Ontario Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream

The Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream is open to foreign workers in and outside of Canada and applicants to this Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) will receive a provincial nomination from Ontario, allowing the applicant to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent resident status. The spouse/common-law partner of the applicant, as well as any dependent children, may also be included on the application.

What is the OINP In-Demand Skills Stream?

The Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream is part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), designed to help employers fill labour shortages in specific, high-demand occupations across the province. It allows foreign workers with job offers in eligible positions—often in construction, agriculture, manufacturing, or healthcare—to apply for permanent residence in Ontario. Unlike other OINP streams, it focuses on intermediate-skilled roles (TEER 4 and 5) rather than high-skilled ones. Applicants must have a valid job offer, relevant work experience, and meet language and settlement fund requirements. This stream is ideal for individuals seeking a stable pathway to Canadian permanent residence through in-demand, essential occupations.

Please Note: this stream uses a points-based ranking system to invite candidates to apply for nomination. Meeting the minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee you will receive an invitation. Refer to the scoring section for details on the points breakdown.

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants

In order to be eligible for the OINP Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream, candidates must meet the following requirements:

1. Job offer from an Ontario employer

Candidates must hold a job offer from an Ontario employer that meets the following conditions:

• for a full-time and permanent position in an eligible occupation (refer below)
• be paid at a level higher than the median wage level for that occupation in the specific region of Ontario where the employment will take place
• The position must be urgently necessary to the employer’s business
• The position must be based in Ontario
• If the job offer is for a regulated position, the candidate must hold a valid licence or authorization from the appropriate regulatory body in Ontario

Please note that the employer must meet certain requirements, as well. Refer below for more details.

2. Eligible occupations

The job offer may be located anywhere in Ontario, whether inside or outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and it must belong to one of the eligible occupations listed under the National Occupational Classification (NOC):

Eligible occupations for jobs based anywhere in Ontario (GTA included)

• NOC 3413 – nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
• NOC 4412 – home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers
• NOC 7441 – residential and commercial installers and servicers
• NOC 7511 – transport truck drivers
• NOC 7521 – heavy equipment operators (except crane)
• NOC 7611 – construction trades helpers and labourers
• NOC 8431 – general farm workers
• NOC 8432 – nursery and greenhouse workers
• NOC 8611 – harvesting labourers
• NOC 9462 – industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers

Eligible occupations for jobs outside the GTA

• NOC 9411 – machine operators, mineral and metal processing
• NOC 9416 – metalworking and forging machine operators
• NOC 9417 – machining tool operators
• NOC 9418 – other metal products machine operators
• NOC 9421 – chemical plant machine operators
• NOC 9422 – plastics processing machine operators
• NOC 9437 – woodworking machine operators
• NOC 9446 – industrial sewing machine operators
• NOC 9461 – process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing
• NOC 9523 – electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers
• NOC 9526 – mechanical assemblers and inspectors
• NOC 9536 – industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators
• NOC 9537 – other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors

3. Language proficiency

To demonstrate that you meet the mandatory language skills requirement, you must take an approved language test demonstrating proficiency in either English or French consistent with (or above) the Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 4 (CLB 4). This test must be less than two years old at the time you submit you application.

Approved English tests:

• International English Language Testing (IELTS) – Only the General Training test, not the One Skill Retake test.
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – General Test only
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) – Only the Core test, not the PTE Academic test

Approved French tests:

• Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF Canada)
• Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada)

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4. Work experience

To qualify under the OINP In-Demand Skills Stream, applicants must meet specific work experience requirements that demonstrate consistent, relevant employment in Ontario. Below is a summary of the key criteria you need to fulfill:

• Must have at least 9 months of cumulative paid full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time) in Ontario, in the same in-demand occupation (same NOC code) as the job offer.
• Work experience must be gained within the 3 years before submitting the application, while legally living and working in Ontario.
• Cumulative experience means it can be non-continuous, as long as it adds up to 1,200 hours of paid work.
• Full-time = at least 30 hours/week for 9 months; part-time equivalent = either 15 hrs/week for 18 months (one job) or 30 hrs/week for 9 months (multiple jobs).
• Standard paid leave doesn’t interrupt full-time work, but extended leaves do; self-employment is accepted only with verifiable third-party proof (e.g. client letters, invoices, quantifiable hours).

5. Valid licence or professional authorization (if applicable)

If your job offer is in an occupation that requires mandatory licensing, certification, or other professional authorization in Ontario, you must already hold the appropriate and valid credential at the time of your application. This licence or authorization must be issued by the recognized provincial regulatory authority responsible for your trade or profession. Examples include bodies such as the College of Nurses of Ontario, the Ontario College of Trades, or other designated organizations. Without this valid authorization, applications for regulated occupations will not be considered eligible under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) In-Demand Skills Stream.
You should verify whether your occupation is regulated in Ontario and consult the website of the relevant regulatory body to understand the licensing process and specific requirements for practicing your profession.

6. Education

You must have a Canadian secondary school (high school) diploma or credential, or its equivalent in another country. If you completed your education outside Canada, you must submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) attesting to its equivalency in Canada.

7. Intention to Reside in Ontario

You must demonstrate a genuine intention to live and settle in Ontario after becoming a permanent resident. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) assesses this by reviewing your connections and activities within the province, which may include:

• Current or past employment in Ontario
• Job offers, applications, or interviews with Ontario employers
• Education or training completed in the province
• Volunteer work or community involvement
• Ownership or rental of property in Ontario
• Visits made to the province for work or personal reasons
• Family, personal, or professional ties, such as relatives, social connections, or memberships in Ontario-based organizations

These factors help show your commitment to building your future in Ontario.

8. Legal Status in Canada (if applicable)

If you are applying from within Canada, you must hold a valid temporary status — such as a work permit, study permit, or visitor record — when you apply and maintain it until you receive your nomination. Applicants with maintained status (previously called implied status) are also eligible, meaning you’ve applied to extend or renew your permit before it expired and can legally remain in Canada under the same conditions while awaiting a decision from IRCC.

Eligibility requirements: Employers

To be eligible to provide a qualifying job offer for the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand stream, the employer must have been in active business for at least three years prior to the date the application is submitted and must have business premises in Ontario. If the applicant is residing outside Canada, the employer also must demonstrate that they made enough efforts to recruit a Canadian citizen or permanent resident prior to offering the position to the applicant.

As well, the employer must meet the following criteria:

1. Revenue requirements

The employer must meet the revenue requirement for the most recent completed fiscal year:

• a minimum of $1,000,000 in total gross annual revenue if the applicant will work or report to work at a location in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions) or
• a minimum of $500,000 in total gross annual revenue if the applicant will work or report to work at a location outside the Greater Toronto Area

2. Full-time employee requirements

The employer must have one of the following (at the time the application is submitted):

• at least five full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the location where you will work, or will report to work, if you will work or report to work at a location in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions) or
• at least three full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the location where you will work, or will report to work, if you will work or report to work at a location outside the Greater Toronto Area

3. Employer Application for Approval of an Employment Position

Your employer must complete an application for the approval of an employment position (Employer forms) through the Employer Portal. They first need to register their business and create a job offer detailing your position. Once the job offer is submitted, you can register your Expression of Interest (EOI). During the assessment, the OINP may request additional documents from your employer to confirm the job offer details. Employers should consult the Employer Portal User Guide and Employer Checklist for guidance on required information and documentation.

Application Process

The application process for the OINP Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream works as follows:

Step One: Employer submits job offer via Employer Portal

Your Ontario employer must first register in the Employer Portal (via the OINP e-Filing Portal) and submit a job offer for your position. Once approved, you’ll receive a Job Offer ID to use when registering your Expression of Interest (EOI).

Step Two: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

Within 30 calendar days of the employer submitting the job offer, you must log into the OINP e-Filing Portal, enter the Job Offer ID, and submit your Expression of Interest (EOI).

The In-Demand Skills stream uses a points-based ranking system to invite the top-ranked candidates to apply. Your profile will be scored under the OINP EOI Selection System after submitting the EOI.

Step Three: Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

Periodically, the OINP will conduct a draw for candidates. In these draws, invitations will be issued to candidates who have submitted EOIs and received a certain threshold of points.

Step Four: Submit joint applications (employer + applicant)

Once a candidate receives an invitation to apply (ITA):

• Employer’s deadline: Apply for approval of the employment position within 14 calendar days of ITA issuance.
• Applicant’s deadline: after the employer’s submission, you have 17 calendar days to submit your complete application and pay the fees.

These applications can be submitted electronically using a One-Key account. Applications require extensive personal information and supporting documentation — ensure you’re ready if you receive an ITA. If approved, you will receive a provincial nomination.

Step Five: Receive a provincial nomination

The processing time varies for OINP applications. Generally, an application will be processed somewhere between 30 and 150 days. If an application is approved, the applicant receives a formal provincial nomination from the province of Ontario.

Important Note: To have your application approved, your job offer must remain valid and in effect at the time you are nominated by the OINP.

• If you are already employed in the approved employment position, the job offer must still be active on your nomination date.
• If you are not yet working, the offer must take effect when you receive your work permit and start the job.

Your employer must honour all terms of the job offer, including paying the approved wage once your employment begins.

Step Six: Federal application for permanent residence (PR)

With the provincial nomination, you then apply to the federal government (IRCC) for PR. Your provincial nomination supports your PR application.

This application will include extensive personal information and supporting documentation — similar to the application for provincial nomination.

Note: This stream is not aligned with Canada’s Express Entry, so the overall process may take longer than an Express Entry–based nomination.

Ontario’s EOI System: How Your In-Demand Skills Stream Score Is Calculated

The Ontario Expression of Interest (EOI) Selection System is a points-based ranking method used by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to assess and rank potential candidates who wish to apply for nomination. It plays a key role in the In-Demand Skills Stream, as only candidates with the highest scores in each draw are invited to apply for provincial nomination.

Each OINP stream, such as Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills, has its own unique scoring factors and criteria. It’s important to review the specific requirements and point breakdown for the stream you’re applying to.

Below, you’ll find the scoring factors and points structure used specifically for the OINP Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream, which determines your ranking in Ontario’s EOI system.

OINP In-Demand Skills Stream Draws

To stay informed about the latest draw results for the OINP In-Demand Skills Stream, we recommend checking our official OINP Draw History page for the most recent updates and detailed results.

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