Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) – Canada Immigration Programs

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Ontario is Canada’s most popular landing destination for immigrants from around the world.

As Canada’s most populous province, nearly 40 percent of Canadians call Ontario home. Ontario is also home to Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, and its largest city, Toronto. In many ways, Ontario is the center of Canada’s economic, social, and political life.

Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program is called the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

Through this program, prospective immigrants with the skills and experience targeted by the province may receive an Ontario Provincial Nomination Certificate, which will allow that foreign national to apply for Canadian Permanent Residence with processing times that are faster than other Canadian immigration classes.

The OINP accepts applications under the following immigration categories:

Ontario Express Entry
- Ontario Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities Stream
- Ontario Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
- Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream
General Category (sometimes referred to as Employer Job Offer Category)
- Foreign Workers with a Job Offer Stream
- Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream
International Student Category
- International Students with a Job Offer Stream
- International Students – Masters Graduate Stream
- International Students – PhD Graduate Stream
Business Category
- Entrepreneur Stream
- Corporate Stream
- Investors Category (discontinued)

Canada’s 2017 Immigration Plan

Canada will welcome an increased number of immigrants through the Provincial Nominee Programs in 2017.

Current Status of OINP Immigration Streams

The following table provides details on the current status of each OINP immigration stream.

OINP Stream	Status	Additional Notes
Human Capital Priorities	This stream is expected to open and close intermittently throughout 2017.	Aligned with federal Express Entry system.
French-Speaking Skilled Worker	Open — OINP continues to accept and process applications.	Aligned with federal Express Entry system.
Skilled Trades	Open — Applications being accepted online.	Aligned with federal Express Entry system.
Foreign Worker	Open to eligible candidates whose job offer has been approved through the Employer Pre-screen application process.	Job offer must meet the prevailing wage level in Ontario for that occupation.
In-Demand Skills Stream	Open — Applications being accepted.	Targets workers in certain agriculture and construction occupations with work experience in Ontario and a job offer.
International Student with a Job Offer	Open to eligible candidates whose job offer has been approved through the Employer Pre-screen application process.	Previous education requirement is not Ontario-specific; graduates who studied in any province may be eligible.
International Student – Masters Graduate stream	This stream is expected to open and close intermittently throughout 2017.	Job offer not required.
International Student – PhD Graduate stream	This stream is expected to open and close intermittently throughout 2017.	Job offer not required.
Entrepreneur	Open — OINP continues to accept Expressions of Interest.	Successful applicants obtain Temporary Work Permits before Permanent Resident status may be obtained.
Corporate	Open — OINP continues to accept and process applications.	Successful applicants obtain Temporary Work Permits before Permanent Resident status may be obtained.

Ontario Express Entry

Ontario Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities Stream

This stream enables the OINP to nominate individuals who are eligible to enter the federal Express Entry pool and who have the required education, skilled work experience, language ability, and other characteristics to help them successfully establish and integrate into Ontario’s labour market and communities.

Ontario Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

The Ontario French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream is for French-Speaking skilled workers who have strong English language abilities and who want to live and work permanently in Ontario. This stream enables the OINP to nominate individuals in the Express Entry pool and who have the required education, skilled work experience, language ability, and other characteristics to help them successfully establish and integrate into Ontario’s labour market and communities.

Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream

The Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades stream targets tradespersons with ongoing or recent experience of working in Ontario.

Employer Job Offer Category

Through this category, Ontario employers are able to recruit foreign workers for approved skilled positions (classified by the Government of Canada as NOC Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B). These employees may be living abroad or in Canada at the time of application.

Ontario has also launched the Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream, which targets workers in certain agriculture and construction occupations. Learn more about the Ontario Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream.

International Student Category

This category is for students from abroad. The International Students category accepts applications under the following three streams:

International Student with a Job Offer Stream

This stream was created to help employers recruit international students. It is open to Ontario employers and students with job offers in the province.

International Masters Graduate Stream

This stream targets individuals who have graduated with a Master’s degree from one of Ontario’s publicly funded universities. A job offer is not required.

International PhD Graduate Stream

This stream targets individuals who have graduated from a PhD program at one of Ontario’s publicly funded universities. A job offer is not required.

Business Category

Entrepreneur Stream

This stream is designed to attract individuals who are looking to implement a new business initiative or buy an existing business in Ontario. Successful applicants will obtain a temporary work permit support letter – based on a performance agreement – to establish the business in Ontario. If the investment and job creation agreements outlined in the performance agreement are adhered to, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to be nominated for Canadian permanent resident status.

Corporate Stream

This stream aims to help and support established international corporations looking to expand into Ontario or buy an existing business. Once the business has been successfully established, key staff are eligible to apply for a provincial nomination certificate, allowing them to eventually become permanent residents of Canada.

Investors Stream

As of October 29, 2015, the OINP Investors Stream is closed and no longer accepting applications.