Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
(OINP)

The OINP is Ontario’s economic immigration program – it works in partnership with IRCC (under the Federal Government of Canada). 

Foreign workers, international students and individuals with the right experience, skills and education may apply to the OINP for a nomination. 

Under this program, the Ontario provincial government recognizes applicants with the skills and experience outlined in the OINP for permanent residence. The Government of Canada subsequently makes the final decision regarding approval of such applications from nominated applicants.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program operates through an Expression of Interest system. To qualify, you must register an Expression of Interest and receive an invitation to apply. The OINP has a total of 9 streams and operate via the OINP Expression of Interest System.

If you have a job offer in Ontario
Learn More
Employer Job Offer:

• Foreign Workers Stream
• International Students Stream
• In-demand Skills Stream

If you have a Masters or PhD degree from an Ontario university
Learn More
  • Masters Graduate stream
  • PhD Graduate stream
  • worker stream
If you have the skills and experience that Ontario employers need
Learn More
  • Human Capital Priorities Stream
  • Skills Trades Stream
  • French-speaking Skilled Worker
If you are a foreign Entrepreneur with a solid business idea
Learn More
  • entrepreneur system

OINP Employer Job Offer Streams

There are 3 streams depending on whether you have a job offer in Ontario:

Foreign Worker stream
  • This stream gives foreign workers with a job offer in a skilled occupation the opportunity to apply to live and work permanently in Ontario.
  • Your job offer must be in a skilled occupation at Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). This stream
    is open to foreign workers in and outside of Canada.
International Student stream
  • The International Student stream gives international students with a job offer in a skilled occupation the opportunity to apply to permanently
    live and work in Ontario.
  • Your job offer must be in a skilled occupation at Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). This stream
    is open to international students in and outside of Canada.
In–Demand Skills stream
  • The In–Demand Skills stream gives foreign workers with a job offer in specific in–demand occupations such as in agriculture, construction,
    trucking, personal support work, and other select occupations the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario. This stream
    is open to foreign workers in and outside of Canada.
Note: For any of the above 3 streams,
  • You must first register in the OINP’s Expression of Interest System and receive an invitation to apply before
    applying online to be nominated by the Ontario government for permanent residence.
  • If you are nominated, your next step is to apply to IRCC (Canada’s Federal Government) who will make the final
    decision regarding permanent residence.

OINP Masters or PhD Degree Streams

There are 2 available streams.

Masters Graduate stream

The Masters Graduate stream gives international graduates with an Ontario Masters degree the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work
in Ontario.

PhD Graduate stream

The PhD Graduate stream gives international graduates with an Ontario PhD degree the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in
Ontario.

Note: For either of the above 2 streams,
  • You must first register in the OINP’s Expression of Interest System and receive an invitation to apply before
    applying online to be nominated by the Ontario government for permanent residence.
  • If you are nominated, your next step is to apply to IRCC (Canada’s Federal Government) who will make the final
    decision regarding permanent residence.

OINP Skills & Experience Streams
(Under Express Entry)

There are 3 available streams

Human Capital Priorities Stream
  • This stream gives foreign workers with the required skilled work experience, language abilities and education the opportunity to apply to
    live permanently and work in Ontario.
  • You must have a valid profile in IRCC’s express entry system and receive a notification of interest from Ontario before it can apply online
    to be nominated by the Ontario government for permanent residence.
  • If you are nominated, your next step is to apply to IRCC who will make the final decision regarding your permanent residence application.
Skilled Trades Stream
  • This stream gets foreign nationals with Ontario work experience in eligible skilled trades the opportunity to apply to permanently live
    and work in Ontario.
  • You must have a valid profile in IRCC’s Express Entry system and receive a notification of interest from Ontario before applying online to
    be nominated by the Ontario government for permanent residence.
  • If you are nominated, your next step is to apply to IRCC who will make the final decision regarding your permanent residence application.
Human Capital Priorities stream
  • The stream gives French–speaking skilled workers with strong English language abilities the opportunity to apply to permanently live and
    work in Ontario.
  • You must have a valid profile in IRCC’s Express Entry system and receive a notification of interest from Ontario before it can apply online
    to be nominated by the Ontario government for permanent residence.
  • If you are nominated, your next step is to apply to IRCC who will make the final decision regarding your permanent residence application.

Entrepreneur Stream

As a foreign entrepreneur, you can come to Ontario to establish a new business or buy / grow an existing business in Ontario.
  • This stream gives the entrepreneur (and up to 1 foreign national business partner) the opportunity to be nominated for permanent
    residence once their business has been established in Ontario.
  • If you are nominated, the next step is to apply to IRCC for permanent residence.
  • The application is a 2–stage process.
  • In Stage–1,
    • Register an expression of interest, and if invited, submit an online application.
    • You and your business partner (if applicable) must attend a mandatory interview.
    • If your application is successful, you must sign a performance agreement.
  • In Stage–2
    • The Ontario government will issue a work permit support letter to facilitate an application to IRCC for a temporary work permit.
    • Establish your business – You will have 20 months from the day you arrive in Ontario to implement your business plan and submit a
      final report.
    • If your business meets all requirements, you will need to provide documentation to confirm eligibility for nomination for permanent
      residence.