Ontario's Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream

Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream is an immigration stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The stream was designed for foreign nationals who have work experience in eligible skilled trade in the province of Ontario. Ontario’s Skilled Trades Stream requires applicants to be living in Ontario and hold a valid work permit at the time they submit their application. Those on maintained status can apply.

Applicants cannot apply directly to the Skilled Trades Stream, they have to wait to receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) first. If an applicant has not received a NOI, then they cannot apply for a provincial nomination. If selected, applicants receive a NOI through their Express Entry profile. After receiving a NOI, applicants submit a complete application to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). After their application is assessed, if it is approved, they are issued with a Provincial Nomination from the province of Ontario. This adds 600 points to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in Express entry.  To be considered under Ontario’s Skilled Trades Stream, applicants need to meet all the following criteria.

To be eligible for consideration under Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, you must have:

• at least one year of cumulative paid full-time work experience (or the equivalent in paid part-time work) in Ontario in one of the following skilled trades:
  • Major Group 72 (excluding occupations under transportation officers),
  • Major Group 73
  • Major Group 82
  • Major Group 83
  • Major Group 93 (excluding aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors)
  • Minor Group 6320 (excluding cooks)
• if you received a notification of interest as part of a targeted draw, you will need to demonstrate that at least six months of your one year of eligible work experience is in your primary NOC

Your work experience must have been:

• obtained within the last two years from the date of submitting your application to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
• in one or more of the occupations that you identified in your Express Entry profile
• in Ontario while maintaining legal status in Canada
• if you worked in a compulsory trade, your work experience must have been acquired after becoming qualified to practice that occupation in Ontario

Your work experience must not have been:

• gained while studying full-time at a post-secondary institution (for example, on a co-op work term)
• self-employed work experience
• volunteer work
• an unpaid internship

If you are claiming work experience in a compulsory trade, even if you are no longer working in the trade, you must have a valid certificate or licence in Ontario at the time you apply and you must have held a valid certificate or licence that covers the period of work experience that is being used to meet the minimum one year of work experience in an eligible skilled trades occupation.

To be eligible for Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, applicants must have achieved a minimum score of CLB 5 in listening, reading, writing, and speaking on an approved language test in English or French test, regardless of their NOC code. Test results must not be older than two years when submitting your application. You will require language test results that are less than two years old when applying for permanent residence as well.

To qualify for Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream applicants need to have a minimum amount of settlement funds required for their family size. Family size would include the main applicant, their spouse or common-law partner, and any dependent children of the main applicant or their spouse/common-law partner who are under the age of 22.

This financial requirement applies to all applicants, including those who chose to be assessed under the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program. This is different than the Federal requirements, where the Canadian Experience Class is exempt from showing proof of funds. The settlement funds requirements are as follows:

You can meet this requirement through one or a combination of any of the following:

• funds as demonstrated by the balance listed in bank statements, or statements of accounts showing other investments such as non-locked in, fixed term deposits, mutual funds, etc.
• annual earnings from ongoing employment in Ontario
• a job offer in Ontario

Example: Based on your family size, you must have $38,875 (CAD). You have a job offer in Ontario with an annual wage of $35,000 and you have a balance of $5,000 in your savings account for a total of $40,000. By using a combination of your job offer and bank statement, you would meet the settlement fund requirement.

If the reviewing officer notices that your bank statements show a large one-time deposit, they may ask you to provide additional documentation to support that your funds are free of debt or liability.

When selecting individuals for Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program looks at both the applicant’s main NOC code on their Express Entry profile and their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program conducted Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream draws targeting the following NOC codes in 2024:

• NOC 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
• NOC 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
• NOC 72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
• NOC 72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
• NOC 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
• NOC 72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
• NOC 72022 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations
• NOC 72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
• NOC 72101 – Tool and die makers
• NOC 72102 – Sheet metal workers
• NOC 72103 – Boilermakers
• NOC 72104 – Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
• NOC 72105 – Ironworkers
• NOC 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
• NOC 72201 – Industrial electricians
• NOC 72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers
• NOC 72205 – Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
• NOC 72300 – Plumbers
• NOC 72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
• NOC 72302 – Gas fitters
• NOC 72310 – Carpenters
• NOC 72311 – Cabinetmakers
• NOC 72320 – Bricklayers
• NOC 72321 – Insulators
• NOC 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
• NOC 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
• NOC 72403 – Railway carmen/women
• NOC 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
• NOC 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
• NOC 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
• NOC 72422 – Electrical mechanics
• NOC 72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
• NOC 72500 – Crane operators
• NOC 73100 – Concrete finishers
• NOC 73101 – Tilesetters
• NOC 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
• NOC 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
• NOC 73111 – Glaziers
• NOC 73113 – Floor covering installers
• NOC 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
• NOC 73201 – General building maintenance workers and building superintendents
• NOC 73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators
• NOC 73209 – Other repairers and servicers
• NOC 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
• NOC 73402 – Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction
• NOC 82031 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services

If you are invited to submit an application under Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, you will need to submit a complete application to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program within 45 calendar days of receiving your NOI. The application fee for Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream is $1,500.00. When applying, you will require the following documents. All must be scanned and uploaded with your application. Documents not in English or French must be accompanied by a certified or notarized translation.