ONTARIO IMMIGRANT NOMINEE PROGRAM (OINP)
What is the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program?
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for Canadian permanent residence. Through this program, foreign workers, international students, and target professionals apply directly to Ontario. If nominated by the province, accepted applicants then submit their nomination to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
What is the New Ontario Workforce Priority (OWP) Stream?
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is now Ontario’s primary employer-driven permanent residence pathway. Designed to streamline applications and directly target labor market gaps, the OWP Stream operates across three dedicated pathways:
- SKILLED WORKERS PATHWAY (NOC TEER 0-3): For higher-skilled workers and professionals holding a permanent, full-time Ontario job offer.
- ESSENTIAL WORKERS PATHWAY (NOC TEER 4-5): For front-line and entry-level workers holding a permanent, full-time Ontario job offer in essential roles.
- SELF-EMPLOYED PHYSICIANS PATHWAY: A direct pathway for qualified physicians practicing in Ontario (no job offer required).
Who qualifies for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream?
Skilled Workers Pathway (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3)
- valid, full-time, permanent job offer from an Ontario employer
- qualified work experience (licensed professionals are exempt)
- minimum CLB 6 in English or French (CLB 5 for certain designated occupations)
- minimum post-secondary degree or diploma
Essential Workers Pathway (NOC TEER 4 or 5)
- valid, full-time, permanent job offer from an Ontario employer
- at least 9 cumulative months of work experience in the job offer position with the same employer within the last 2 years.
- minimum CLB 4 in English or French
- minimum high school diploma
Self-Employed Physicians Pathway – holds proper licensing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) and OHIP billing authorization. No job offer required.
How to Register an Expression of Interest (EOI)?
To register an EOI with a job offer:
- Your employer must first register their business in the OINP Employer Portal and submit your job offer.
- After your employer submission, you will receive an email with a job offer ID.
- Use the job offer ID to create your Expression of Interest in the OINP e-Filing Portal.
You have 30 calendar days from the date the job offer was submitted to register your EOI. If you do not register your EOI within 30 calendar days, the job offer will expire in the system and your employer will need to submit a new job offer.
Can family members accompany the principal applicant?
Yes, As an applicant under the OINP, you can include your eligible family members in your application for permanent residence, including:
- 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?
Provincial nomination assessment times typically range between 30 to 90 days once a full application is submitted following an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
OINP application fees: $1,500 if the job location is outside the GTA or in a designated rural community, or $2,000 if the job location is with the GTA.
IRCC application fees: Processing fees depend on the number of applicants included in the application. You can view the complete and updated list of IRCC fees here.
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:
- Is your employer eligible to issue a job offer for permanent residence?
- How does your qualifications rank against other applicants?
- How do you satisfy the province that you genuinely intend to reside in Ontario permanently?
LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN.
We firmly believe that your success is our success. We’ll strategize on your immigration plan, identify the right pathway for you, and ensure you take the fastest route to Canadian citizenship.
We commit to ensuring that your application package will be accurate, complete, and at its strongest to avoid delays and errors that waste your time and resources. Our goal is to be able to say to you, “Welcome to Canada!”
