Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Explained

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 through the Human Capital Priorities Stream. Applicants cannot apply directly to the OINP Human Capital Priorities Stream, they have to wait to receive a notification of interest first. 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 a valid Express Entry profile and Job Seeker Validation code;
  • Possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or higher (three-year diplomas will not qualify) unless exempt;
  • Have a valid educational credential assessment if your degree was obtained outside of Canada;
  • Achieve a minimum score of CLB 7 in listening, reading, writing and speaking on an approved language test in English or French.

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.

Click here to view the full program requirements and document checklist. 

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:

Click here to view the full program requirements and document checklist. 

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 in a qualifying trade in Ontario;
  • Are currently living in Ontario AND have a valid work permit at the time you apply;
  • Have a valid Express Entry Profile and Job Seeker Validation code;
  • Achieved a minimum score of CLB 5 in all sections of an approved language test in English or French;

Click here to view the full program requirements and document checklist!

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. 

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