Ontario INP

Ontario is the most populous province in Canada, approximately 40 percent of Canadians live there. The province is home to Ottawa, Canada's capital city, as well as Toronto, the country's largest city and primary business and financial center. Ontario is the economic, social, and political heartland of Canada. It is by far the most popular destination in Canada for new immigrants from around the world, making it the most multicultural province in the country. The province includes more than 125 spoken languages and people from over 200 different countries. The easiest way to immigrate to Ontario, Canada is with a provincial nomination under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).    

What Is the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OINP)

The Ontario INP is designed to give select foreign nationals, interested in immigrating to Ontario, Canada the opportunity to apply for Canadian permanent residence through an expedited process. Formerly called the Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OOPNP), the program is designed for prospective immigrants who possess the specific skills and experience needed in the province. There are two different ways to go about getting nominated by the OINP. Outside of Express Entry, a potential immigrant can contact Immigration Ontario and apply to the OINP directly. If given a provincial nomination, he or she can then create a Canada Express Entry profile and add their nomination credentials. 

Prospective immigrants can also begin the process by creating an Express Entry profile and registering their interest in the province within the system. The OINP can then contact the person through Express Entry and formally invite them to apply to the immigration program. This will instantaneously increase their score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) by 600 points. The person will likely then have enough Canada Express Entry CRS points to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) during the next Express Entry draw, which takes place every few weeks.    

Below are the 3 main ways to immigrate to Canada under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program: 

Those who successfully apply to immigrate to Canada through the program can get permanent residence when they receive a Provincial Nomination (PN) from the province. In order to qualify for all PNPs you will also need the following:

• Medical Certificate; 
• Police Clearance; 
• Biometrics; 
• Security Checks; and 
• Federal Checks.

If you succeed in getting a nomination from the province, you, your spouse or partner, and your dependent children can apply for permanent residence in Ontario. 

Employer Job Category

This category gives employers the ability to employ and keep skilled labourers and international students in the province. If you want to apply for any of the streams under this category, you must have a valid, full-time, permanent job offer from an employer in Ontario. 

The Employer Job Category has three subcategories:

• International Student Stream; 
• In-Demand Skills Stream; and 
• Foreign Worker Stream;

International Student Stream

This stream is not currently accepting applicants.  

If you choose to apply for Canadian permanent residence through the International Student Stream, you must make sure that your offer of employment is for a full-time, permanent position in a skilled occupation listed on the National Occupation Classification (NOC) level 0, A, or B. The job must also meet Ontario’s standard wage level for the occupation.  

In-Demand Skills Stream

This stream is for foreign semi-skilled workers who are interested in immigrating to Ontario, Canada and have work experience and a job offer that is listed on the province’s in-demand jobs list. 

Foreign Worker Stream

This stream is not currently accepting applicants.

This stream is for highly skilled foreign workers who want to apply for Canadian permanent residence and have work experience and a job offer that is listed on the province’s in-demand jobs list.

New Regional Immigration Pilot

This two-year immigration pilot, which launched in July 2020, is aimed at helping smaller and rural communities in Ontario fill its labour gap. 150 nominations will now be reserved for skilled workers who want to immigrate to Canada under the Employer Job Offer category of the OINP. Applicants will need to have a valid full-time job offer in one of the participating communities as well as meet the general requirements of one of the three streams under this category.  

Participating communities include:

• Chatham-Kent;
• Cities of Belleville and Quinte West; and
• The City of Cornwall.

To apply through the new regional pilot you will need to submit an intake form by email to the regional immigration offices, and if successful, also submit your application through the OINP.   

Human Capital Category

Under this category, you will find the most streams, five to be exact, including three Express Entry options to Ontario. Through this program, employers are able to quickly meet the human resources they need to grow and maintain their business. 

The Human Capital Category has three subcategories:   

• Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream; 
• Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream; 
• Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream;
• Masters Graduates Stream; and 
• Ph.D. Graduates Stream.

Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream

Your eligibility for this stream is dependent on both federal and provincial criteria. Both of these sets of requirements need to be satisfied if you would like to apply for Canadian permanent residence under this stream. In terms of the federal requirements, you must: Have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool; Be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Federal Skilled Worker Program; Indicate that you have an interest in immigrating to Ontario when you create your Express Entry profile; and Have received a Notification of Interest from Ontario.      

Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

The Ontario INP French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream is aligned with Canada's Express Entry selection system and enables prospective immigrants that speak French to move to Ontario, Canada. Your eligibility for this stream is dependent on both federal and provincial criteria. Both of these sets of requirements need to be satisfied if you would like to apply under this stream. In terms of the federal requirements, you must: Have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool; Be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Federal Skilled Worker Program; Indicate that you have an interest in immigrating to Ontario when you create your Express Entry profile; and Have received a Notification of Interest from Ontario You may be eligible for the OINP French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream if you satisfy all the criteria below. 

Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream

Your eligibility for this stream is dependent on both federal and provincial criteria. Both of these requirements need to be satisfied if you would like to apply under this stream. In terms of the federal requirements, you must: Have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool; Be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Federal Skilled Worker Program; Indicate that you have an interest in immigrating to Ontario when you create your Express Entry profile; and Have received a Notification of Interest from Ontario.  

Masters Graduate Stream

This stream is not currently accepting applicants. If you obtained a Master's Degree at a university in Ontario and would like to live and work in the province this is the stream for you. You don’t even need a job offer in Ontario, Canada in order to qualify for the Master's Graduates Stream, however, you must have submitted your application no later than two years from the date of completion of your Master's degree. It can be submitted during your last semester of study in the program.  

Ph.D. Graduate Stream

If you obtained a Ph.D. at a tertiary institution in Ontario, you can apply to live and work in the province permanently. You can apply for the Ph.D. Graduate Stream even if you do not have a job offer in Ontario, Canada. Some university programs require that you may have to return to your home country or a jurisdiction outside of Ontario once you have completed your studies. If that is the case, as a result of grants, scholarships, or subsidies, you cannot apply for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program until all of your obligations have been met. In other words, you will need to return to your home country first, and only then can you apply to one of the Ontario INP streams. You must also have submitted your application no later than two years from the date you received your Ph.D.   

Business Stream

In the fall of 2015, the Ontario investor program was officially closed and two new OINP categories were introduced - the Ontario Entrepreneur Program, and the Ontario Business Program for Corporations. Ontario investor immigration applications received by October 29, 2015, will be processed normally, but no new investor category applications will be accepted by the OINP after this date. In July 2019, Ontario Business Program for Corporations or Corporate stream was closed. Consequently, people interested in business immigration to Ontario should consider the new OINP Entrepreneur Stream.  

Why Entrepreneurs Choose Ontario

Ontario has a plethora of economic development opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs can benefit from lower tax rates and overheads, an exceptionally talented and skilled workforce as well as various provincial funding programs, especially if you are under the age of 30.  

Entrepreneur Stream

The Entrepreneur Stream is designed to help foreigners buy a business in the province or to help create a brand new Ontario company or to purchase an existing one. Once the business has been established, entrepreneurs can then be nominated by Immigration Ontario for Canadian permanent residency under the OINP Entrepreneur Stream. When opening a new business in Ontario, or buying an existing business, the entrepreneur must own and control at least a 33.3% equity share in the endeavour in order to qualify under this Ontario INP. As part of the application process, the viability of the business plan will be assessed by officials of Immigration Ontario. A performance agreement, outlining key investment and job creation commitments that need to be met within 2 years, will also be required in order for the OINP to proceed with a provincial nomination. If you are an entrepreneur who is ready to buy or invest in and actively manage a business in the province, you can apply for Canadian permanent residence through one of the following business immigration streams:  

Apply For an Ontario INP For Your Canadian Immigration

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