Ontario The most populous province in Canada.
Canadians make up about 40 percent of the population there. Canadian capital city Ottawa and the country’s largest metropolis and financial hub Toronto are both located in the province of Ontario. Ontario is the country’s economic, social, and political capital. Immigrants from all over the globe flock to this province, making it Canada’s most multicultural province. More than 125 languages are spoken in the province, which is home to individuals from over 200 nations. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is the fastest and most straightforward path to permanent residence in Ontario, Canada (OINP).
Ontario Immigration Streams
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (INP) aims to accelerate the process of applying for permanent residence in Canada for a limited group of foreign nationals. The programme, which was formerly known as the Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OOPNP), is aimed towards aspiring immigrants who already have the qualifications necessary to work in Ontario. In order to be nominated by the OINP, there are two options. A potential immigrant can contact Immigration Ontario and apply directly to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). It is possible for an individual to upload their nomination credentials to their Canada Express Entry profile after being nominated by a province government.
Create an Express Entry profile and indicate your interest in the province to begin the immigration process. The OINP can then use Express Entry to formally invite the applicant to apply to the immigration programme. As a result, their CRS score will rise by 600 points in a matter of seconds now. An Invitation to Apply (ITA) can then be issued, which takes happen every few weeks, after the individual has met the CRS requirements.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has three primary methods for obtaining a visa to Canada:
| Ontario INP Categories |
|---|
| Employer Job Category |
| Human Capital Category |
| Business Category |
A Provincial Nomination (PN) from the province is required for those who have successfully applied to come to Canada under the programme. Additionally, you’ll need the following to be eligible for all PNPs:
- Medical Certificate;
- Police Clearance;
- Biometrics;
- Security Checks; and
- Federal Checks.
Families with children under the age of 18 who have been nominated by the government are eligible to apply for permanent residence in Ontario.
Employer Job Category
In this category, firms can hire and retain talented workers and students from other countries. It is necessary that you hold a full-time, permanent work offer from an Ontario company before you may apply for any of the streams in this category. The Employer Job Category has three subcategories:
- International Student Stream;
- In-Demand Skills Stream; and
- Foreign Worker Stream;
International Student Stream
At this time, there are no openings in this programme. Your offer of work must be a full-time, permanent position in a skilled occupation classified on the National Occupation Classification (NOC) level 0, A, or B if you want to apply for Canadian permanent residence through the International Student Stream. In addition, the employment must pay at least the standard wage for the profession in Ontario.
| International Student Stream Category Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | No |
| Connection to Province | No |
| Job Offer | Yes (full-time position Skill Level 0, A or B) |
| Language Proficiency | No |
| Level of Education | Post-secondary education (at least 2-year study program) |
| Work Experience | No minimum |
| Age | No |
| Income/Settlement Funds | Yes |
| Average Processing Time | 15 – 19 months |
In-Demand Skills Stream
To be eligible, applicants must be foreign semi-skilled employees with work experience and a job offer on Ontario’s list of in-demand occupations.
| In-Demand Skills Category Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | No |
| Connection to Province | Yes |
| Job Offer | Yes (Skill Level C or D In-demand Occupation) |
| Language Proficiency | Minimum of CLB4 |
| Level of Education | High School |
| Work Experience | at least have nine months of work experience in Ontario accumulated within the three years before you applied. |
| Age | No |
| Income/Settlement Funds | Yes |
| Average Processing Time | 15 – 19 months |
Foreign Worker Stream
At this time, there are no openings in this programme. This category is for highly qualified foreign employees who wish to apply for permanent residence in Canada and who have work experience and a job offer on the province’s list of in-demand jobs.
| Foreign Worker Category Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | No |
| Connection to Province | No |
| Job Offer | Yes (Skill Level 0, A or B) |
| Language Proficiency | NOC 0 or A – CLB 7; NOC B – CLB4 |
| Level of Education | Relevant to occupation |
| Work Experience | Yes (At least two years of work experience accumulated within the five years before you applied. In skill level NOC 0, A or B) |
| Age | No |
| Income/Settlement Funds | Yes |
| Average Processing Time | 15 – 19 months |
New Regional Immigration Pilot
Smaller and rural Ontario towns will benefit from a two-year immigration programme that begins in July 2020. As of today, the OINP will only accept 150 submissions from qualified foreign employees under the Employer Job Offer category. As addition as meeting the basic requirements for at least one of the three streams under this category, applicants must have a valid full-time employment offer from one of the participating towns. Participating communities include:
- Chatham-Kent;
- Cities of Belleville and Quinte West; and
- The City of Cornwall.
For the new regional pilot, you must submit an intake form through email to the regional immigration offices and then submit your application through the OINP if you are successful in your application.
Human Capital Category
The most streams are found here, with five in total, including three Express Entry choices for Ontario. Employers may rapidly find the human resources they need to expand and manage their business thanks to this service.
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
Both federal and provincial criteria determine your eligibility for this programme. If you want to become a permanent resident of Canada, you must meet both of these conditions. If you want to immigrate to Ontario, you must meet the following federal requirements: have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool; meet the eligibility requirements for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or the Federal Skilled Worker Program; and have received a Notification of Interest from Ontario.
| Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Category Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | Yes |
| Connection to Province | No |
| Job Offer | No |
| Language Proficiency | Yes – at least CLB7 in either French or English |
| Level of Education | Yes (a bachelor’s degree or higher) |
| Work Experience | Yes. (at least one year of continuous work experience within the previous five years in NOC Skill Level 0, A or B); or at least one year of cumulative work experience within the previous three years that is in line with the requirements of the Canadian Experience Class |
| Age | Express Entry Requirements |
| Income/Settlement Funds | Yes |
| Average Processing Time | 6 months |
OINP Tech Draws
Ontario is looking for specific in-demand professions in the Express Entry draw pools. A candidate must fulfil the Human Capital Priorities Stream and have work experience in one of the targeted occupations below in order to be considered.
Eligible OINP Occupations
- Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
- Computer engineers (NOC 2147)
- Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)
- Database analysts and data administrators
- Computer and information systems managers (NOC0213)
Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
Immigrants who are fluent in French can apply for the Ontario INP French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream, which is associated with Canada’s Express Entry selection system. Both federal and provincial criteria determine your eligibility for this programme. If you want to apply under this stream, you must meet both of these prerequisites. It is necessary, in terms of federal regulations, to: Have an active profile in the Express Entry pool; Be qualified for the CEC or Federal Skilled Worker Program; When you build your Express Entry profile, indicate that you are interested in moving to Ontario. Notice of Ontario’s Interest has arrived. If you meet the following requirements, you may be qualified for the OINP French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream.
| Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Category Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | Yes |
| Connection to Province | No |
| Job Offer | No |
| Language Proficiency | Yes – at least CLB7 in French and CLB6 in English |
| Level of Education | Yes (a bachelor’s degree or higher) |
| Work Experience | Yes. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) – at least 1 year of paid work experience in a NOC level 0, A, or B occupation in the past 60 months. Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – a minimum of one year, full-time employment in a NOC 0, A, or B level occupation in the past 36 months. |
| Age | Express Entry Requirements |
| Income/Settlement Funds | Yes |
| Average Processing Time | 6 months |
Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream
Both federal and provincial criteria determine your eligibility for this programme. If you want to apply under this stream, you must meet both of these conditions. If you want to immigrate to Ontario, you must meet the following federal requirements: have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool; meet the eligibility requirements for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or the Federal Skilled Worker Program; and have received a Notification of Interest from Ontario.
| Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Category Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | Yes |
| Connection to Province | No |
| Job Offer | No |
| Language Proficiency | Yes – A CLB score of at least 5 in either French or English. |
| Level of Education | No (Trade certification if applicable) |
| Work Experience | Yes. At least one year of cumulative full-time work experience in Ontario within the last two years from the date you submitted your application. The work experienced must also be in a job listed in Minor Group 633 or Major Group 72, 73, or 82 of the NOC system. |
| Age | Express Entry Requirements |
| Income/Settlement Funds | Yes |
| Average Processing Time | 6 months |
Masters Graduate Stream
At this time, there are no openings in this programme. If you have a Master’s degree from an Ontario university and want to work and reside in Ontario, this is the programme for you. To be eligible for the Master’s Graduates Stream, you do not even have to have a work offer in Ontario, Canada. However, your application must have been filed no later than two years after you received your Master’s degree. During your last semester of study, you can submit it.
| Masters Graduate Category Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | No |
| Connection to Province | Yes (education & currently living in Ontario) |
| Job Offer | No |
| Language Proficiency | Yes – A CLB score of at least 7 in either French or English. |
| Level of Education | Yes (Have graduated from an existing Masters program at an eligible publicly funded university in Ontario and have completed at least one academic year on a full-time basis) |
| Work Experience | No |
| Age | No |
| Income/Settlement Funds | Yes |
| Average Processing Time | 15 – 19 months |
Ph.D. Graduate Stream
You can apply to reside and work in Ontario permanently if you have a Ph.D. from a higher institution in the province. Even if you don’t have a job offer in Ontario, Canada, you can apply for the Ph.D. Graduate Stream. You may be required to return to your country of origin or a jurisdiction other than Ontario upon completion of your university studies if you are enrolled in certain university programmes. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program will not accept your application until all of your financial responsibilities have been satisfied if you have received grants, scholarships, or subsidies. For example, you must return to your home country before you may apply for an Ontario INP stream. After receiving your Ph.D., you must submit your application no later than two years after that date.
| Ph.D. Graduate Category Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | No |
| Connection to Province | Yes (education & have lived in Ontario for at least one year in the last two years before applying) |
| Job Offer | No |
| Language Proficiency | No |
| Level of Education | Yes (Have graduated from an existing Ph.D. program, of which at least two years of Ph.D. studies were completed at an eligible publicly funded university in Ontario;) |
| Work Experience | No |
| Age | No |
| Income/Settlement Funds | Yes |
| Average Processing Time | 15 – 19 months |
Business Stream
There were two new OINP categories announced in the autumn of 2015, the Ontario Entrepreneur Program and the Ontario Business Program for Corporations, to replace the Ontario Investor Program (OIP). After October 29, 2015, the Ontario Immigration and Refugee Protection Program (OIRPP) will no longer accept new investor immigration applications. The Ontario Business Program for Corporations (also known as the Corporate Stream) was shut down in July of 2019 because to budget cuts. The new OINP Entrepreneur Stream is a good option for immigrants who want to start a business in Ontario.
Why Entrepreneurs Choose Ontario
Entrepreneurs and company owners in Ontario have access to a wide range of economic development possibilities. As an entrepreneur, you may take advantage of lower taxes and overheads, a highly qualified workforce, and a variety of provincial support schemes, especially if you are under 30.
Entrepreneur Stream
Foreigners who want to start a business in Ontario or buy an existing one can benefit from the Entrepreneur Stream, which is designed to assist foreigners. Immigrants can apply for permanent residence in Canada through the OINP Entrepreneur Stream once they’ve started a business in the province. Existing business owners and new entrepreneurs in Ontario must own and control at least 33.3% of the company in order to be eligible for this Ontario INP whether starting a new business or buying an existing one in the province. Immigration Ontario authorities will evaluate the feasibility of the business plan as part of the application process. For the OINP to proceed with a provincial nomination, a performance agreement detailing significant investment and job creation commitments that must be accomplished within two years is necessary. Anyone interested in starting or purchasing a company in British Columbia and running it as a permanent resident of the country may do so under one of the following business immigration categories.
| Entrepreneur Category Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | No |
| Connection to Province | No |
| Job Offer | No |
| Language Proficiency | CLB4/NCLC4 or higher in English or French |
| Level of Education | Post-secondary or Sufficient Business Experience for at least 3 of the past 5 years with 100% business ownership |
| Age | No |
| Work Experience | Business Ownership or Management of at least 24 months of full-time business experience in the last 60 months. |
| Income/Settlement Funds | No |
| Personal Investment | Minimum $200,000 CAD Personal Net Worth of at least $800,000 CAD(Within Greater Toronto Area) or; at least $400,000 CAD(Outside Greater Toronto Area) |
| Investment | Minimum of $600,000 CAD(Within Greater Toronto Area) or; at least $200,000 CAD(Outside Greater Toronto Area) or Minimum of $200,000 if the business is in the information and communications technology/digital communications sector then regardless of location. |
| Average Processing Time | 15 – 19 months |
