Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

Overview

Ontario is Canada’s most populous province and a leader in cultural and economic diversity. Major destinations include Toronto, Ottawa-Gatineau, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, and Windsor — all popular with new immigrants seeking work and community life.

Human Capital Priorities Stream

This stream, part of Ontario’s Opportunities Ontario provincial selection, identifies candidates from the federal Express Entry pool. It targets individuals with the education, skilled work experience, language ability, and other attributes that demonstrate strong potential to succeed in Ontario’s labour market.

1. Express Entry Registration — Create an Express Entry profile to obtain a profile number and Job Seeker Validation Code; indicate interest in Ontario.

2. Identification by Ontario — Ontario searches the Express Entry pool for candidates who meet the Human Capital Priorities criteria and normally have a minimum CRS score. Selected candidates receive a provincial Notification of Interest via their IRCC account.

3. Application to OINP — After notification, candidates have 45 days to submit a complete application to Ontario’s program with required documentation.

4. Nomination and PR Application — Successful nominees receive a provincial nomination; accepting the nomination in Express Entry adds 600 CRS points, usually resulting in an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence. Applicants then have 60 days to apply to IRCC and must complete medical, security, and criminality checks.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Meet the 67-point threshold as per the Federal Skilled Worker criteria.

• At least one year of skilled work experience in NOC 0, A, or B within the past five years.

• Hold a Canadian bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, or an equivalent foreign credential supported by an Educational Credential Assessment.

• Language ability at CLB 7 (or equivalent) with required test results.

• Typically have a CRS score in the competitive range for identification by Ontario.

• Demonstrate sufficient settlement funds and a genuine intention to reside in Ontario.

Application Fee:

Ontario charges an application fee of CAD 1,500 for the Human Capital Priorities Stream; this fee must accompany the provincial application.

Ontario PNP Categories:

• General Category

• International Student Category

Employer-Driven Program:

Candidates may qualify through employer-driven streams which require a full-time, permanent job offer from an Ontario employer. Employers in the Greater Toronto Area must meet specific thresholds — including minimum three years of operation, at least CAD 1,000,000 in annual gross revenue, five permanent full-time employees, and an Ontario business location. Employers outside the GTA are subject to alternate, generally less stringent criteria.

For Companies in Ontario:

Businesses making significant investments and creating jobs may bring key personnel through investor and corporate streams. Typical eligibility includes a minimum investment of CAD 3,000,000 and the creation of at least five full-time positions.

International Student Category:

This category includes two streams:

1. With Job Offer: For recent graduates from Canadian post-secondary institutions who hold a skilled job offer in Ontario.

2. PhD Graduate Stream: For doctoral graduates from Ontario universities; this stream usually does not require a job offer.

This program provides an important pathway for skilled individuals and graduates aiming to establish and contribute to Ontario’s vibrant communities and economy.

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