Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OINP)

Although Ontario is the most populated Canadian province, it is facing a skilled labor shortage. Therefore, Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program (OINP) plays a critical role in helping to meet this demand. However, the system currently receives more applicants than it is allowed to select. In December 2019, Vic Fedeli, the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade of Ontario, asked to double the number of immigration candidates that Ontario can select for its Provincial Nominee Program. If granted, this would allow Ontario to nominate 13,300 candidates by 2022. In the meantime, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, which includes five of Ontario’s communities, could help ease the labor shortage.

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The OINP is an employer-driven program in that candidates cannot apply unless they have a permanent full-time job offer from an Ontario employer, or have obtained a PhD from a publicly-funded Ontario university. There is generally a two-step process to nomination.

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Ontario PNP’s Two-step Process to Nomination

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Ontario has 4 different immigration categories. You apply for the Employer eligibility, business and international student categories through those specific streams. Ontario also uses Canada’s Express Entry system as a way to streamline the application process.

1. Employer Eligibility

2. Business Category

3. International Student Category

4. Express Entry

 

Step 1) Employer Eligibility

This category covers the Foreign workers with job offers and employers seeking employees to fill specific roles.
 

Requirements for Employer Eligibility

Employers in the GTA must:

• Have been in active business for at least 3 years;

• Have at least $1,000,000 gross revenue in the previous fiscal year;

• Have at least five permanent full-time employees; and

• Have a place of business located in ON.

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Employers outside the GTA must:

• Have been in active business for at least three years;

• Have at least $500,000 in gross revenues in the previous fiscal year;

• Have at least three permanent full-time employees; and

• Have a place of business located in ON.

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Position Criteria

• Be permanent, full-time positions;

• In a skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B);

• Meet prevailing wage levels;

• Not affect the settlement of any labour dispute; and

• Be necessary for the company’s operations.

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Step 2) Ontario Business Category

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Requirements for PNP Streams

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Under the Foreign Worker stream, the applicant must have:

• A full time job offer from an approved ON employer in a skilled occupation (listed NOC A, B, or 0);

• A minimum of 2 years of work experience within the past 5 years in the intended occupation;

• Received an Employer Pre-Screen Approved Position Form;

• An offered wage that meets the prevailing wage level in ON for the occupation;

• Legal status, if the prospective nominee is in Canada.

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Under the Investors stream, the applicant must have:

• An active involvement in the management of the business and the creation of at least 5 new jobs for Canadian or permanent residents;

• The control of at least 33.334% of the equity in the business or make a minimum $1 million investment in the business; and

• No option of redeeming the investment after a specified period.

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Under the International Student stream:

• The With Job Offer stream

• Graduated (or soon be graduating) from an approved publicly funded Canadian college or university in the past two years;

• A full time job offer in NOC A, B, 0;

• Received an Employer Pre-screen Approved Position Form;

• An offered wage that meets the prevailing entry level wage in ON; and

• Legal status.

• The International PhD Graduate stream

• For graduates of PhD programs at Ontario publicly-funded universities.

• Do not need a job offer.

• The international Masters Graduate stream.

• For students who have graduated or are in the last semester of an existing Masters program at an eligible university in ON.

• Do not need a job offer.

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Step 3) International Student Stream

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• Graduated (or soon be graduating) from an approved publicly funded Canadian college or university in the past two years;

• A full time job offer in NOC A, B, 0;

• Received an Employer Pre-screen Approved Position Form;

• An offered wage that meets the prevailing entry level wage in ON; and

• Legal status.

• The International PhD Graduate stream

• For graduates of PhD programs at Ontario publicly-funded universities.

• Do not need a job offer.

• The international Masters Graduate stream.

• For students who have graduated or are in the last semester of an existing Masters program at an eligible university in ON.

• Do not need a job offer.

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Step 4) Express Entry

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If you have an Express Entry Profile, it can be used for immigration to Ontario. The streams that use Express Entry are:

• Human Capital Priorities- candidates will fill a specific need in the labor market

• French Speaking Skilled Worker- candidates with strong english speaking abilities that have the skills needed to fill a demand in the market

• Skilled Trades- candidates have on-going work in Ontario