Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)



Human Capital Priorities stream

 

The Human Capital Category itself divides into two sub-streams. One is the Ontario Express Entry. Programs in this sub-stream are enhanced. This means that they are linked with the Express Entry system.

The following programs fall into the Human Capital Category: Ontario Express Entry sub-stream:

  • Human Capital Priorities: This category includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
  • Skilled Trades: For individuals with relevant Ontario work experience in an eligible trade occupation.
  • French-Speaking Skilled Worker: This program operates, like Human Capital Priorities, through FSWP and CEC. Applicants for French-Speaking Skilled Worker must have strong skills in both French and English.

If you receive a nomination through Ontario Express Entry, you will be notified. It will then be up to you, the candidate, to accept or refuse the nomination. Accepting the nomination awards you with an extra 600 CRS points. This means that you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the next all-program Express Entry draw.

Eligibilities

 

The following are the minimum requirements needed to be eligible through one of the streams under the Human Capital Category:

  • Must have enough money to support yourself and your family.
  • Must intend to live in Ontario
  • Must meet the additional requirements for the stream you are applying for, set out below:

Category

Is a job offer required?

Express Entry aligned?

Additional Requirements

Human Capital Priorities Stream

No

Yes

·     Must have valid Express Entry profile.

·     Must have at least one year of full-time paid work experience in TEER Category 0, 1, 2 or 3

·     Must have a bachelor’s, masters or PhD degree.

·     Language requirement: CLB level 7 or higher (English or French)

French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

No

Yes

·     Must have valid Express Entry profile

·     Must have at least one year of full-time paid work experience in TEER Category 0, 1, 2 or 3

·     Must have a bachelor’s, masters or PhD degree

·     Language requirement: CLB level 7 or higher (French).

Skilled Trades Stream

No

Yes

·     Must have valid Express Entry profile

·     at least one year of cumulative paid full-time work experience (or the equivalent in paid part-time work) in Ontario 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) of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)

·     Must have a valid certificate or licence (if applicable)

·     Must be currently living in Ontario and hold a valid work permit at the time of application

·     Language requirement: CLB level 5 or higher (English or French)

 

 

How it works:

  • Once you know which stream you are eligible for, you must register for a ONe-key account on the OINP website.
  • You will be required to create a profile and then begin your application through the portal, by clicking the file number besides the stream you wish to apply for. You will also need to upload the required documents.
  • If you are applying for one of the Express Entry streams, you must maintain a valid profile until you are nominated.
  • If your application is successful, you will be receiving a Nomination Approval Letter and an OINP Certificate of Nomination by email.
  • For Express Entry Streams: You will then receive your nomination through your Express Entry profile. You will need to accept the nomination, after which you will receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. This means you will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry in the next draw.
  • For Graduate Streams: You will then be required to apply for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) within six months. Include your nomination approval letter and certificate with your application.

Masters and PhDs Stream

 

The following programs are not aligned with Express Entry. An applicant must create a profile and register an expression of interest (EOI):

  • Masters Graduate Stream: For individuals who received Masters degrees from an Ontario University
  • PhD Graduate Stream: For individuals who received Ph.D.’s from an Ontario University.

Category

Is a job offer required?

Express Entry aligned?

Additional Requirements

Masters Graduate Stream

No

No

  • Must have a masters degree from an eligible university in Ontario.
  • Language requirement: CLB level 7 or higher (English or French)
  • Must have legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years.

 

PhD Graduate Stream

No

No

  • Must have a PhD degree from an eligible university in Ontario.
  • Must have legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years.

 

 

 

Employer Job Offer Stream

 

The following three programs exist under the Employer Job Offer Category:

  • Foreign worker stream: for skilled workers;
  • In-demand skills stream: for intermediate skilled workers in certain sectors, such as agriculture, construction, trucking and personal support workers.
  • International students: for recent graduates of Ontario post-secondary institutions;

 

Eligibilities

  • Must have a full-time, permanent job offer in an eligible occupation in Ontario;
  • Must have work experience, licence or other authorization that is required to perform the job;
  • Must intend to live in Ontario;
  • Employer must meet additional requirements (business, revenue, employment).

Category

Is a job offer required?

Additional Requirements

Foreign Worker Stream

Yes

  • Your job offer must be in a skilled occupation at TEER (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) category 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). This stream is open to foreign workers in and outside of Canada.
  • Must have two years of work experience if occupation does not require license or other authorization
  • Pay must be higher than the median wage level for that occupation in Ontario

In-Demand Skills Stream

Yes

  • Job must be in an in-demand occupation
  • Must have nine months of work experience
  • Language requirement: CLB 4 or higher (English or French)
  • Must have a high school diploma
  • Pay must be higher than the median wage level for that occupation in Ontario

International Student Stream

Yes

  • Job offer must be in a skilled occupation at TEER (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
  • Pay must be higher than the low wage level for that occupation in Ontario
  • Must have a two-year degree or diploma from a Canadian institution.

 

 

How it works:

You are first required to create a profile on the OINP e-Filing Portal, and register your Expression of Interest (EOI).

Ontario regularly holds provincial draws to invite the highest-ranking candidates in the pool. If you are invited, you will receive a notification in the portal and you will have to submit your application within 14 calendar days. You can submit your application through your ONe-key account. 

Business Category

 

The Business Category is for those who wish to start a business or buy an existing business in Ontario. There is currently only one stream under the Business Category – Entrepreneur Stream.

 

Eligibilities

  • Must have business experience of 24 months in the last 60 months
  • Must have a net worth of CAD $800,000 if the business will be located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) OR CAD $400,000 if the business will be located outside the GTA
  • Must make a minimum personal investment of CAD $600,000 if the business will be located in the GTA OR CAD $200,000 if the business will be located outside the GTA
  • Must control at least one-third of the equity in the business.
  • Must be actively involved in the management of the business
  • The main purpose of investing must be to make profit
  • Must create at least two permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, if the business will be in GTA, OR one permanent full-time job if the business will be outside the GTA. If the business is in the information and communications sector, or digital communications sector, only one full-time job is required, regardless of location.
  • Must meet additional requirements if you are purchasing an existing business.

How it works:

  • You must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by contacting the OINP by email and request a copy of the registration form. You will be required to complete the form and send it back by email.
  • You will then be placed in a pool and will be ranked against other candidates. Ontario regularly holds draws where the highest-ranked candidates are invited to submit an application to the Entrepreneur Stream, through the OINP e-Filing Portal.
  • You will also need to hire a qualified vendor to review your personal net worth and legal accumulation of funds.