Ontario issues new Skilled Trades and French-Speaking Skilled Worker invitations

*The number of Skilled Trades invitations in this story has been updated to reflect a correction by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.

The province of Ontario has issued 470 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence to Express Entry candidates through its Skilled Trades and French-Speaking Skilled Worker streams so far this month.

On January 24, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued 371* Notifications of Interest (NOIs) in its first draw of 2019 through its Skilled Trades Stream, which is linked to the federal Express Entry system.

Candidates who received an NOI in this draw had to have Express Entry profiles that were created between January 24, 2018, and January 24, 2019.

The Skilled Trades Stream allows the OINP to search the Express Entry pool for candidates currently living in Ontario who have a minimum of one year full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work, in a skilled trade listed in Minor Group 633 or Major Group 72, 73, or 82 under Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC).

While candidates do not need a job offer to apply under either the Skilled Trades and French-Speaking Skilled Worker Streams, candidates must meet all the mandatory federal and provincial requirements specified by the OINP.

Candidates who successfully obtain a provincial nomination under these two Express Entry-aligned streams receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, effectively guaranteeing an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence through the Express Entry system.

The first step to being identified as a candidate under the Skilled Trades and French-Speaking Skilled Worker Streams is to create an Express Entry profile.

Find out if you are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool

Three French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream invitation rounds

Three separate invitation rounds have been held so far this month for Ontario’s Express Entry-linked French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream, with 28 NOIs issued in the latest round on January 24.

Additional rounds were held under the French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream on January 17 and 11 with 71 NOIs issued in total.

Francophone candidates must demonstrate French language proficiency equivalent to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher and meet additional requirements, including having sufficient funds to settle in Ontario.

All candidates issued NOIs through the Skilled Trades and French-Speaking Skilled Worker Streams must be eligible for either the Federal Skilled Worker Class or the Canadian Experience Class, and meet other criteria specified by the province.

Ontario has now issued nearly 2,500 NOIs to Express Entry candidates through its three Express Entry-linked provincial nomination streams, including 1,493 invitations that were issued through its Human Capital Priorities Stream on January 14.

All candidates invited under Ontario's Express Entry Streams must submit a complete application for a provincial nomination within 45 calendar days of obtaining a NOI.

* The OINP originally announced that it had issued 889 invitations through the Skilled Trades Stream, but later corrected the number to 371. Ontario said numerous NOIs were issued in error to candidates who do not meet the criteria for the Skilled Trades Stream.

Find out if you are eligible for Canadian immigration