How to Qualify for The OINP

One of the most popular provinces to immigrate to in Canada, Ontario offers plenty of opportunities to find work, affordable housing and a fairly agreeable climate. For the calendar year 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) set immigration targets at 431,645, with a plan to welcome 447,055 newcomers in 2023 and 451,000 in 2024.

To help ensure an equal intake of foreigners of all skill levels, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is set up with various immigration programs to be able to handle the intake accordingly, allow people of all backgrounds to become permanent residents and address the provinces labour requirements To confirm your eligibility for Canadian immigration and start your application process, follow the link below, or read on to learn more about the OINP.

Immigrate to Canada Via Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program

Each province has its own Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and each one is different from the last. Provinces are given the authority to establish immigration streams that will address their economic requirements by allowing them to attract and retain global talent from business owners to students to skilled and semi-skilled workers. Ontario’s Nominee Program, the OINP, is one of the most comprehensive PNP’s because of the large number of immigrants who choose to settle in the province each year. These are the immigration streams, and the requirements for each one that would make you and your dependents eligible for permanent residency in Canada.

How to Qualify for the OINP

In-demand Skills Stream

The In-Demand Skills stream gives foreign workers with a job offer in specific in-demand occupations such as in agriculture, construction, trucking, personal support work, and other select occupations the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario. This stream is open to foreign workers in and outside of Canada.

You must first register in the OINP’s Expression of Interest System and receive an invitation to apply before you can apply online to be nominated by the Ontario government for Canadian permanent residency. If you are nominated, your next step is to apply to the federal government through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). They make the final decision on who becomes a permanent resident.

If you work in the agricultural or construction industry on a temporary foreign work permit (TFWP), you can apply for permanent residency if you meet certain requirements. You must have a full-time, permanent job offer (minimum 30 hours per week). A permanent position means the post has no end date (also known as an indeterminate duration). This means that seasonal and/or contract offers will make you ineligible. The position can be anywhere in Ontario outside of the greater Toronto area and must be in one of the following occupations occupations in National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level C or D:

• 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 labourers
• NOC 8431 – general farm workers
• NOC 8432 – nursery and greenhouse workers
• NOC 8611 – harvesting laborers
• NOC 9462 – industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers

If your occupation requires, you must hold the valid licensure from the appropriate provincial authority or governing body. You must score a minimum of 4 on a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) test in either English or French. You must have the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma. If you graduated from high school in a foreign country you will require an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) to show your qualification meets the Canadian standards.

You will also need to show that you intend to go on living and working in Ontario by providing proof of ties to the province. While this may seem like a lot to digest, obtaining permanent residency is well worth it. If you struggle to wrap your head around all these requirements, speak to one of our professional consultants who will be happy to give you advice and guide you through the application process.

Human Capital Priorities Stream

If you meet the requirements of the Express Entry System's Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or the Canada Experience Class (CEC) Program you can be eligible for this stream by creating an Express Entry profile and an Expression of Interest (EOI) in Ontario.

Under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you must have:

• At least one year of continuous paid full-time work experience (or the equivalent in paid part- time work) in Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). Note that as of November 16, 2022, an updated version, NOC 2021, will replace the existing four-category "skill level" framework
• Work experience obtained within the last five years from the date of submitting your application to the OINP in the same primary occupation as you identified in your Express Entry profile
• Gained your work experience in Canada or overseas
• you accumulated at least 1,560 hours over one year of employment

Under the Canadian Experience Class, you will have to have have:

• A minimum of one year’s continuous paid full-time work experience (or the equivalent in paid part-time work) in Canada in Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the NOC
• Your work experience must have been obtained within the last three years from the date of submitting your application to the OINP in one or more of the occupations that you identified in your Express Entry profile
• Your work experience must have been in Canada while maintaining legal status in Canada
• You must be proficient in understanding, reading, writing and speaking either English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher. To prove your proficiency, you must take an approved English or French language test prior to submitting your application to this stream.
• You should have a Canadian bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree or equivalent.
• If you have completed your studies outside of Canada, you need to get an Educational Credential Assessment report that proves your education is equivalent to a Canadian degree
• You must have sufficient funds to support yourself and your dependents when you settle in Canada

Occupations currently being considered for a provincial nomination under this stream are:

• Computer and information systems managers.
• Computer engineers.
• Database analysts and data administrators.
• Software engineers and designers.
• Computer programmer and interactive media developers.
• Web designers and developers

French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

If you meet the requirements of the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or the Canada Experience Class (CEC) Program you can be eligible for this stream by creating an Express Entry profile and an Expression of Interest (EOI) in Ontario. The language requirement is where you will need to differentiate yourself from other candidates in the FSWP or CEC pool to earn your provincial nomination and permanent residency. You must score a minimum of 7 on one of the French CLB tests:

• Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF) or
• Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada)

And a minimum of 6 on one of the English CLB tests:

• International English Language Testing (IELTS) – we only accept the General Training test
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – we only accept the General test

Ph.D. Graduate Stream

To qualify under the In-Demand Skills stream, you must have a job offer in Ontario from an employer that meets the following requirements:

• If you complete your Ph.D. at a designated learning institution in Ontario, you will be eligible to apply for permanent residency.
• You must submit your application within two years of completing the requirements necessary to obtain your PhD.
• You must not have any commitments in your home country (such as a bursary obligation) and have the required settlement funds.
• You must be able to show an intention to live in Ontario and must have legally lived in Ontario for a minimum of one year in the past two years before you apply. This is vital, make sure you maintain legal status in Canada, even if it means applying for a visitor visa while your permanent residency application is being processed.

Skilled Trades Stream

You will have to have a valid profile in the Express Entry system and receive a Notification of Interest from Ontario prior to applying online for a Canadian permanent residency nomination from the Ontario government.

You will need to either have an offer of employment in your field in Ontario OR have certification in your field from a relevant provincial body.

You must have a minimum of one year’s continuous paid full-time work experience (or the equivalent in paid part-time work) in Ontario in a skilled trade that is listed in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). You must be living in Ontario and hold a valid work permit at the time you apply.

You must be proficient in reading, writing and speaking in English or French or both, at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 or higher.

You must have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family.

Entrepreneur Stream

If you have at least two years of experience as a business owner or senior manager within the last five years, you could be eligible for permanent residency by opening a business in Ontario, granted you also meet these requirements:

If your proposed business is planned to be in the greater Toronto area, your minimum net worth must be at least $800,000 CAD, if it is planned to be outside of the greater Toronto area you will need to show at least $400,000 CAD net worth.

You must invest a minimum of $600,000 CAD into your business in the greater Toronto area, or $200,000 into your business if it is outside of the greater Toronto area. You must also control at least ⅓ of the business.

You must show you will be actively involved in the day-to-day management of the business. If your business will be run inside the greater Toronto area, you must employ at least 2 Canadian citizens or residents on a full-time basis. Outside the greater Toronto area or if your business is in the communication technology or digital communications sector, you must employ at least one Canadian citizen or permanent resident on a full-time basis.

If you are purchasing an existing business, ensure that:

• You make a business visit to the province of Ontario within 12 months of submitting your EOI for a provincial nomination
• The business you purchase has been in continuous operation and ownership for the past 5 years
• Ownership of the business must be completely transferred to the applicant or partner at least 10% of your investment must go toward expanding the business in Ontario all permanent full-time employees must be retained through the purchase and after
• The purpose of the enterprise should be to achieve a profit from active income by means of sale of goods and/or services.
• Your business must comply with all Canadian federal, provincial or municipal legal, regulatory and licensin gcriteria. This would include complying with the province’s labour laws.
• If you receive an invitation to apply you will have to submit proof that you meet all requirements. This should include proof of qualifications.
• Applications should be submitted within 90 days of receiving an invitation.

The Foreign Worker Stream

The Foreign Worker stream allows foreign workers who have a job offer in a skilled occupation the chance to apply to settle permanently and work in Ontario. The stream is available to foreign workers both in and outside of Canada.

The Foreign Worker Stream Application Requirements

To get the application process started, you’ll first have to register for the OINP’s Expression of Interest System. If successful, you’ll get an invitation to apply before applying for a permanent residency nomination from the Ontario government. Once you are nominated, you will have to apply to the federal government through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), who will decide whether or not your permanent residency will be granted.

To qualify under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream, you must have a job offer in Ontario from an employer that meets the following requirements:

• Your job offer must be full-time, meaning that the job must be for a minimum of 1,560 hours a year and 30 hours of paid work per week.
• The position must be for an eligible occupation at Skill Type 0 or Skill Levels A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
• The salary must be in line with or higher than the median wage level, for the specific occupation, in Ontario.
• The position must need to be urgently filled.

You can apply to the Foreign Worker Stream as soon as you obtain an invitation to apply. You will have to meet the following application requirements:

• You will have to have gotten your invitation to apply and have applied within the required timeframe allowed
• You must be able to prove that you have the credentials you mentioned in your expression of interest
• You must have the relevant Work experience or license from a relevant regulatory body
• You must intend to live in the province of Ontario

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