity in the business;
  • Create at least two full-time, permanent jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents if operating a business in the Greater Toronto Area OR one full-time permanent job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident if operating a business outside of the Greater Toronto Area OR in any part of Ontario but the business is in the information and communications technology/digital communications sector;
  • Have at least 24 months’ worth of full-time business experience in the past 60 months as a business owner or senior manager;
  • If purchasing an existing business in Ontario:
    • you will need to make an exploratory visit to Ontario within the 12 months preceding the submission of your application
    • you must make at least one business-related visit to Ontario within 12 months from the date of registering an expression of interest
    • the business being purchased must have been in continuous operation by the same owner(s) for the previous 60 months (proof of ownership and either a letter of intent to purchase the business or sale agreement is required)
    • ownership of the business must be completely transferred to the applicant or any business partner
    • the previous owner(s) cannot retain any shares of the business
    • you must use at least 10% of your personal investment towards improving or expanding the business in Ontario
    • you must keep all permanent, full-time jobs in the business prior to the transfer of ownership
    • the proposed business must not have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees, including anyone who has received a certificate of nomination under the Entrepreneur Stream or the Opportunities Ontario Investor Component
  • For this program, you would enter into a Pool of applicants and would be assigned a score. You would be allowed to proceed if your score is selected.

The following businesses are not eligible under the OINP Entrepreneur Stream

  • Project-based and seasonal businesses
  • automated car wash business
  • holding companies
  • laundromats
  • pawnbrokers
  • payday loan and related businesses
  • scrap metal recycling
  • tire recycling
  • a business involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services
  • businesses which have been previously owned or operated by a current or former OINP Entrepreneur Stream nominee or a nominee under the former investor component of the Opportunities Ontario program

If your proposed business will be located in the Greater Toronto Area, the following businesses are also ineligible under the OINP Entrepreneur Stream:

  • existing franchises in Ontario (new foreign franchises expanding into Ontario are permitted)
  • gas stations
  • bed and breakfasts

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the OINP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you meet all of the OINP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

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