PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is an immigration program through which Ontario nominates individuals and their families for permanent resident status based on a pre-approved job offer in the province. The Government of Ontario established Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to help employers succeed in the global competition for talent.

OINP - FOREIGN WORKER STREAM

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers an opportunity for skilled foreign workers with a job offer to permanently live and work in Ontario.

To be eligible to apply, a foreign worker must have a job offer that meets the following criteria:

Be an approved permanent, full-time job offer in a high-skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B), and

Meets the prevailing wage levels in Ontario for that occupation.

Have two years of relevant work experience.

Be residing abroad or residing, working, or visiting Canada on a valid work permit, study permit or visitor record.

Note 1: Foreign workers already working in the position that OINP approved need to be paid a wage that is equal to or greater than the wage approved for that position.

2. OINP - INTERNATIONAL STUDENT WITH JOB OFFER STEAM

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers international students with a job offer the opportunity to permanently live and work in Ontario.

To be eligible to apply, an International Student must have a job offer that meets the following criteria:

Be an approved permanent, full-time job offer in a high-skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B)

Meets the entry-level wage levels in Ontario for that occupation

Have a degree or diploma from a Canadian college or university (at least two 2 years in length or a one-year post-graduate certificate program)

Apply within two years from the date on which they graduated

IMPORTANT: In order to apply as a nominee, the applicant must have a job offer that has been approved by OINP.

3. OINP Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

The Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills 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 the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario. This stream is open to foreign workers in and outside of Canada.

To be eligible to apply for the OINP Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Have a permanent full-time job offer
• Must be one of the NOC codes listed in this stream
• At least 9 months of work experience in Ontario and the same In-demand occupation.
• Minimum CLB 4 in language skills.
• Minimum Canadian High School Diploma or equivalent.

4. OINP - HUMAN CAPITAL STREAM

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program helps employers meet their human resource needs for workers, by enabling them to recruit foreign workers and international students.

There are four streams under OINP Human Capital Program:

1. Masters Graduates
2. D. Graduates
3. Ontario Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities
4. Ontario Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker

Refugee claimants with an application to remain in Canada that is pending are not eligible to apply for OINP. A refugee claimant whose claim has been rejected, abandoned or withdrawn must exit Canada prior to applying for OINP. Refugee claimants may only apply to OINP once they have left Canada.

1. A) OINP - INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS – MASTERS GRADUATES CATEGORY

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers an opportunity for International Students – Masters Graduates to live and work permanently in Ontario. Prospective nominees applying under the master’s Graduate stream can apply without a job offer and send nominee applications directly to OINP. To be eligible to apply as a master’s Graduate, the applicant must meet certain criteria.

Note 1: OINP will not accept applications from International Students in their final semester of studies. Applicants must have met all the degree requirements at the time of application.

1. B) OINP - INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS – PH.D. GRADUATES CATEGORY

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers an opportunity for International Students with Ph.D. to live and work permanently in Ontario. Prospective nominees applying under the Ph.D. graduate stream can apply without a job offer and send nominee applications directly to OINP. To be eligible to apply as a Ph.D. graduate, the applicant must meet the additional requirements.

1. C) OINP - EXPRESS ENTRY – HUMAN CAPITAL PRIORITIES CATEGORY

The Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream is for skilled workers who want to live and work permanently in Ontario. This stream enables the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to nominate individuals who have qualified for Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC’s) Express Entry pool and who have the required education, skilled work experience, language ability, and other characteristics to help them successfully establish and integrate into Ontario’s Labour market and communities.

Nomination by OINP does not guarantee approval for Permanent Resident status by CIC. Applications for Permanent Resident status must meet all of the eligibility criteria as defined by CIC, and it is the nominee’s responsibility to ensure that the information provided at registration for the Express Entry pool and in the nominee application submitted to OINP is consistent with the time of application for permanent residence submission to CIC.