Table of Contents

What is the Ontario PNP Program?

Ontario is the most sought-after province in Canada as it is the center of the country’s economic, social, and political life. It is the most populous province in Canada, with approximately 40% of the Canadian population living in the province. In order to fulfil the labour market needs of Ontario, the province operates the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), which nominates potential immigrants who can contribute to the economic development of the province.

Ontario’s PNP/ OINP, has the following sub-categories that are designed to welcome immigrants with different backgrounds, like skilled workers, business immigrants, and graduates:

  • Human Capital Category
  • Employer Job Offer Category
  • Business Category

Categories under Ontario PNP/ OINP

Human Capital Category

OINP’s Human Capital Immigration Stream focuses on the applicant’s skills and experience and helps in the economic development of the province. This immigration stream has the following sub-categories:

Ontario Express Entry Stream

This Immigration Stream is in line with IRCC’s Express Entry program. You can apply under this stream, but for that, you should have an active profile in the Express Entry pool. The three components of the OINP express entry are as follows:

  • Ontario Express Entry’s Human Capital Priorities Stream: This stream allows the OINP to nominate candidates registered for Express Entry to apply for a provincial nomination. Candidates with the required work experience, education, and other major characteristics are invited to this stream.
  • Ontario Express Entry’s French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream: Through this stream, the province of Ontario can nominate French-speaking candidates who have strong proficiency in the English language and also have an active Express Entry profile.
  • Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream: This stream allows the province to target tradespersons with ongoing or recent work experience working in the province.

International Graduates Stream

The International Graduate stream targets recently graduated international students who have obtained a master’s or doctoral degree from an eligible university in Ontario.

  • Masters Graduate Stream: International students who have graduated with a master’s degree from an eligible educational institution in the province of Ontario are eligible to apply for provincial nomination under this stream.
  • PhD Graduate Stream: International students who have graduated from a Ph.D. educational program from a provincial education institution can apply under this stream.

Employer Job-Offer Category

In this category, eligible employers in Ontario nominate immigrants and/or international students who have a valid job offer in the province.

  • Foreign Worker Stream: This stream gives foreign workers with a job offer in a skilled occupation from an employer in Ontario an opportunity to apply for an Ontario provincial nomination and live and work in Ontario permanently.
  • International Students Stream: International students with job offers in a skilled occupation from employers in Ontario can apply for Ontario provincial nomination through this stream.
  • In-Demand Skills Stream: This stream gives foreign workers with a job offer in specific in-demand occupations such as agriculture, construction, trucking, personal support work, and other select occupations an opportunity to apply for an Ontario provincial nomination and live and work in Ontario permanently.

OINP Business Category – Entrepreneur Stream

Experienced business people from all over the world who wish to own and manage their own business in the province of Ontario can apply through this stream. Once the candidate’s application is successfully processed, a letter of support for a temporary work permit—which is based on a performance agreement—is issued to them to start a business in the province. If the candidate meets all the conditions of the signed performance agreement, then they are nominated for a permanent resident visa in Canada.

Eligibility requirements for Ontario PNP – Express Entry Stream?

The table below depicts the minimum eligibility criteria for Ontario PNP – Express Entry Streams:

Eligibility/ StreamHuman Capital Priority StreamFrench-Speaking Skilled Worker StreamSkilled Trades Stream
Living in OntarioNot MandatoryNot MandatoryMandatory
Active Express Entry ProfileRequired Must have a profile under one of the following two federal programs:Required Must have a profile under one of the following two federal programs:Not Required
EducationMust have education equivalent to Canadian Bachelor’s, Master’s or Ph.D. degree.Must have education equivalent to Canadian Bachelor’s, Master’s or Ph.D. degree.Not required
Language SkillsCLB Level 7 or higher (either English or French Language Exam)Primary Language: French (CLB Level 7 or higher) & Secondary Language: English (CLB Level 6 or higher)CLB Level 5 or higher (either English or French Language Exam)
Work ExperienceFor candidates with profile in FSWP
  • At least one year of continuous paid full-time work experience, obtained within the last five years from the date of submitting your application to the OINP
  • There should be no breaks in employment over a one year period
For candidates with profile in CEC
    • At least one year of cumulative paid full-time work experience, obtained within the last three years from the date of submitting your application to the OINP
For candidates with profile in FSWP
  • At least one year of continuous paid full-time work experience, obtained within the last five years from the date of submitting your application to the OINP
  • There should be no breaks in employment over a one year period
For candidates with profile in CEC
    • At least one year of cumulative paid full-time work experience, obtained within the last three years from the date of submitting your application to the OINP
  • At least one year of cumulative paid full-time work experience, obtained within the last two (2) years from the date of submitting your application to the OINP
  • Experience must have been gain in in Ontario on legal status in Canada
Skill Level of Work ExperienceSkill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the NOCSkill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the NOCIn a skilled trade that is listed in Minor Group 633 or Major Groups 72, 73 or 82
Job offerNot RequiredNot RequiredNot Required

Requirements to apply for OINP’s Employer Job-offer Category?

The following table will illustrate the basic criteria to be eligible under various categories under the Ontario PNP – Employer Job-offer category:

Stream/CategoryMinimum RequirementsJob-offer Requirement
International StudentGraduated from a degree program at a Canadian education institution that is of minimum two years of duration, or a diploma, or a university that is a minimum one-year post-graduate certificate programYes
Foreign WorkerA job offer in a skilled professionYes
In-demand SkillsRecently worked in the province in a high demand occupation either in agriculture or construction-related industryYes

Eligibility to apply for OINP’s Business Category – Entrepreneur Stream?

The minimum eligibility requirements in Ontario to be eligible under the OINP’s Entrepreneur Stream are as follows:

Requirements

Conditions

Position/ Designation

Business owner or managerial position

Minimum Experience

At-least 24 months in the last 60 months.

Net Worth

  • Within the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto and Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions): A minimum personal net worth of CAD $800,000
  • Outside of the Greater Toronto Area: A minimum personal net worth of CAD $400,000

Personal Investment Funds/ Minimum Equity

  • Within the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto and Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions): Minimum personal investment of CAD $600,000
  • Outside of the Greater Toronto Area: Minimum personal investment of CAD $200,000

Job Creation

  • Within the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto and Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions): At least two (2) permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents
  • Outside of the Greater Toronto Area: At least one (1) permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents

OINP Tech Draws

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Tech draw is a newly introduced pathway of the OINP under the Human Capital Priorities Stream that identifies candidates with technical skills from the Express Entry pool and invites them to apply for an Ontario provincial nomination and live and work in Ontario permanently.

Candidates must:

  • Meet the minimum requirements of the Human Capital Priorities stream, and
  • Have a primary occupation in the list of targeted National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes.

The list of targeted in-demand NOC codes for OINP Tech Draws is as follows:

  • NOC: 2173 – Software Engineers and designers
  • NOC: 2174 – Computer programmers and interactive media developers
  • NOC: 2147 – Computer engineers
  • NOC: 2175 – Web designers and developers
  • NOC: 2172 – Data administrators and database analytics
  • NOC: 0213 – Information and computer systems managers

Processing time for Ontario PNP or OINP Streams?

The processing time of Ontario PNP or OINP streams depends on the number of applications submitted into the stream. The average processing time of each stream operated under the Ontario PNP or OINP is as follows:

OINP Stream

Estimated Processing Time

Ontario’s Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker

70 – 100 days

Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities

70 – 100 days

Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades

70 – 100 days

Masters Graduate

90 – 120 days

Ph.D. Graduate

90 – 120 days

Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker

90 – 120 days

Employer Job Offer: International Student

90 – 120 days

Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills

90 – 120 days

Entrepreneur StreamExpression of Interest (EOI) Assessment: Less than 30 days Applications: Depends on application complexity

Documents required for Ontario PNP Applications

Candidates are required to scan and upload copies of the following mandatory documents with the application:

  • Notification of Interest (NOI) from Ontario
  • Identity documents
  • Documents showing Legal Status in Canada (if applicable)
  • Education documents
  • Language Exam results
  • A valid job offer from Ontario (if applicable)
  • Employment Documents of experience gained outside/ inside Canada
  • Proof of funds
  • Resume
  • Intent Letter
  • Other optional documents (if applicable)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

No, you can also apply for Ontario PNP without a job offer. Streams that accept applications without job offer letters are:

  • Human Capital Priorities stream
  • French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream
  • Skilled Trades stream
  • Master's Graduate Stream
  • Ph.D. graduate stream

When deciding to immigrate to Ontario using the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), there are a number of streams from which to select. One person probably won't be qualified for all of the streams, and that's why it is important that you are aware of the stream you qualify for. Contact us so we can address all of your inquiries.

The average processing time for the applications submitted under the Human Capital category is 70-100 days, whereas for applications submitted under the Employer Job Offer category and International Student stream, it is 90-120 days.

For the business category, the expression of interest (EOI) takes less than 30 days to process, but the application processing for nomination time depends on the complexity of the application.

Yes. Currently, all streams are available.

Fill Free Assessment Form


Latest Ontario PNP Draws

Canada PR

Talk to Experts Now

E: [email protected]
M: +91-8595010514

WE PROVIDE VISA IMMIGRATION SERVICE FOR THESE COUNTRIES​

Australia logo
Australia
flag-of-Germany
Canada
flag-of-germany
Germany
USA Flag
United States
New Zealand flag logo
New Zealand

Join Our Newsletter

We’ll send you updates and special offers if you enter your email address.



Request a Call from
Immigration Experts Now!