Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

There are three Pathways to qualify for a nomination:
  1. Employer job offer category: for workers who already have a permanent job offer from an Ontario employer
  2. Human capital category: for workers who have valuable work experience, education, language skills, and a profile in Canada’s Express Entry system; or for graduate students
  3. Business category: for entrepreneurs looking to start a new or buy an existing business in Ontario

Employer job offer category

1. Foreign Worker Stream: Workers in Skilled positions

Requirements:
Job Offer :
  • Must be Full-time and permanent (minimum 1,560 hours a year and a minimum of 30 hours of paid work per week)
  • Must be in a skilled occupations at Skill Type 0 or Skill Levels A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
  • Must meet or be higher than the median wage level, for the offered occupations, in the specific region of Ontario
  • Job offer must align with employer’s existing business activities and the position must be urgently needed to maintain or grow ongoing business activity
  • Work must occur primarily in Ontario

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Applicant :
  • Must have received Invitation to Apply (ITA)
  • A valid licence or authorization from the appropriate regulatory body in Ontario for the regulated occupations
  • At least 2 years of cumulative (does not have to be continuous work) paid full-time work experience (equivalent part-time) within the last 5 years while submitting an application in the same occupation of job offer
  • If self employed, must provide employment documentation that is independently verifiable through third parties
  • Must intent to live in Ontario
  • Must have legal status in Canada, if applying from within Canada
Employer:
  • Have been in active business for at least 3 years in Ontario
  • have no outstanding orders made against them under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 or the Occupational Health and Safety Act
  • Must have made efforts to recruit Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • a minimum of $1,000,000 in total gross annual revenue if you will work or report to work at a location in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions) or
  • a minimum of $500,000 in total gross annual revenue if you will work or report to work at a location outside the Greater Toronto Area
  • at least five full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the location where you will work, or will report to work, if you will work or report to work at a location in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions)
  • at least three full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the location where you will work, or will report to work, if you will work or report to work at a location outside the Greater Toronto Area
  • Must make an application for approval of an employment position by filling out and signing an Employer Form

2. International Student Stream: Recent graduates in Ontario

Requirements:
Job Offer :
  • Must be Full-time and permanent (minimum 1,560 hours a year and a minimum of 30 hours of paid work per week)
  • Must be in a skilled occupations at Skill Type 0 or Skill Levels A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
  • Must meet or be higher than the low wage level, for the offered occupations, in the specific region of Ontario
  • Job offer must align with employer’s existing business activities and the position must be urgently needed to maintain or grow ongoing business activity
  • Work must occur primarily in Ontario
Applicant:
  • Must have received Invitation to Apply (ITA)
  • Must have completed a 2 year degree or diploma, or a 1 year degree diploma or certificate on a full-time basis that requires a completed degree as an admission requirement form an eligible Canadian institution
  • Must submit application within 2 years of completing education credential
  • A valid licence or authorization from the appropriate regulatory body in Ontario for the job offer in the regulated occupations
  • Must intent to live in Ontario
  • Must have legal status in Canada, if applying from within Canada
Employer:
  • Have been in active business for at least 3 years in Ontario
  • have no outstanding orders made against them under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 or the Occupational Health and Safety Act
  • Must have made efforts to recruit Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • a minimum of $1,000,000 in total gross annual revenue if you will work or report to work at a location in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions) or
  • a minimum of $500,000 in total gross annual revenue if you will work or report to work at a location outside the Greater Toronto Area
  • at least five full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the location where you will work, or will report to work, if you will work or report to work at a location in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions)
  • at least three full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the location where you will work, or will report to work, if you will work or report to work at a location outside the Greater Toronto Area
  • Must make an application for approval of an employment position by filling out and signing an Employer Form

3. In-Demand Skills Stream: Intermediate skilled workers in specific sectors, such as agriculture, construction, trucking and personal support workers.

Requirements:
Job Offer :
  • Must be Full-time and permanent (minimum 1,560 hours a year and a minimum of 30 hours of paid work per week)
  • Can be in a in any location in Ontario (inside and outside the Greater Toronto Area) and must be in one of the following occupations in National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level C or D:

Noc Code

Job Title

3413

nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates

4412

home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers

7441

residential and commercial installers and servicers

7511

transport truck drivers

7521

heavy equipment operators (except crane)

7611

construction trades helpers and labourers

8431

general farm workers

8432

nursery and greenhouse workers

8611

harvesting labourers

9462

industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers

The position offered must be outside the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions) and must be in one of the following occupations in National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level C or D:

Noce Code

Job Title

9411

machine operators, mineral and metal processing

9416

metalworking and forging machine operators

9417

machining tool operators

9418

other metal products machine operators

9421

chemical plant machine operators

9422

chemical plant machine operators

9437

woodworking machine operators

9446

industrial sewing machine operators

9461

process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing

9523

electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers

9536

industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators

9537

other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors

  • Must meet or be higher than the median wage level, for the offered occupations, in the specific region of Ontario
  • Job offer must align with employer’s existing business activities and the position must be urgently needed to maintain or grow ongoing business activity
  • Work must occur primarily in Ontario
Applicant :
  • Must have received Invitation to Apply (ITA)
  • A valid licence or authorization from the appropriate regulatory body in Ontario for the regulated occupations
  • At least 9 months of cumulative (does not have to be continuous work) paid full-time (minimum 30 hours per week and 1200 hours in 9 month) work experience (equivalent part-time) within last 3 years in Ontario while submitting an application in the same in-demand occupation (same NOC code) of job offer
  • Language ability English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 or higher
  • Must have a Canadian secondary school (high school) diploma or credential, or its equivalent, if from another country, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) that proves education is equivalent to a Canadian high school diploma.
  • Must intent to live in Ontario
  • Must have legal status in Canada, if applying from within Canada
Employer:
  • Have been in active business for at least 3 years in Ontario
  • have no outstanding orders made against them under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 or the Occupational Health and Safety Act
  • Must have made efforts to recruit Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • a minimum of $1,000,000 in total gross annual revenue if you will work or report to work at a location in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions) or
  • a minimum of $500,000 in total gross annual revenue if you will work or report to work at a location outside the Greater Toronto Area
  • at least five full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the location where you will work, or will report to work, if you will work or report to work at a location in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions)
  • at least three full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the location where you will work, or will report to work, if you will work or report to work at a location outside the Greater Toronto Area
  • Must make an application for approval of an employment position by filling out and signing an Employer Form

Human capital category

1. International Graduates

Master Graduate Stream:
  • Must have submitted EOI and have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
  • Must have obtained a master’s degree (at least 1-year full-time study) form an eligible university in Ontario
  • Language ability in English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher
  • Must have lived in Ontario for at least 1 year (cumulative) in the past 2 years
  • Must have enough settlement funds to support yourself and dependent family members
  • Must have intention to live in Ontario
  • Residing in Ontario or Outside of Canada when applying (must not live in another province)
  • Must have legal status in Canada, if applying from within Ontario, Canada
  • Must submit application within 2 years of completing the requirements necessary to obtain master’s degree
PhD Graduate stream
  • Must have submitted EOI and have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
  • Must have obtained a PhD (at least 2-year full-time study) form an eligible university in Ontario
  • Must have lived in Ontario for at least 1 year (cumulative) in the past 2 years
  • Must have enough settlement funds to support yourself and dependent family members
  • Must have intention to live in Ontario
  • Must have legal status in Canada, if applying from within Canada
  • Must submit application within 2 years of completing the requirements necessary to obtain PhD degree

2. Ontario Express Entry Stream:

French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
  • Must qualify under FSWP or CEC and have an EE profile submitted
  • Must have 1 year of paid full-time NOC 0, A, B work Experience (FSW – continuous in past 5 years, CEC – cumulative in past 3 years)
  • Bachelors, Masters or PhD degree obtained in Canada, or Educational Credential Assessment if obtained outside Canada
  • French proficiency at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher
  • Must have enough settlement funds to support yourself and dependent family members
  • Must have intention to live in Ontario
  • Must have legal status in Canada, if applying from within Canada
Human Capital Priorities Stream
  • Must qualify under FSWP or CEC and have an EE profile submitted
  • Must have 1 year of paid full-time NOC 0, A, B work Experience (FSW – continuous in past 5 years, CEC – cumulative in past 3 years)
  • Bachelors, Masters or PhD degree obtained in Canada, or Educational Credential Assessment if obtained outside Canada
  • English or French proficiency at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher
  • Must have enough settlement funds to support yourself and dependent family members
  • Must have intention to live in Ontario
  • Must have legal status in Canada, if applying from within Canada
Skilled Trades Stream
  • Must qualify under CEC and have an EE profile submitted
  • Must have 1 year of paid full-time (equivalent part-time) cumulative work experience in Ontario in last 2 years in a skill trade that is listed in Minor Group 633 or Major Groups 72, 73 or 82 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
  • Trade certification from Ontario College of Trades if occupation is in compulsory trade that requires a license
  • Currently living in Ontario on a valid Work Permit
  • English or French proficiency at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 or higher
  • Must have enough settlement funds to support yourself and dependent family members
  • Must have intention to live in Ontario

Business category – Entrepreneur Stream

The Entrepreneur Stream application is a two-stage process. An overview of the process follows.

Stage 1 :

  • Register an expression of interest by email
  • If invited, submit an online application
  • You and your business partner (if applicable) attend a mandatory interview
  • If your stage 1 application is successful, you must sign a performance agreement
Requirements:
  • Must have at least 2 years of full-time business experience in the last 5 years (business owner or senior manager)
  • Must have minimum personal net worth of $800,000 for the GTA or $400,000 for outside of the GTA proposed business location
  • Must make minimum personal investment of $600,000 within the GTA or $200,000 outside of the GTA ($200,000 for the proposed business in the information and communication technology/digital communications sector regardless of the location)
  • Must have one-third (33%) of equity per nominee
  • Must be actively involved on an ongoing basis in the management of the business
  • Must create at least 2 permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents in the GTA, or at least 1 position outside of the GTA area or in the information and communication technology/digital communications sector
Additional requirements if purchasing an existing business

If you plan to purchase an existing business:

  • you must make at least one business-related visit to Ontario within 12 months from the date of registering an expression of interest
  • the business being purchased must have been in continuous operation by the same owner(s) for the previous 60 months (proof of ownership and either a letter of intent to purchase the business or sale agreement is required)
  • ownership of the business must be completely transferred to the applicant or any business partner
  • the previous owner(s) cannot retain any shares of the business
  • you must use at least 10% of your personal investment towards improving or expanding the business in Ontario
  • you must keep all permanent, full-time jobs in the business prior to the transfer of ownership
  • the proposed business must not have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees, including anyone who has received a certificate of nomination under the Entrepreneur Stream or the Opportunities Ontario Investor Component

Stage 2 :

  • Ontario issues a temporary work permit support letter so that you can apply to IRCC for a temporary work permit.
  • Establish your business – you have 20 months from the date you arrive in Ontario to implement your business plan and submit a final report.
  • If your business meets all requirements, Ontario asks you for documentation to make sure you are eligible for nomination for permanent residence.
  • Meet the criteria of the category
Requirements:
  • English or French proficiency at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 or higher
  • Must live in Ontario for 75% of each year during the Performance Agreement period while establishing a business
  • Must be actively involved in the day-to-day management activities of business
  • Must meet all the commitments agreed to in Performance Agreement

To know more about this program or to assess your eligibility, please fill out our assessment form and submit it through “Request a Consultation” webform.

Other Options for Provincial Nominee Programs

PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAMS

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

SASKATCHEWAN IMMIGRANT NOMINEE PROGRAM (SINP)

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)