Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is an economic immigration program that intends to fulfill the economic needs of Ontario. Foreign skilled workers, international students, business owners, or entrepreneurs with relevant skills, work experience and education can obtain PR of Canada in Ontario.

In the east-central province of Canada, Ontario is the most populated province and the second-largest by total area after Quebec. It houses the Canada’s capital, Ottawa and the provincial capital is Toronto. More than 8,000 applicants immigrate to Ontario and settle there with their families every year. Selected applicants have experience in different occupations such as teaching, agriculture, health, technology, and skilled trades. Finding a job in Ontario is not so difficult and people easily get jobs based on their education and experience.

Provincial Nominee Program of Ontario selects and nominates candidates for permanent residence who have the abilities and talent that the Ontario economy needs. The federal government of Canada approves the permanent residence of candidates through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Candidates can apply for their provincial nomination in Ontario by creating a profile on the OINP e-Filing Portal.

Immigration to Canada is the dream of millions but the selection of the appropriate province and stream matters a lot. If you also wish to immigrate to Canada and Ontario is your first preference, read carefully. Here you will understand various Ontario PNP streams and the one suitable for your situation.

Ontario Immigration Nominee Program Streams Options

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Streams	Job Offer?	Express Entry Profile-Eligible?	Language Proficiency	Fees	Other Requirements
Foreign Worker Stream	Yes	No	No	CAD 2,000 (If the job offer is for a position in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)), CAD 1500 (If the job offer is for a position outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA))	Income should be higher than Ontario’s median wage for that occupation, at least two years of work experience is required If the profession does not require a license or any other authorization.
International Student Stream	Yes	No	No	CAD 1,500	A post-graduate certificate program of at least one year or graduated with a minimum of two years of a degree program from a recognized college or university in Canada (either in Ontario or other provinces).
In-Demand Skills Stream	Yes	No	Yes	CAD 2,000 (If the job offer is for a position in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)), CAD 1500 (If the job offer is for a position outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA))	Required a work experience of nine months in an in-demand occupation, CLB score level 4 or higher, a high school diploma, income should be higher than Ontario’s median wage for that occupation.
Masters Graduate Stream	No	No	Yes	CAD 1,500	A master’s degree from Ontario’s eligible university, CLB level 7 or higher, legal residence in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years is required.
PhD Graduate Stream	No	No	No	CAD 1,500	A PhD degree from an Ontario university that is recognized, legal residence in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years is required.
Human Capital Priorities Stream	No	Yes	Yes	CAD 1500	Required a degree in bachelor’s, master’s or PhD, a valid Express Entry profile, a minimum of one year of full-time paid work experience, CLB score level 7 or higher.
Skilled Trades Stream	No	Yes	Yes	CAD 1500	A minimum of one year of full-time paid work, Express Entry profile must be valid, CLB score level 5 or higher, currently residence in Ontario, a valid work permit.
French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream	No	Yes	Yes	CAD 1500	Express Entry profile must be valid, Required a degree in bachelor’s, master’s or PhD, CLB score level 7 or higher.
Entrepreneur Steam	No	No	Yes	CAD 3,500 or CAD 3,500 (for a business partner)	Entrepreneurs (from outside Canada) who wish to start a new business or buy or an existing one in Ontario.

There are 9 streams under OINP

If you have a job offer in Ontario, you can apply under Foreign Worker Stream, International Student Stream, and In-Demand Skills Stream.

Applicants need to register in the OINP’s Expression of Interest (EOI) system, and obtain Invitation to Apply (ITA) before applying for Ontario immigration program for permanent residence, if they are applying under Foreign Worker Stream, International Student Stream, In-Demand Skills Stream, Master’s Graduate Stream and PhD Graduate Stream.

Foreign Worker Stream

Foreign workers who have a valid job offer in a skilled occupation in NOC (National Occupational Classification) Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B can apply for Ontario provincial nomination under the Foreign worker Stream. Applicants either living inland or outland Canada are eligible for this stream.

Eligibility criteria

• Paid full-time work experience for at least two years in the same occupation as your job offer
• Your experience must be within five years before the date you submit your application
• Full-time (minimum 30 hours paid work per week) eligible job offer from Ontario employer
• Job offer must be permanent; in other words, there must be no end date
• The wage for the position must be equal to or greater than the median wage level
• If applying from within Canada, you must have legal status at the time of application and until the nomination
• No minimum requirement for language proficiency but CLB 7 or higher will be beneficial to increasing CRS points

International Student Stream

International students living inside or outside Canada who have a valid job offer from an Ontario employer at NOC Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B can apply through the Ontario immigration program for their permanent residence under the international Student Stream.

Eligibility Criteria

• A two year full-time degree or diploma from an eligible Canadian institution, either in Ontario or other provinces
• A valid license or authorization if the job you are applying for demands one
• Legal status if applying from within Canada, at the time of application, and until the nomination
• After obtaining education credentials, you must submit your application within two years
• Proof to demonstrate the intention to live in Ontario
• No minimum language results are required but CLB 7 or more will help in increasing CRS points
• Full-time (minimum 30 hours paid work per week) eligible job offer from Ontario employer
• Job offer must be permanent in other words there must be no end date
• The wage for the position must be equal to or greater than the median wage level
• Offered job must be urgently essential for your employer’s business

In-Demand Skills Stream

Foreign workers living inside or outside Canada who have a valid job offer from an Ontario employer can apply for provincial nomination to Ontario under the In-Demand Skills Stream. The job offered must be in one of the in-demand occupations.

Eligibility criteria

• You must have full-time work experience for at least nine months in Ontario, in the same occupation (NOC Code) as your job offer
• Work experience must be within three years prior to submitting EOI
• High school diploma or credential from Canadian secondary school or Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), if studied outside Canada
• Minimum CLB 4 or higher
• Full-time (minimum 30 hours paid work per week) job offer from Ontario employer in NOC Skill Level C or D and must be urgently essential for your employer’s business
• The wage for the position must be equal to or greater than the median wage level

Master’s Graduate Stream

International graduates who have a master’s degree from any eligible Ontario universities can obtain their provincial nomination from the Ontario immigration program under the Master’s Graduate Stream.

Eligibility Criteria

• CLB 7 or higher
• Legally lived in Ontario for at least one year within the past two years
• Enough settlement funds to support yourself and dependent family members
• Proof to demonstrate the intention to live in Ontario
• At the time of submission of the application, you must be residing inside Ontario or outside Canada. However, you must not be living in any other province or territory of Canada
• Your status must be legal if applying from inside Canada
• You must apply within two years of receiving the master’s degree

PhD Graduate Stream

Applicants who are international graduates and have a PhD degree from an eligible Ontario University can obtain the permanent residence in Canada after obtaining nomination from Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.

Eligibility Criteria

• Your PhD studies of at least two years must be completed while legally staying and studying in Ontario
• Legally lived in Ontario for at least one year within the past two years
• Enough settlement funds to support yourself and dependent family members
• Proof to demonstrate the intention to live in Ontario
• Your status must be legal if applying from inside Canada
• You must apply within two years of receiving the PhD degree

If you have a valid Federal Express Entry profile, you can apply under Human Capital Priorities Stream, Skilled Trades Steam and French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream.

Candidates eligible for these streams need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and receive Notification of Interest (NOI) before applying for Ontario provincial nomination for permanent residence in Canada.

Human Capital Priorities Stream

Eligible candidates are foreign nationals who have required skilled work experience, language abilities, and education. They must have a valid Federal Express Entry profile. Applicants can apply under the Human Capital Priorities Stream, whether they live inside or outside Canada, as long as they meet the requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

• Your Federal Express Entry profile must be valid under
  • Federal Skilled Worker Program or
  • Canadian Experience Class
• Continuous full-time work experience for at least one year within the last five years
• Work experience must be in NOC Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B
• CLB 7 or high
• Canadian Bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degree, but if studied outside Canada, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required
• Enough settlement funds to support yourself and dependent family members
• Proof to demonstrate the intention to live in Ontario
• Your status must be legal if applying from inside Canada

Skilled Trades Steam

Foreign nationals who have Ontario’s work experience in eligible skilled trade occupations and have an Express Entry profile can attain Ontario PNP.  A job offer is not a necessity under this stream.

Eligibility Criteria

• Full-time work experience in a skilled trade occupation, categorized in Minor Group 633 or Major Groups 72, 73, or 82 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) for at least one year in Ontario
• Work experience must be obtained in the last two years
• Minimum of 30 hours of work per week is considered full-time
• License required if worked in compulsory trade skilled trade occupation
• Living and working in Ontario at the time of application
• Minimum CLB 5 or higher
• Enough settlement funds to support yourself and dependent family members
• Proof to demonstrate the intention to live in Ontario

French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

French-speaking skilled workers who are proficient in the English language can obtain Ontario PNP. Applicants must have a valid Federal Express Entry profile and meet the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

• Your profile must be valid for
  • Federal Skilled Worker Program or
  • Canadian Experience Class
• Full-time work experience in Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B
• Canadian Bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degree, but if studied outside Canada, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required
• CLB 7 or higher to prove French proficiency and CLB 6 or higher to prove English proficiency
• Enough settlement funds to support yourself and dependent family members
• Proof to demonstrate the intention to live in Ontario
• Your status must be legal if applying from inside Canada

Entrepreneur Stream

Foreign entrepreneurs who want to start or purchase a business in Ontario can receive their permanent residence in Canada through Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Entrepreneur Stream. Entrepreneurs and their one foreign national business partner can obtain the nomination for PR if they are able to establish their business successfully in Ontario.

First, the applicant needs to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by email. Then they are invited by OINP after considering their profile. An interview is conducted where the entrepreneur and partner both are required to attend the meeting. Following the successful meeting, they both sign a performance agreement.

A temporary work permit support letter is issued, and applicants apply to IRCC for a temporary work permit. Once the business is started, within 20 months, applicants implement the business plan and submit a final report.

Provincial Nomination is issued if the business meets all requirements mentioned in the performance agreement.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must have a two years of full-time business experience in last five years
• Minimum CLB 4 or higher
• Business must be permanent in Ontario; project-based or seasonal businesses are ineligible
• Experience must be as a
  • Business manager (owned at least one-third of the business)
  • Senior manager (senior decision making responsibilities)
• Minimum personal net worth
  • CAD 800,000 (location of the business is within the Greater Toronto Area)
  • CAD 400,000 (location of the business is outside of the Greater Toronto Area)
• Minimum personal investment
  • CAD 600,000 (within Greater Toronto Area)
  • CAD 200,000 (outside of the Greater Toronto Area)
• If the business is in the information and communications technology/digital communications, an investment of CAD 200,000 is necessary, and location does not matters
• Full-time job creation for at least
  • Two Canadian citizens or permanent residents (inside Greater Toronto Area)
  • One Canadian citizen or permanent resident (outside of the Greater Toronto Area or in the information and communications technology/digital communications sector)

If you’re looking to buy an existing business in Ontario

• From the date of registering your Expression of Interest, you must make at least one business visit to Ontario
• Company must have been in existence for the last five years under the same previous owner
• The previous owner must have no shares in the business once you purchase it
• Before transferring ownership, you must maintain all full-time, permanent employment in the company
• In the past, any former OINP Business Stream nominee must not have owned that business

Why is it beneficial to immigrate to Ontario?

• Abundant job opportunities in different sectors such as healthcare, transport truck drivers, high equipment operators, farm and harvesting
• Approximately half of all employees work in high-tech, financial services, and other knowledge-intensive businesses
• Around 30% of the population is born in other countries
• Although taxes and living costs are high, high wages demonstrate a high standard of living
• From kindergarten to secondary school, Ontario provides government-funded free education to its residents
• The University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, and Western University, London are considered top universities in Ontario as well as in Canada
• Ontario’s healthcare plan is OHIP which covers the most basic medical and emergency services

Process and Supporting Documents

In conclusion, processing of each stream under Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is different and the documents also vary. You can leverage the service of Career Plus Immigration Consultants if you want to know the exact processing and supporting documents.

Career Plus Immigration Consultants are always ready to assist you and solve your concerns.