Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

The OINP is one of the most varied and dynamic of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), with streams and categories designed to welcome skilled workers, graduates, and business immigrants.

Ontario immigration & the OINP

To many people, Ontario is the crown jewel in the Canadian landscape. This gigantic province, located in east-central Canada, is home the country’s largest city, Toronto, the national capital, Ottawa, and a host of other cities, towns, and communities that have welcomed newcomers from around the world for many decades.

But how do you move to Ontario? Apart from the federal programs, such as the programs managed under the Express Entry immigration system, Ontario immigration authorities also offer unique pathways to Canada.

For a full overview of the OINP, check out this video we made with Canada Abroad, one of a handful of regulated Canadian immigration consultants who Moving2Canada is proud to recommend:

In some cases, applicants to the OINP may be in the federal Express Entry pool. Indeed, the OINP currently includes three Express Entry-aligned streams. In these cases, an OINP provincial nomination leads to the applicant receiving 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, with an invitation to apply (ITA) to follow soon after when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducts a draw from the pool.

The OINP Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream has proven to be particularly popular since being introduced in 2015. There is also an OINP French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream, for Express Entry candidates with ability in English and French, and an OINP Skilled Trades Stream, for Express Entry candidates with experience working in a trade in Ontario.

In other cases, applicants can arrive in Ontario via the OINP having never gone through the Express Entry system. International students and graduates benefit from OINP streams aimed at targeting newcomers with various levels of educational attainment.

Finally, there are OINP streams that focus on welcoming individuals and companies with business experience.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP): An Overview

The following table shows the range of immigration streams and categories operated by the Ontario immigration authorities. Click on any item in the left column to learn more about that particular stream or category.

Do you prefer to learn by video? For a detailed overview of these streams, we recommend this video guide from Deanne Acres-Lans, founder of Canada Abroad, an immigration consultancy based in Ontario, and one of Moving2Canada’s trusted partners:

As the table above shows, the OINP is a highly varied Canadian immigration program containing multiple streams. Some of the basic information may also be presented in a diagram.

You can find out which OINP streams are open right now, in our PNP Canada Live Tracker.

Three steps to a successful OINP application

If you want to ensure that your OINP application is as successful and stress-free as possible then you need to make sure that you pay attention to the following helpful steps:

1. Make sure you qualify: This may sound like a pretty obvious point to make but the reality is that many OINP applicants fail to ensure that they meet the minimum eligibility qualifying criteria. So, to avoid this stress make sure you meet all the mandatory requirements for the OINP stream you’ve applied for.
2. Apply to be nominated by the Ontario government: Once you’ve chosen your stream, you must apply online, through the OINP e-Filing Portal. It takes between two to three hours to complete the application.The application cost for the employer job offer and human capital streams is either $1,500 or $2,000, and for the the business streams is $3,500 per business partner or key staff applicant.Application processing times vary, read Application Processing Times and Nominations Issued for more information.
3. Apply to the Government of Canada for permanent residence: If your application is successful and you are nominated by the Ontario government, the next step is to apply for permanent residence through IRCC. The Government of Canada makes the final decision on who becomes a permanent resident.

Explore each OINP stream in detail

Get help with your Canadian immigration application

Do you need assistance in preparing an application for Canadian permanent residence? If so, view Moving2Canada’s Book an Immigration Consultant page to see our list of recommended, accredited representatives who can assist you in your goals.