Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program

Entrepreneur Stream

The Ontario Entrepreneur Stream is for individuals with business experience who wish to purchase an existing Ontario business or establish a new business that will bring significant economic benefit to Ontario. It is managed through an Expression of Interest system whereby interested applicants are ranked according to selection criteria to determine who is invited to apply for nomination.

Applicant criteria:

• you have a min 2 years experience as business owner or senior manager in past 5 years
• if business will be located in Greater Toronto area: min CAD $800,000 net worth; min personal investment of CAD $600,000; min ownership of 33 1/3%; create at least 2 full-time jobs for Canadians
• if the business will be located outside of Greater Toronto Area (GTA): min CAD $400,000 net worth; min personal investment of CAD $200,000; min ownership of 33 1/3%; create at least 1 full-time job for a Canadian
• if business is within the ICT/Digital Communications sector, regardless of Ontario location: min CAD $400,000 net worth; min personal investment of CAD $200,000; min ownership of 33 1/3%; create at least 1 full-time job for a Canadian
• you will provide active, ongoing management of business and reside in Ontario a min of 9 months of the year
• your business will generate a profit
• you score a min CLB 4 on a valid language test 

If purchasing an existing Ontario business, additional criteria apply:

• you must make at least 1 business visit to Ontario within 12 months from registering with the OINP
• business must have been in continuous operation by same owners for previous 60 months
• purchase must transfer 100% of ownership to applicants
• you must use at least 10% of your investment to improve or expand the business
• you must preserve all current jobs plus create the required additional new jobs

Main applicant and one business partner permitted to apply.  Both individuals must meet all of the eligibility criteria.

Certain businesses are ineligible for consideration.

• If your business plan is accepted by the OINP, you are issued a work permit support letter to enable an application for a work permit to establish the business.
• You have 20 months from date of arrival to establish your business and meet required benchmarks for nomination.  Your application is monitored for 36 months after nomination to ensure the requirements continue to be met.

Foreign Worker Stream

The Ontario (OINP) Foreign Worker stream is for individuals who have an offer of employment with an Ontario based company.

Applicant criteria:

• you have an offer of full-time employment in NOC 0, A or B with an Ontario employer; and the offered wage rate meets or exceeds median wage level
• you have 2 years previous work experience within past 5 years in same occupation
• if you are applying from inside Canada, you have valid immigration status, including implied status

Employer criteria:

• employer has business premises in Ontario for min previous 3 years
• employer in compliance with Provincial regulations
• if business located in Greater Toronto Area, business has min gross annual revenue of CAD $1 million plus at least 5 full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or PR at your work location
• if business located outside of Greater Toronto Area, business has min gross annual revenue of CAD $500,000 plus at least 3 full-time employees who are Canadian Citizens or PR at your work location
• must provide proof of efforts to recruit local applicants if candidate is not currently working in Ontario

Application fee: CAD $2000 for applicants with job offers in the Greater Toronto Area; CAD $1500 for applicants with job offers outside of the Greater Toronto Area

International Student Stream

The Ontario PNP International Student Stream is for individuals who have completed a program of studies in Canada and have a job offer in Ontario.

Applicant criteria:

• you have an offer of full-time employment in NOC 0, A or B with an Ontario employer; and the offered wage rate meets or exceeds the low wage level
• you have completed a degree or diploma of min 2 year duration from an eligible Canadian institution; OR a one year program that requires previous completion of a degree
• you apply within 2 years of completing your studies

Employer criteria:

• employer has business premises in Ontario for min previous 3 years
• employer in compliance with Provincial regulations
• if business located in Greater Toronto Area, business has min gross annual revenue of CAD $1 million plus at least 5 full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or PR at your work location
• if business located outside of Greater Toronto Area, business has min gross annual revenue of CAD $500,000 plus at least 3 full-time employees who are Canadian Citizens or PR at your work location

Application fee: CAD $1500

In-Demand Skills Stream

The Ontario In-Demand Skills Stream is for individuals who have a job offer in Ontario for a position listed on the in-demand skills stream list.

Applicant criteria:

• you have an offer of full-time employment in with an Ontario company; and the offered wage rate meets median wage level
• your job offer is in one of the following NOCs, anywhere in Ontario:
  • NOC 3413 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
  • NOC 4412 – Home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers
  • NOC 7441 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers;
  • NOC 7521 – Heavy equipment operations (except crane);
  • NOC 8431 – General farm workers;
  • NOC 8432 – Nursery and greenhouse workers;
  • NOC 8611 – Harvesting labourers;
  • NOC 9462 – Industrial butchers, meat cutters, poultry preparers, related workers
• your job offer is in one of the following NOCs, and is outside of the Greater Toronto Area
  • NOC 9411 – Machine operators, mineral and metal processing
  • NOC 9416 – Metalworking and forging machine operators
  • NOC 9417 – Machining tool operators
  • NOC 9418 – Other metal products machine operators
  • NOC 9421 – Chemical plant machine operators
  • NOC 9422 – Plastics processing machine operators
  • NOC 9437 – Woodworking machine operators
  • NOC 9446 – Industrial sewing machine operators
  • NOC 9461 – Process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing
  • NOC 9523 – Electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers
  • NOC 9526 – Mechanical assemblers and inspectors
  • NOC 9536 – Industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators
  • NOC 9537 – Other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors

• you have a min 9 months cumulative work in Ontario within 3 years of application
• you have an education equivalent to at least a Canadian High School Diploma
• you score a min CLB 4 on language test results
• you have financial resources to settle in Ontario
• if you are applying from inside Canada, you have valid immigration status, including implied status

Employer criteria:

• employer has business premises in Ontario for min previous 3 years
• employer in compliance with Provincial regulations
• if business located in Greater Toronto Area, business has min gross annual revenue of CAD $1 million plus at least 5 full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or PR at your work location
• if business located outside of Greater Toronto Area, business has min gross annual revenue of CAD $500,000 plus at least 3 full-time employees who are Canadian Citizens or PR at your work location
• must provide proof of efforts to recruit local applicants if candidate is not currently working in Ontario

Application fee: CAD $2000 for applicants with job offers in the Greater Toronto Area; CAD $1500 for applicants with job offers outside of the Greater Toronto Area

Masters Graduate Stream

The Ontario Master’s Graduate Stream is for individuals who have completed a Master’s degree in Ontario.

Applicant criteria:

• you have completed a Master’s degree of min 1 year from an eligible Ontario Institution
• you have obtained a min CLB 7 on language test results
• you have resided in Ontario for at least 1 year within previous 2 years
• you have sufficient financial resources to settle in Ontario
• you are either residing in Ontario or outside of Canada
• you will apply within 2 years of completing your Master’s degree
• no job offer required
• you cannot apply if you are enrolled in further academic studies, except if you are also working on a full-time basis

Application fee: CAD $1500 

PhD Graduate Stream

The Ontario PhD Graduate Stream is for individuals who have completed a doctorate level degree in Ontario.

Applicant criteria:

• you have completed a PhD degree from an eligible Ontario Institution, and completed at least 2 years of the requirements while living in Ontario
• you have resided in Ontario for at least 1 year within previous 2 years
• you have sufficient financial resources to settle in Ontario
• you will apply within 2 years of completing PhD degree
• no job offer required

Application fee: CAD $1500 

Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

The Ontario Express Entry French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream is for bilingual individuals, with an Express Entry profile, who want to live and work in Ontario.

Applicant criteria:

• you have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool
• you qualify for either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class
• you have a min one year work experience in same occupation within past 5 years (Federal Skilled Worker criteria) or within past 3 years (Canadian Experience Class criteria)
• you have indicated an interest in living in Ontario when completing your EE profile
• you hold an education equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor’s Degree
• you scored a min CLB 7 in French and min CLB 6 in English on a valid language test
• you have financial resources to settle in Ontario

Note that applicants cannot apply directly to this program.  The OINP reviews candidates in the Express Entry pool who meet the criteria above and decides who to invite to apply.

Application fee: CAD $1500

Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream

The Ontario Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream is for skilled workers, with an Express Entry profile, who want to live and work in Ontario.

Applicant criteria:

• you have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool
• you qualify for either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class
• you have a min one year work experience in same occupation within past 5 years (Federal Skilled Worker criteria) or within past 3 years (Canadian Experience Class criteria)
• you have indicated an interest in living in Ontario when completing your EE profile
• you hold an education equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor’s Degree
• you scored a min CLB 7 on a valid language test
• you have financial resources to settle in Ontario
• you achieved the min CRS score as determined by OINP

Note that applicants cannot apply directly to this program.  The OINP reviews candidates in the Express Entry pool who meet the criteria above and decides who to invite to apply.

Application fee: CAD $1500

Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream

The Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream is for Tradespeople who have worked at least one year in Canada and who want to live and work in Ontario.

Applicant criteria:

• you have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool
• you qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (previous work experience inside Canada)
• min one-year work experience in same occupation within past 2 years in Ontario; work must be within a skilled trade occupation listed in Minor Group 633 or Major Group 72,73, or 82 of NOC
• you hold a valid Trade Certification if required for your occupation in Ontario
• you indicated an interest in living in Ontario when completing your EE profile
• you are currently residing in Ontario with a valid work permit or implied status
• you scored a min CLB 5 on a valid language test 
• you have sufficient financial resources to settle in Ontario

Note that applicants cannot apply directly to this program.  The OINP reviews candidates in the Express Entry pool who meet the criteria above and decides who to invite to apply.

Application fee: CAD $1500