Immigrating to Canada through Ontario’s PNP

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides several pathways to permanent residence (PR) for temporary residents residing in Ontario – Canada’s most popular newcomer destination.

This is possible because of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), Ontario’s dedicated Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The OINP allows the local government to invite immigration candidates who they feel are best suited to help address local labour market needs and demographic gaps.

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It is one of 11 PNPs operated by provinces and territories across Canada.

Which OINP streams require residence in Ontario?

In Ontario, three PNP streams specifically require current or past residence in the province.

Skilled Trades Stream: Human Capital Category

Generally, the OINP has four categories. One of those categories is the Human Capital category (more on that below), which includes the Skilled Trades stream.

The eligibility criteria for this stream require interested candidates to be currently living in Ontario and be in possession of a valid work permit at the time they apply for PR.

Note: This stream is linked with IRCC’s Express Entry system, meaning that Skilled Trades stream candidates will be awarded 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points if they receive and accept an OINP nomination.

There are other eligibility criteria for candidates looking to pursue PR through this stream. Applicants must:

Have a valid Express Entry profile
Have accumulated at least one year of full-time paid work experience
Possess a valid license or certificate (if applicable)
Achieve a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 or higher (English or French)

Masters Graduate Stream: Masters and PhD Category

Candidates might also consider the OINP’s Masters and PhD category. This category has two streams, one of which is Ontario’s Masters Graduate stream.

This stream, designed for foreign nationals with a Masters degree from eligible universities in Ontario, uses the province’s Expression of Interest (EOI) system. This means that interested candidates must create a profile and register an EOI to be considered for PR. Unlike the Skilled Trades stream, it is not linked to IRCC’s Express Entry system.

In addition to having a Masters degree from an eligible university in Ontario, applicants must meet the following two criteria:

Must have legally lived in Ontario for at least one of the last two years
Must have achieved a CLB Level 7 or higher (English or French)

PhD Graduate Stream: Masters and PhD Category

The PhD Graduate stream for candidates who have a PhD degree from an eligible Ontario university.

Similar to the Masters Graduate stream, this stream is not Express Entry-aligned. Again, interested candidates must have legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years to be eligible for PR through this stream.

Interested applicants must create a profile and register an EOI to be eligible for PR.

Note: there is a $1,500 dollar (Canadian) application fee for both streams.

What are my other OINP immigration options?

The OINP has four larger categories.

The following will briefly summarize the streams (as well as their eligibility criteria) that have not yet been mentioned in this article. Visit this dedicated webpage for full details on all of the OINP’s categories and streams, including application fees, how each stream works and what happens when you receive an OINP nomination.

Note: Both of the OINP’s Masters and PhD Category streams were outlined above.

Human Capital Category

Stream Name	Express Entry Linked?	Details
Human Capital Priorities	Yes	* Includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) * Applicants must have a valid Express Entry profile * Applicants must have a Bachelor’s, Masters or PhD degree * Applicants must have a minimum of one year full-time paid work experience
French-Speaking Skilled Worker	Yes	* Includes the FSWP and CEC * Requires applicants to have strong skills in English and French (including CLB level 7 or higher in French) * Applicants must have a Bachelor’s, Masters or PhD degree * Applicants must have a valid Express Entry profile * Applicants must have a minimum of one year full-time paid work experience

Employer Job Offer Category

Stream Name	Express Entry Linked?	Details
Foreign Worker	No	* Requires a job offer * For skilled workers with two years of work experience if the occupation does not require a license or other certification * Job offer must include pay that is higher than the median wage level for that occupation in Ontario
International Students	No	* Requires a job offer * For recent graduates of Ontario post-secondary institutions
In-Demand Skills	No	* Requires a job offer * For “intermediate skilled workers” in certain eligible sectors who have a job offer to work in an in-demand occupation * Applicants must have at least nine months of work experience * Job offer must include pay that is higher than the median wage level for that occupation in Ontario * Requires applicants to have CLB level 4 or higher (English or French) * Applicants must have a high school diploma
Skilled Trades	No	* Requires a job offer * Job offer must include pay that is higher than the median wage level for that occupation in Ontario * Applicants must have a two-year degree or diploma from a Canadian institution

Business Category

Stream Name	Express Entry Linked?	Details
Entrepreneur	No	* For foreign nationals looking to start a business or buy an existing one in Ontario * Applicants must have business experience of 24 months in the last 60 months * Applicants must control at least one-third of the business’ equity * Applicants must be actively involved in managing the business

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