Permanent Canadian Residence Through OINP

Do You Want to Settle Permanently in Ontario?

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is an economic immigration program intended to assist Ontario employers in meeting their labour needs while offering an immigration opportunity to eligible candidates. The program allows the province to nominate individuals who meet the requirements and will be able to contribute to Ontario’s economy.

All applicants need to demonstrate their intention to reside in Ontario. This program is a fast-track route to becoming a permanent resident of Canada — an OINP certificate will award you 600 points for your Express Entry score.

Under two programs, specifically the Employer Job Offer and Human Capital programs, both the employers and foreign nationals are required to meet certain criteria.

OINP – EMPLOYER JOB OFFER CATEGORY

This category consists of two groups: the Foreign Worker Stream and the International Student Stream.  In both groups, the employer must meet the following requirements:

• The company has been in active business for at least three years, with business premises in Ontario, where the foreign worker will work,
• The job offered is a full-time position in a skilled occupation under NOC 0, A or B, and
• The job offered meets the required wage in Ontario.

 

If the business is located in the Greater Toronto Area	If the business is located outside of the Greater Toronto Area
the company’s gross annual revenue for the most recent fiscal year needs to be at least $1,000,000, and	the company’s gross annual revenue for the most recent fiscal year needs to be at least $500,000, and
the company must employ five full-time employees — Canadian citizens or permanent residents	the company must employ three full-time employees — Canadian citizens or permanent residents

 

Under the Foreign Worker Stream, a foreign worker needs to:

• have two years of work experience in the last five years in the same NOC occupation as the job offer, and
• have the obligatory licensing for a regulated occupation, if applicable.

Under the International Student Stream, an international student needs to:

• receive a full-time job offer from an Ontario employer together with a duly signed Employer Form,
• have completed at least half of their studies on a full-time basis, and
• apply within two years from the date they completed the program requirements.

 

OINP – HUMAN CAPITAL CATEGORY

If you are a student in a Master’s or Ph.D. program, you are eligible to immigrate to Ontario subject to the following conditions.

Master’s Graduate Stream

To qualify under this stream, you must:

• Have completed a one-year Master’s degree program from an eligible Ontario university,
• Obtain a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in English or French,
• Have proof that you have resided in Ontario for at least one year in the last two years prior to submitting the application,
• Have the minimum amount of settlement funds for supporting yourself and your family,
• Be residing outside Canada or in Ontario with legal status, and
• Apply within two years of attaining your Master’s degree.

Ph.D. Graduate Stream

To qualify under this stream, you must:

• Have completed the obligatory requirements to obtain a Ph.D. degree from an eligible Ontario university,
• Have completed at least two years of the Ph.D. degree requirements,
• Have proof of residency in Ontario for at least one year in the last two years prior to submitting the application,
• Possess a minimum amount of settlement funds for supporting yourself and your family,
• Apply within two years of completing the Ph.D. degree requirements, and
• Have legal status in Canada.

Ontario’s Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

To be eligible to apply under this stream, you must meet provincial and federal eligibility requirements. Thus, you need to:

• Have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool either under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC),
• Show an interest in settling in either Ontario or “All Provinces and Territories,”
• Have at least the equivalent of a Canadian Bachelor’s degree,
• Have been issued a Notification of Interest from Ontario,
• Obtain Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in French and 6 in English,
• Possess the minimum funds to support yourself and your family, and
• Have legal status, if currently in Canada.

 

Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream

To qualify under this stream, you must meet provincial and federal eligibility criteria. Thus, you need to:

• Have a valid profile in the Express Entry system under either FSWPor the CEC,
• Show an interest in settling in either Ontario or “All Provinces and Territories,”
• Have the equivalent of a Canadian Bachelor’s degree or above,
• Have been issued a Notification of Interest from Ontario,
• Obtain Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in French or English,
• Possess the minimum funds to support yourself and your family,
• Have legal status, currently in Canada, and
• Obtain a minimum of 400 points under the CRS.

Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream

To qualify under this stream, you must:

• Have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool,
• Meet the requirements under the CEC,
• Show an interest in settling in either Ontario or “All Provinces and Territories,”
• Have received a Notification of Interest from Ontario through your IRCC online account,
• Have a minimum of one year of full-time or the equivalent in part-time work experience in Ontario within two years from the date of your Notification of Interest from Ontario (Work experience must be in a skilled trades job listed in Minor Group 633 or Major Group 72, 73, or 82 under the NOC system.),
• Possess a trade license from the Ontario College of Trades if the occupation requires a license,
• Be currently living in Ontario on a valid work permit,
• Obtain a minimum of CLB 5 in either English or French, and
• Possess the minimum funds to support yourself and your family. 

Retaining the services of an immigration consultant can be a significant step in realizing your immigration dreams.

Many work permit/visa holders have temporary intent when they begin their journey but later decide to settle in Ontario permanently! Have you? We can help you achieve your goal.

While the process for applying for the OINP may seem straightforward, but the supporting documents and procedures needed to successfully obtain a nomination certificate are complex and usually require professional legal knowledge. The risk of refusal by the province is higher if the application is not prepared correctly, as the requirements are strict. Our consultants can evaluate your case and help you figure out what program best meets your needs and how to increase your chances of immigrating.

We have helped many individuals and their families successfully immigrate to Canada through the OINP.  Contact us or complete our questionnaire and receive a complimentary immigration assessment where we can examine your eligibility and options for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.