Individuals who immigrate to Canada to start a new life and contribute to the economy are welcomed regardless of their background in school, employment history, or skill set.
Although many immigrants apply the Express Entry system to become permanent residents in Canada, other provincial options, such as the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, may facilitate their migration to the country.
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Through this program, Ontario offers permanent residence to qualified immigrant candidates, enabling them to fill labor market gaps and boost the province’s economy.
Ontario’s companies can benefit from OINP’s assistance in relocating managerial, professional, and skilled foreign personnel and international students to meet their human resources needs.
The Government of Ontario operates this program with the federal immigration agency Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). In this article, we’ll discuss extensively the Ontario immigrant nominee program.
Immigration Streams Under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
Foreigners can apply for the OINP through different immigration channels to receive a Canada PR Visa. Ontario PNP aims to strategically draw immigrants in specific fields who will help the province, such as skilled laborers, entrepreneurs, investors, and workers in labor shortage sectors.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program oversees three immigration streams: Business Immigration, Human Capital, and Employer Job Offer. Each stream is then divided into smaller groups.
If interested, apply directly for a nomination through one of the five routes. These comprise the two sub-streams for Overseas Students and all three for Employer Job Offer.
Additionally, Ontario offers three federal Express Entry-aligned programs for candidates who meet the requirements. These requirements include training, education, experience, language proficiency, and the ability to settle in Ontario and advance the province’s economy.
Meanwhile, the Entrepreneur Category is unique among Ontario’s immigration programs because it only takes Expressions of Interest. As such, interested candidates cannot directly apply for a nomination; instead, they must wait to be chosen and receive an invitation to apply.
They do not need to meet the standards of any federal immigration program, nor do they need to have a valid Express Entry profile.
1. Employer Job Offer
Applicants with a valid employment offer from an employer in the province of Ontario may apply through this route. For the employment offer and the employer to be deemed legitimate, they must meet specific requirements.
The candidate must also fulfill particular requirements related to the stream to which they plan to apply.
- Overseas Worker
- Overseas Student Having a Job Offer
- Skills In-Demand
2. Human Capital
The Human Capital Program in Ontario comprises multiple immigration categories aimed at attracting applicants needed for the province’s workforce.
These streams strongly emphasize experience, skills, or competencies that show an immigrant’s suitability for employment in the province.
Successful immigration under one of the following categories is possible for individuals with a profile in Express Entry, education or work experience in the province, and fluency in both French and English:
- Express Entry – Human Capital Priorities
- Express Entry Skilled Worker French Speaking
- Express Entry – Skilled Trades
- Graduate – Masters
- Graduate- PhD
3. Business Immigration
The province’s business migration streams target affluent corporations and entrepreneurs who want to invest significantly in business development in Ontario.
Companies and entrepreneurs with a proven track record of success are eligible to launch new businesses in Ontario. If these projects are successful, the applicants will be considered for a Canada PR Visa.
- Entrepreneur
- Investor – (Currently Closed)
- Corporate – (Currently Closed)
Ontario PNP draws
Every month, Ontario holds an OINP draw! Candidates in the Express Entry pool are periodically sent notifications of interest and an invitation to apply for nomination through one of the OINP streams compatible with Express Entry.
Following the draws, the process and specifics utilized for each search are disclosed.
What is the Processing Time for OINP?
It is divided into 2 parts:
- The time taken by the Ontario province to offer the nomination.
- The time is taken for the Canada PR Visa to be processed and offered.
The province now projects that most immigration streams will take between 60 and 90 days to process. For skilled trades and express entry, applications are handled in 30 to 60 days.
However, the time it takes to process any business immigration application is determined by its complexity. The federal IRCC processes non-express Entry nominee applications from provinces in 15 to 19 months.
In addition, the customary six-month duration is appropriate for the Express Entry-aligned streams.
The Minimum Requirement to Apply for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
Appropriate Work Experience: You must have worked full-time for at least a year without compensation. Additionally, the experience must fall into one of the three skill types listed on the National Occupation Classification List (NOC): A, B or 0.
Work experience must be completed within the previous five years from your OINP application submission date. Also, the occupation needs to match what your Express Entry profile says.
Education Level: You must have a Graduate, Postgraduate, or Doctoral Degree. You must also submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) Report if you obtained the degree outside Canada.
Proficiency in Language: It would be best to have a proficiency level of at least 6 bands in all 4 abilities under IELTS: Speaking, Listening, Writing, and Reading. The test can be in either French or English.
Proof of Funds Statement: The evidence for funds shows that, upon arrival and settlement in Ontario, you will have enough money to support yourself and your dependent family members.
Statements from fixed deposits, mutual funds, and banks are all available for you to provide.
Age: You must be below 49 when you submit your application to Ontario.
Settlement Plan: If you have applied through the OINP, you must offer a settlement plan that supports your good intentions of permanently settling in Ontario.
Ontario PNP Two-Step Nomination Process
The Ontario Provincial Nominee Program nominates candidates for Canadian permanent residence through a two-step process explained below:
OINP Application
The OINP requires candidates to build and submit an Expression of Interest profile. After reviewing the EOI profile, the OINP will invite qualified applicants to submit a nomination application.
Candidates must highlight their current ties to Ontario and include further information about themselves, including their education, employment history, and language proficiency.
The applicant will receive a nomination certificate from the OINP if their application is approved.
IRCC Application
After that, candidates must use the nomination certificate to apply for permanent residency with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Candidates must also submit extra information during the IRCC application process, including their financial, criminal, and medical histories.
This information is considered when evaluating an application for permanent residency and determining whether to grant it. It is noteworthy that the eligibility requirements for the OINP and IRCC differ.
Thus, prospective candidates should thoroughly understand each program’s requirements before applying. After the IRCC approves their application, foreign immigrants are awarded permanent status in Canada.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Processing Fees
The processing fee for the OINP varies depending on the category and stream you are applying under. The following is a general estimate of the main OINP processing fees by streams:
- Foreign Worker Stream: $1,500
- International Student Stream: $1,500
- PhD Graduate Stream: $1,500
- Master’s Graduate Stream: $1,500
- Skilled Trades Stream: $1,500
- Entrepreneur Stream: CAD $3,500
For the most accurate and recent information regarding these fees, it is essential to check the IRCC website.
OINP Refusal Rate
Because of the extremely high criteria, applications must be adequately prepared and filed in the Ontario PNP streams, and they are only sometimes accepted.
Obtaining a Canada PR Visa through PNPs is typically easier with proper documents, so keep informed and seek advice from the IRCC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program?
There is a pathway to immigration known as the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) for talented immigrants who wish to settle in Ontario permanently.
Ontario may designate skilled immigrants under this scheme to address the labor shortage in the region.
How to apply for OINP?
Firms can benefit from the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, which facilitates the immigration of management, professional, and skilled foreign workers and international students to meet their human resources needs.
The Province of Ontario oversees the OINP and the Federal Department of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Interested parties must complete a two-step process: first, they must apply to the province government for a nomination, and if selected, they must then apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
How many points are required to file the Canada PR application through Ontario PNP?
All applicants must have an Express Entry Canada Comprehensive Ranking System score of 400 points or higher, and this score must remain throughout provincial and federal processing.
Provincial immigration authorities determine the minimum score.
What is the situation for OINP?
Ontario is still accepting applications for provincial nomination and issuing invitations to immigrants admitted to live in the province as permanent residents.
However, due to COVID-19, only immigrants currently residing in the province are invited to apply for provincial nomination.