Immigrating to Canada through Ontario’s PNP

Introduction to Ontario's PNP

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers various pathways to permanent residence (PR) for temporary residents in Ontario, Canada’s most popular destination for newcomers. This is made possible through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Understanding OINP

The OINP allows the Ontario government to invite immigration candidates who can best address local labor market needs and demographic gaps. It is one of the 11 PNPs operated by different provinces and territories across Canada.

OINP Streams Requiring Ontario Residence

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

Skilled Trades Stream: Human Capital Category

One of the four OINP categories is the Human Capital category, which includes the Skilled Trades stream. To be eligible, candidates must:

• Currently live in Ontario
• Hold a valid work permit when applying for PR

This stream is linked with IRCC’s Express Entry system, granting candidates 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points if they receive and accept an OINP nomination. Other criteria include:

• A valid Express Entry profile
• At least one year of full-time paid work experience
• A valid license or certificate (if applicable)
• A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 or higher in English or French
  
  

Masters Graduate Stream: Masters and PhD Category

The Masters Graduate stream is part of the Masters and PhD category, designed for foreign nationals with a Master's degree from eligible Ontario universities. Unlike the Skilled Trades stream, it is not linked to the Express Entry system. Candidates must:

• Have legally lived in Ontario for at least one of the last two years
• Achieve a CLB Level 7 or higher in English or French
  
  

PhD Graduate Stream: Masters and PhD Category

The PhD Graduate stream is for candidates with a PhD degree from an eligible Ontario university. Similar to the Masters Graduate stream, it is not Express Entry-aligned. Eligibility criteria include:

• Legal residence in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years
• Creating a profile and registering an Expression of Interest (EOI)

Both the Masters and PhD streams have a $1,500 CAD application fee.

Other OINP Immigration Options

The OINP has four main categories, summarized below:

Human Capital Category

1. Human Capital Priorities
• Express Entry linked
• Includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Requires a valid Express Entry profile
• Must have a Bachelor's, Master’s, or PhD degree
• At least one year of full-time paid work experience
  
  
2. French-Speaking Skilled Worker
• Express Entry linked
• Includes FSWP and CEC
• Strong English and French skills (CLB level 7 or higher in French)
• Bachelor's, Master’s, or PhD degree
• Valid Express Entry profile
• At least one year of full-time paid work experience
  
  

Employer Job Offer Category

1. Foreign Worker
• Not Express Entry linked
• Requires a job offer
• Two years of work experience if the occupation does not require a license or certification
• Job offer with pay higher than the median wage level for that occupation in Ontario
  
  
2. International Students
• Not Express Entry linked
• Requires a job offer
• For recent graduates of Ontario post-secondary institutions
  
  
3. In-Demand Skills
• Not Express Entry linked
• Requires a job offer
• For intermediate skilled workers in eligible sectors with a job offer in an in-demand occupation
• At least nine months of work experience
• Job offer with pay higher than the median wage level for that occupation in Ontario
• CLB level 4 or higher (English or French)
• High school diploma
  
  

Business Category

1. Entrepreneur
• Not Express Entry linked
• For foreign nationals looking to start or buy a business in Ontario
• Business experience of 24 months in the last 60 months
• Control at least one-third of the business’ equity
• Active involvement in managing the business