Ontario Immigration
Located in central Canada, the province of Ontario is the most popular destination for new immigrants to Canada. Ontario is home to Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, as well as Toronto, the country’s largest city and primary business and financial centre. Ontario is the economic, social, and political heartland of Canada, and is by far the most popular destination in Canada for new immigrants from around the world. About half of the people living in Toronto were born in other countries, and the city is said to be the most multicultural city in the world.
Ontario Immigration Nominee Program
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is the province’s economic immigration program. It works in partnership with the Government of Canada through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The OINP (Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program) is the program used by the province of Ontario to offer permanent residence to targeted immigration candidates so they can contribute to the economy of the province and fill in the gaps in the employment market.
The Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) allows foreign workers, international students and others with the right skills, experience and education to apply for a nomination for permanent residence in Ontario.
The OINP, with its 9 streams, is considered one of the most diversified Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in Canada, with 5 streams for skilled workers and post-graduates (without job offer), 1 stream for entrepreneurs, and 3 other streams for job offer holders.
Ontario Immigration Nominee Program Streams
The OINP accepts applications under the following immigration categories:
- Human Capital Category
for recent graduates with a Master’s or PhD from an Ontario university, and for candidates with the experience and skills to qualify for Express Entry
- Employer Job Offer Category
for candidates with a full-time and permanent job offer from an Ontario employer, education, language skills, and a profile in Canada’s Express Entry system; or for graduate students
- Business Category
for entrepreneurs from outside of Canada who wish to start a new business or buy an existing business in Ontario
Human Capital Category
The OINP Human Capital Category consists of five streams divided into two categories: Ontario’s Express Entry streams and the International Graduates streams.
Ontario’s Express Entry Streams
The OINP’s Express Entry streams are aligned with the federal government’s Express Entry selection system. Candidates can only apply for these streams if they have an active Express Entry profile and if they have received an invitation to apply for a provincial nomination.
- Human Capital Priorities Stream
Applicants with the skilled work experience, language ability, education, and other characteristics who qualified for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry pool are eligible to be nominated by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) using this stream considering the considering the priorities of Ontario’s labor market and communities.
- French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
Applicants who are French-speaking skilled workers who have strong English language abilities and who want to live and work permanently in Ontario that have qualified for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry pool can be nominated by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) using this stream.
- Skilled Trades Stream
Applicants with work experience in an eligible skilled trade, skilled trades’ certification (if required), language ability, and other characteristics who have qualified for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry pool and who want to live and work permanently in Ontario can be nominated by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) using this stream.
International Graduates Streams
Ontario’s two International Graduate streams target international students who have recently obtained a master’s or doctoral degree from an eligible Ontario university.
- Masters Graduate Stream
This stream targets individuals who have graduated with a master’s degree from an eligible Ontario university. A job offer is not required.
- PhD Graduate Stream
This stream targets individuals who have graduated from a PhD program at an eligible Ontario university. A job offer is not required.
Employer Job Offer Category
Through the Foreign Worker and International Student streams, Ontario employers are able to nominate foreign workers and/or international students with an eligible job offer in Ontario. Potential applicants may be living abroad or in Canada at the time of applying. The Employer Job Offer Category has three streams:
- Foreign Worker
for workers who have a job offer in one of the specified groups: management jobs; professional jobs that call for a degree from a university; or technical jobs and skilled trades that call for a college diploma or training as an apprentice
- International Student
for foreign students who have a job offer in one of the specified groups: management jobs; professional jobs that call for a degree from a university; or technical jobs and skilled trades that call for a college diploma or training as an apprentice
- In-Demand Skills
for foreign workers with a job offer in specific in-demand areas, such as agriculture, construction, trucking, or personal support work
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.
