Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)is one of the best pathways for foreign workers and international students to immigrate to Canada. This program is also known as Ontario PNP which has several streams you can choose from to take your first step towards gaining permanent residency status in Canada.

In this PNP program selected candidates get the invitation to apply (ITA) which makes them eligible to live and work permanently in the province. The best part of this program is its processing time, as this program is much faster compared to other programs.

If you are planning to immigrate to Canada through provincial nomination programs, then we would like to recommend you check their official websites regularly to apply at on right time as when they reach their quota which is usually set annually, they close giving invitation for the period of time.

What are the benefits of the Provincial Nomination Program?

Provincial Nomination Programs are the best pathway to immigrate to Canada as there are several benefits of applying through the PNP program. I am listing below some of the key benefits of applying through these programs:

• Increase CRS score: One of the best benefits of the PNP program is it makes you eligible to get 600 additional points. These 600 points can be life-changing for you and decide your success in getting an ITA to apply for permanent residency.
• Less CLB requirement: Some provincial program doesn’t require high language score to qualify for the program. You can apply for the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) with a band score as low as 4.5 only.
• Low points requirements: Another benefit of applying through the PNP program is their low points requirement in comparison to the Express Entry stream.
• Processing time: If you apply your application through provincial nomination then it’s most likely you’ll get your PR approval sooner than express entry stream.

What are the options do we have to acquire the OINP nomination?

There are two different ways to acquire the Ontario PNP certificate.

• Candidates can directly submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the OINP e-filing portal. Candidates will then be assessed according to a points grid, and eligible candidates will be invited to apply for the program. Once nominated they can then create a Canada Express Entry profile and submit their nomination details.
• The other option for prospective immigrants interested in moving to Ontario is to create an Express Entry profile and use the online immigration system to indicate an interest in the province. 

Types of categories under OINP

As we have mentioned in the beginning that Ontario PNP has several streams you can apply from, so in this section, we’ll cover the type of categories which will help you to decide the best option to apply for provincial nomination.

The OINP program has three main categories and each category is divided into several other categories:

• Employer Job offer
• Human Capital
• Business

Employer Job Offer Category

This program is designed for employers to meet their human resource needs by recruiting foreign workers and international students to fill the shortage of workforce in the industry.

The employer job offer category has three Streams. To get the invitation for OINP you must have a full-time and permanent job offer from an Ontario employer.

The Employer job offer category has three streams such as

International Student Stream

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers international students with a job offer in a skilled occupation at Skill Type 0 or Skill Levels A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC), the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario.

Applicants can only apply for this stream if they have received a full-time job offer from an Ontario employer and have a completed and signed Employer Form to upload as part of their application process.

The best part of this stream is, it is open to international students in and outside of Ontario, which means graduates of study programs across Canada are eligible to apply in this stream.

If your application is successful, you will receive a Nomination Approval Letter and an OINP Certificate of Nomination by email. 

You will need to include your Nomination Approval Letter and the OINP Certificate of Nomination while applying for your residency through IRCC.

To qualify for this stream, you must:

• have received the full-time & permanent job offer in Ontario
• have a job offer in a skilled occupation at skill type 0 or skill Levels A or B of the National Occupation Classification (NOC)
• be getting higher than the median wage level for the occupation you’re working in.

Foreign Worker Stream

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) gives foreign workers with a job offer in a skilled occupation at Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC), the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario.

Applicants can only apply if they have received a full-time job offer of an indeterminate duration from an Ontario employer.

If your application is successful, you will receive a Nomination Approval Letter and an OINP certificate of Nomination by email. 

You will need to include your Nomination Approval Letter and an OINP Certificate of Nomination while applying for your residency through IRCC.

To qualify for this stream, you must:

• have received the full-time & permanent job offer in Ontario 
• have a job offer in a skilled occupation at skill type 0 or skill Levels A or B of the National Occupation Classification (NOC)
• be getting higher than the median wage level for the occupation you’re working in.

In-Demand Skill Stream

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers an opportunity for in-demand foreign workers with a job in specific occupations in the agricultural, construction, trucking, or personal support work to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario.

Applicants can only apply if they meet all eligibility criteria, have received a permanent and full-time job offer from an Ontario employer.

If your application is successful, you will receive a Nomination Approval Letter and an OINP Certificate of Nomination by email.

You will need to include your Nomination Approval Letter and the OINP Certificate of Nomination while applying for your residency through IRCC.

To qualify for this stream, you must:

• have received the full-time & permanent job offer in Ontario 
• have a job offer in a skilled occupation at skill level C or D of the National occupation Classification (NOC)
• NOC 3413 – nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
• NOC 4412 – home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers
• NOC 7441 – residential and commercial installers and servicers
• NOC 7511 – transport truck drivers
• NOC 7521 – heavy equipment operators (except crane)
• NOC 7611 – construction trades helpers and laborers
• NOC 8431 – general farmworkers
• NOC 8432 – nursery and greenhouse workers
• NOC 8611 – harvesting laborers
• NOC 9462 – industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers, and related workers
• be getting higher than the median wage level for the occupation you’re working in.

Human Capital Category

Ontario PNP helps employers to meet their human resource needs by enabling them to recruit foreign workers and international students.

The Human Capital Category has two sub-categories, the international graduate streams, and Ontario’s Express Entry streams.

International Graduate Stream

Under this stream, there are two sub-categories, Masters Graduate Stream and Ph.D. Graduate Stream.

Master Graduate Stream

This stream gives international graduates with an Ontario master’s degree the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario.

To qualify for this stream, you must have:

• at least one academic year of full-time study (that is at least 15 hours of instruction per week over the academic year)
• the degree must be from an eligible university in Ontario
• legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years before you apply
• applied within two years of completing your master’s degree. If you have not received your degree yet use the date on the official letter from your university which states when your degree will be granted.

Note: You won’t qualify for this stream If you are on a scholarship or any grant which requires your return to your home country after you earn your master’s degree.

Ph.D. Graduate Stream 

This stream offers an opportunity for international students with a Ph.D. degree obtained in Ontario to apply to permanently live and work in the province.

To qualify for this stream, you must have:

• at least two years of your Ph.D. studies must have been completed while living and studying in Ontario.
• the degree must be from an eligible university in Ontario
• legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years before you apply
• applied within two years of completing your Ph.D. degree. If you have not received your degree yet use the date on the official letter from your university which states when your degree will be granted.

Note: You won’t qualify for this stream If you are on a scholarship or any grant which requires your return to your home country after you earn your master’s degree.

Ontario Express Entry

To qualify under Ontario’s Express Entry streams, you must have a profile in the federal government’s Express Entry system and receive a Notification of Interest from Ontario.

In this stream, there are three sub-categories:

Human Capital Priorities stream

This stream is best suited for foreign workers who have the required skilled work experience, language abilities, and education. In the Human Capital Priorities stream, foreign workers can apply for permanent residency which enables them to permanently live and work in Ontario.

To qualify for this program, you must have your profile created in IRCC’s Express Entry system. Once you’re nominated or get the Invitation to Apply (ITA) then you can submit your complete application along with supporting documents to get the approval of permanent residency in Canada.

Skilled Trades Stream

Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream is designed for skilled workers with work experience in an eligible skilled trade who want to live and work permanently in Ontario.

To qualify for this program, you must have at least one year of paid work experience as full-time (or the equivalent in part-time) work experience in Ontario, which should be within two years from the date of issuance of the Notification of Interest (NOI) from Ontario.

French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

Ontario’s Express Entry 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. 

To qualify for this stream, you must be able to understand, read, write, and speak French at a level of CLB 7 or higher.

You must also be able to understand, read, write, and speak English at CLB level 6 or higher.

Important: In Ontario’s Express Entry Stream, applicants may not apply directly to be nominated. In this stream, applicants must have their profile registered on Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) portal.

The Process to apply – Ontario’s Express Entry

OINP searches the Express Entry pool to find candidates who meet the criteria of Ontario’s Express Entry Stream.

If you’re lucky and your profile gets shortlisted, then you’ll get the Notification of Interest (NOI) in your Express Entry account to apply further for the OINP invitation.

Note: You have 45 calendar days after you receive your NOI to apply for Ontario PNP.

To create a profile in the Express Entry pool, you must:

• have your language results (IELTS, CELPIP)
• have your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report, if you completed your study outside Canada
• have checked the NOC code related to your past work experience

If your profile is selected from the Express Entry pool, then you will receive an Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code. These two numbers need to be submitted along with your application for a notification from OINP.

Once you received an invitation from OINP, you can apply for your residency application through the IRCC Express Entry account and wait for the outcome.

Business Category

In the Business Category there is only one stream:

Entrepreneur Stream

The main objective of this visa category is to attract foreign entrepreneurs to the province. Under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) business stream, entrepreneurs interested in starting a new business or buying an existing business can be nominated by the Province for permanent residency.

To qualify for this business stream, you must:

• register an Expression of Interest
• If invited, then submit an application
• have at least 24 months of full-time business experience in the last 60 months.
• have a minimum net worth of $800,000 CDN If your business is in GTA & $400,000 CDA If it is located out-side GTA (Greater Toronto Area)
• attend an interview at the OINP office along with your partner (if applicable)

If your application successful you will be liable to sign a performance agreement basis in which OINP will issue you a temporary work permit support letter by using this letter you have to apply for your temporary work permit through IRCC.

 Once your application is approved for a work permit, then you will have 20 months to implement your business plan and submit a final report basis which IRCC will decide to grant permanent residency in Canada.

Language testing organizations

Applicant’s language test must be from one of the following language testing organization:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
• Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF Canada) to test proficiency in French
• Test de Connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada) to test proficiency in French

Application Cost

Below are the Government fees which are in CAD (Canadian Dollars) and based on one person in the application. These fees will vary depending on the number of applicants applying or included in the application.    

• Employer Job Offer: $1500 for Outside GTA & $2000 for Inside GTA(except student Class)
• Human Capital Stream:$1500
• Business Stream: $3500
• Permanent Residence Fee: $550
• Right of Permanent residence fee: $490

Important Instructions:

• You must apply online through the OINP e-filing portal
• You must submit your application within 14 calendar days after your registration on the portal
• Application fees must be paid by credit card, only accept Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard, and MasterCard Debit
• If your application is successful, you will receive a nomination approval letter by email
• Once you are notified that your application for PNP has been successfully approved, your next step is to apply for permanent residency through IRCC within six months.

Note: Getting a nomination from any Provincial program plays a crucial role in the success of your permanent residency application as it will increase your CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) score by 600 points which is more than enough to get the invitation to apply for residency status in Canada.

We hope this article will help you to know about Ontario PNP and and takes you a step closer to your dream of working and settling in the Canada.

At Blogimmi, we help applicants to travel, study, and settle abroad by connecting them to their preferred destinations. We eliminate the frustration with complex application procedures by streamlining the process with our fully online on-demand consulting.

Our advisors are ready to answer your queries 24/7. If you have any questions, feel free to reach us by email or phone call.

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