Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers several pathways to permanent residence (PR) for temporary residents living in Ontario – Canada’s most popular newcomer destination.
This is made possible thanks to the Ontario Immigrant Nomination Program (OINP), Ontario’s dedicated provincial nomination program (PNP).
The OINP allows local governments to invite immigrant candidates they believe are best suited to help address local labor market needs and demographic gaps.
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It is one of 11 PNPs operated by provinces and territories across Canada.
Which OINP streams require residency in Ontario?
In Ontario, the three PNP streams specifically require current or former residence in the province.
Skilled Trades Stream: Human Capital Category
Generally, there are four categories in the OINP. One of these categories is the human capital category (discussed in detail below), which includes the skilled trades stream.
As per the eligibility criteria for this stream, interested candidates must currently reside in Ontario and have a valid work permit at the time of applying for PR.
Comment: This stream is tied to IRCC’s Express Entry system, meaning that candidates in the Skilled Trades stream will be awarded 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points if they receive and accept an OINP nomination.
There are also other eligibility criteria for candidates wishing to pursue PR through this stream. Applicants must:
- Have a valid Express Entry profile
- Have at least one year of full-time paid work experience
- Hold a valid license or certificate (if applicable)
- Achieve a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 or higher (English or French)
Masters Graduate Stream: Masters and PhD Category
Candidates can also consider the Masters and PhD category of OINP. This category has two streams, one of which is Ontario’s Masters Graduate Stream.
Designed for foreign nationals with master’s degrees from eligible universities in Ontario, this stream uses the province’s Expression of Interest (EOI) system. This means interested candidates must create a profile and register an EOI to be considered for PR. Unlike the Skilled Trades stream, it is not linked to IRCC’s Express Entry system.
In addition to holding a master’s degree from an eligible Ontario university, applicants must meet the following two criteria:
- have legally resided in Ontario for at least one of the past two years
- Must have achieved CLB level 7 or above (English or French)
PhD Graduate Stream: Masters and PhD Category
The PhD graduate stream is for candidates who hold a PhD degree from an eligible Ontario university.
Like the Masters Graduate stream, this stream is not tied to Express Entry. Again, interested candidates must have legally resided in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years to be eligible for PR through this stream.
Interested applicants are required to create a profile and register an EOI to be eligible for PR.
Comment: There is an application fee of $1,500 (Canadian) for both streams.
What are my other OINP immigration options?
There are four broad categories of OINP.
The following will provide a brief summary of those streams (as well as their eligibility criteria) that have not yet been mentioned in this article. Visit this dedicated webpage for full details on all the categories and streams of OINP, including application fees, how each stream works, and what happens when you receive an OINP nomination.
Comment: Both the Masters and PhD category streams of OINP are mentioned above.
Human capital category
| Stream name | Express Entry Linked? | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Human capital priorities | Yes | *Includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) *Applicants must have a valid Express Entry profile *Applicants must possess a Bachelors, Masters or PhD degree *Applicants must have at least one year of full-time paid work experience |
| French-speaking skilled staff | Yes | *Includes FSWP and CEC * Applicants must have strong language skills in English and French (including CLB level 7 or higher in French) *Applicants must possess a Bachelors, Masters or PhD degree *Applicants must have a valid Express Entry profile *Applicants must have at least one year of full-time paid work experience |
Employer Job Offer Category
| Stream name | Express Entry Linked? | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign workers | No | * Job offer required * For skilled workers with two years of work experience, if the business does not require a license or other certification *The job offer must include a salary that is higher than the average salary level for that occupation in Ontario |
| International Students | No | * Job offer required *For recent graduates of Ontario post-secondary institutions |
| Skills in demand | No | * Job offer required * For “intermediate skilled workers” in certain eligible sectors who have a job offer working in an in-demand occupation *Applicants must have at least nine months of work experience *The job offer must include a salary that is higher than the average salary level for that occupation in Ontario *Applicants must have CLB level 4 or above (English or French) *Applicants must have a high school diploma |
| skilled trades | No | * Job offer required *The job offer must include a salary that is higher than the average salary level for that occupation in Ontario * Applicants must have a two-year degree or diploma from a Canadian institution |
Business Class
| Stream name | Express Entry Linked? | Description |
|---|---|---|
| entrepreneur | No | * For foreign nationals who want to start a business or buy an existing business in Ontario * Applicants must have 24 months of professional experience in the last 60 months * Applicants must control at least one-third of the equity of the business *Applicants must be actively involved in the management of the business |
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