What is the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program?

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (aka, OINP or Ontario PNP) is a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for Canadian immigration by the province of Ontario. Applicants apply directly to Ontario, and Ontario nominates accepted individuals to Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for immigration.

To qualify for any Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), you must have the skills, education, work experience, and funds needed to settle in the province or territory of your application.

Ontario currently has 10 immigration streams grouped into 3 categories: (a) Employer Job Offer, (b) Human Capital, and (c) Business.

Who can apply for the Employer Job Offer Category?

You may qualify for an Ontario PNP under the Ontario Employer Job Offer Category if you:

• have a valid, full-time job offer from an eligible employer
• have 1-2 years’ work experience, depending on your occupation OR studied and received a diploma/certificate/degree in Canada
• meet minimum language, education, and income requirements for your occupation
• have legal status in Canada

Who can apply for the Human Capital Category?

You may qualify for the Ontario PNP under the Ontario Human Capital Category – International Graduate Streams if you:

• finished a PhD/Master’s program in Ontario in the past 2 years
• resided in Ontario for at least 1 year in the past 2 years
• meet minimum language and income requirements for your occupation
• have legal status in Canada

You may qualify for the Ontario PNP under the Human Capital Category – Express Entry Streams if you:

• qualify for either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or Canadian Experience Class Program
• have 1 year work experience in Ontario in the past 2-5 years in an eligible occupation
• meet minimum language, education, and income requirements for your occupation

Who can apply for the Entrepreneur Stream?

You may qualify for the Ontario PNP under the Ontario Entrepreneur Stream if you:

• invest between $200,000 to $600,000
• have a net worth of at least $400,000
• at least 2 years’ business experience in the last 5 years
• create 2 full-time jobs
• meet minimum language requirements of CLB 4

Can family members accompany the principal applicant?

Yes, you can bring family members that you declared in your Ontario PNP application. These include:

• your spouse or common-law partner
• your dependent child (<22 years old)
• your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent child
• a dependent child of a dependent child

How long is the processing time and what are the processing fees?

The province of Ontario is able to process applications for the Employer Job Offer and Human Capital categories between 30-90 days. Processing time for Business Category applications depend on the complexity of the application.

The processing fee for the Ontario Employer Job Offer and Human Capital categories are either $1,500 or $2,000. For the Business category, processing fee is $3,500 per business partner or key staff applicant.

What are the key considerations in submitting an application?

The requirements might look simple on paper, but often applications are rejected because the documents submitted were inaccurate, incomplete, or non-compliant. Here are some key considerations when applying for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program:

• What immigration stream is the best match for your background and qualifications?
• How do you show that your work experience matches the required work experience?
• How do you put together a business plan tailored to the Canadian market?