Ontario

Ontario PNP: Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

Ontario is indeed a popular landing destination for immigrants from around the world. As Canada’s most populous province, it attracts a significant number of newcomers each year. Nearly 40 percent of Canadians reside in Ontario, making it a culturally diverse and vibrant province.

Ontario offers numerous job opportunities and a relatively high income level, which are attractive factors for immigrants seeking better economic prospects. The province is home to major cities like Toronto, which is not only Canada’s largest city but also a global hub for business, finance, and cultural activities. Toronto, in particular, has a diverse population, with more than half of its residents being born outside of Canada. This multicultural environment can provide newcomers with a sense of community and support.

To facilitate immigration, Ontario operates its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) known as the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). This program allows the province to nominate individuals with specific skills and experience that align with its economic priorities. Once nominated by Ontario, applicants can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The OINP is designed to address the specific labor market needs of Ontario and attract skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and international students who can contribute to the province’s economy and society. The program has various streams targeting different categories of applicants, such as the Human Capital Category, Business Category, and International Student Category, among others.

Overall, Ontario’s welcoming environment, job opportunities, and the presence of major cities make it an appealing choice for many immigrants coming to Canada.

Overview of the Ontario PNP

The Ontario PNP, officially known as the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), was launched in 2007.

The primary objectives of the OINP are to address skill shortages in targeted areas, facilitate investment in Ontario, and ensure successful settlement and integration of newcomers in the province.

Initially, the Ontario PNP could nominate up to 1,000 newcomers. However, the program has evolved, and currently, Ontario nominates approximately 8,000 newcomers annually.

The Ontario immigration streams are categorized into base streams and enhanced streams.

Enhanced streams are aligned with the Express Entry system, which is Canada’s federal immigration system used to manage permanent residence applications for the country’s three main economic class immigration programs.

Under the Express Entry system, candidates are assigned a point score based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranking candidates are then invited to apply for permanent residence.

Candidates who receive a provincial nomination through an enhanced stream are awarded an additional 600 points, guaranteeing them an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Their nomination is also linked to their Express Entry profile.

Base streams are not aligned with the Express Entry system. Candidates who receive a provincial nomination through a base stream must apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Ontario Immigration Categories

If you are interested in immigrating to Ontario, you have the following four categories to choose from:

1. Human Capital Category
2. Masters or PhD Category
3. Employer Job Offer Category
4. Business Category

Human Capital Category

The Human Capital Category is designed for skilled workers, French-speaking skilled workers and tradespersons. It also includes international graduates who have completed a Masters or PhD degree from an Ontario university. No job offer is required to apply through this category.

The Human Capital Category has two sub-streams: Ontario Express Entry and Non-Express Entry.

The Ontario Express Entry sub-stream includes the following programs:

• Human Capital Priorities: This category considers candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
• Skilled Trades: For individuals with relevant Ontario work experience in an eligible trade occupation.
• French-Speaking Skilled Worker: This program operates similarly to the Human Capital Priorities sub-stream but requires strong skills in both French and English.

If you receive a nomination through Ontario Express Entry, you will be notified and can choose to accept or refuse the nomination. Accepting the nomination grants you an additional 600 CRS points, ensuring you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the next Express Entry draw.

Minimum Requirements:

To be eligible for the Human Capital Category, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family
• Intend to reside in Ontario
• Meet additional requirements specific to the stream you are applying for

Masters or PhD Category

The Masters or PhD Category is not aligned with the Express Entry system. Candidates must create a profile and register an Expression of Interest (EOI).

The following programs fall under the Masters or PhD Category:

• Masters Graduate Stream: For individuals who have obtained a Masters degree from an eligible university in Ontario.
• PhD Graduate Stream: For individuals who have obtained a Ph.D. from an eligible university in Ontario.

Employer Job Offer Category

The Employer Job Offer Category consists of three programs:

1. Foreign Worker Stream: For skilled workers with a job offer in Ontario.
2. International Student Stream: For recent graduates of Ontario post-secondary institutions.
3. In-Demand Skills Stream: For intermediate skilled workers in specific sectors, such as agriculture, construction, trucking, and personal support workers.

Minimum Requirements:

To be eligible for the Employer Job Offer Category, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Have a full-time, permanent job offer in an eligible occupation in Ontario.
• Possess the necessary work experience, license, or authorization required for the job.
• Intend to reside in Ontario.
• Meet additional requirements set by the employer (related to the business, revenue, and employment).

Business Category

The Business Category is designed for individuals interested in starting or acquiring a business in Ontario. Currently, the Entrepreneur Stream is the only stream available under this category.

Minimum Requirements:

To be eligible for the Business Category, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Have at least 24 months of business experience within the last 60 months.
• Have a net worth of CAD $800,000 (if the business is located in the Greater Toronto Area) or CAD $400,000 (if the business is located outside the GTA).
• Make a minimum personal investment of CAD $600,000 (for businesses in the GTA) or CAD $200,000 (for businesses outside the GTA).
• Maintain at least one-third of the equity in the business.
• Actively participate in the management of the business.
• Demonstrate that the main purpose of the investment is to make a profit.
• Create at least two permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents (one job for businesses outside the GTA). Only one job is required if the business operates in the information and communications sector or digital communications sector, regardless of location.
• Meet additional requirements if purchasing an existing business.

How it works:

To apply for any of the categories, you need to create a profile on the OINP website and complete the necessary forms. You will also be required to upload the required documents.

For Express Entry Streams: If you are applying through one of the Express Entry streams, you must maintain a valid profile until you receive a nomination. If successful, you will receive a Nomination Approval Letter and an OINP Certificate of Nomination by email. You will then receive your nomination through your Express Entry profile, and upon accepting it, you will receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, leading to an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.

For Graduate Streams: If you are applying through the Masters or PhD streams, you will need to apply for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) within six months. Include your nomination approval letter and certificate with your application.

Ontario Regional Immigration Pilot

The Ontario Regional Immigration Pilot is part of the Employer Job Offer Category. It aims to attract and retain immigrants to rural and small communities in Ontario to address labor shortages and contribute to local economic growth.

The pilot is open to individuals who have a job offer from an employer in one of the three pilot communities:

1. Chatham-Kent
2. Cities of Belleville and Quinte West
3. City of Cornwall

To be eligible for the Ontario Regional Immigration Pilot, you must have a full-time, permanent job offer from an employer in one of the pilot communities and meet the criteria of one of the Employer Job Offer streams.

To apply for the pilot, you must register an Expression of Interest (EOI) and indicate your intention to apply under the Regional Immigration Pilot.

Application Fee, Processing Time, and other requirements will be similar to the Employer Job Offer Category.

Please note that the information provided is based on the knowledge cutoff of September 2021, and there may have been updates or changes to the Ontario PNP since then. It’s essential to consult the official OINP website or seek professional advice for the most up-to-date and accurate information.