Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
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Overview
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).
Foreign workers, international students and others with the right skills, experience and education apply to the OINP for a nomination.
The OINP recognizes and nominates people for permanent residence who have the skills and experience the Ontario economy needs, and the Government of Canada makes the final decision to approve applications for permanent residence.
Ontario immigration
For many, Ontario is the crown jewel in the Canadian landscape. It is located in the vast province, east-central Canada, the nation’s largest city, Toronto, the national capital, Ottawa and a host of other cities, towns and communities that have welcomed new people around the world for decades.
But how to get there? In addition to federal programs, programs managed under the Express Entry Immigration System, such as Ontario’s immigration officers, also provide unique opportunities for Canada.
In other cases, applicants can arrive in Ontario via the OINP having never gone through the Express Entry system. International students and graduates benefit from streams aimed at targeting newcomers with various levels of educational attainment.
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The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program: An Overview
The following table shows the range of immigration streams and categories operated by the Ontario immigration authorities. Click on any item in the left column to learn more about that particular stream or category.
| Stream/Category | Job offer required? | Basic criteria |
| Human Capital Priorities | No | Be in the Express Entry pool as a FSW or CEC candidate and meet a minimum CRS score requirement determined by the director [of the OINP] |
| French-Speaking Skilled Worker | No | Be in the Express Entry pool as a FSW or CEC candidate with adequate-intermediate (CLB 7) or better French and developing-intermediate (CLB 6) or better English ability |
| Skilled Trades | No | Be in the Express Entry pool as a CEC candidate and currently residing in Ontario, with work experience in a listed skilled trade occupation |
| Stream/Category | Job offer required? | Basic criteria |
| Masters Graduates | No | Graduated from a Master’s program in Ontario within the last two years |
| PhD Graduates | No | Graduated from a PhD program in Ontario within the last two years |
| Stream/Category | Job offer required? | Basic criteria |
| International Student | Yes | Graduated from a degree program at a Canadian college or university that is at least two years in length, or a diploma program at a college or university that is at least a one-year post-graduate certificate program |
| Foreign Worker | Yes | Have a permanent job offer in a skilled occupation that meets the prevailing wage levels in Ontario for that occupation and region. |
| In-Demand Skills | Yes | Recently worked in Ontario in a high-demand construction or agriculture occupation |
| Stream/Category | Job offer required? | Basic criteria |
| Entrepreneur | No (but must create jobs) | Business owner/managerial experience, high net worth (min. $800,000), personal investment funds (min. $500,000), create two or more jobs |
| Corporate | n/a | Terminated in 2019 |
As the table above shows, the OINP is a highly varied Canadian immigration program containing multiple streams. Some of the basic information may also be presented in a diagram.
Three steps to a successful OINP application
If you want to ensure that your OINP application is as successful and stress-free as possible then you need to make sure that you pay attention to the following helpful steps:
- Make sure you qualify: This may sound like a pretty obvious point to make but the reality is that many OINP applicants fail to ensure that they meet the minimum eligibility qualifying criteria. So, to avoid this stress make sure you meet all the mandatory requirements for the OINP stream you’ve applied for.
- Apply to be nominated by the Ontario government: Once you’ve chosen your stream, you must apply online, through the OINP e-Filing Portal. It takes between two to three hours to complete the application.The application cost for the employer job offer and human capital streams is either $1,500 or $2,000, and for the the business streams is $3,500 per business partner or key staff applicant. Application processing times vary, read Application Processing Times and Nominations Issued for more information.
- Apply to the Government of Canada for permanent residence: If your application is successful and you are nominated by the Ontario government, the next step is to apply for permanent residence through IRCC. The Government of Canada makes the final decision on who becomes a permanent resident.
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