Why Ontario Provincial Nominee Program?

• 100,000+ job vacancies
• CRS score required is 400
• Easy path to settle in Canada
• 9,750 immigrants invited in 2022
• High demand for Tech and Healthcare professionals

About Ontario

Ontario, the wealthiest province in Canada, has a substantial share of the natural resources in the country, along with a diversified industrial economy. Currently, the province is primarily urban in nature, with more than four/fifths of its population living in cities, towns, and suburbs. Area-wise, Ontario is the second-largest Canadian province, after Quebec. Ontario is bordered by the US on the south, Quebec on the east, and the province of Manitoba to the west. Hudson Bay and James Bay lie towards the north of Ontario.

“Ontario is home to two capital cities. Toronto is the capital of Ontario, and Ottawa is the capital of Canada.”

Other prominent cities in Ontario include:

• London
• Windsor
• Kitchener
• Brampton
• Vaughan
• Hamilton
• Markham
• Mississauga

OINP Immigration Levels Plan 2023-25

‘The Loyalist Province’ plans to increase immigration numbers in 2023-2025 under the  Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.

Year	Nominations
2023	16,500
2024	18,500
2025	21,500

A part of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) of Canada, Ontario has its own program – the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) – for the induction of immigrants into the province. Ontario’s economic immigration program, also commonly referred to as Toronto PNP, works in partnership with the Canadian government through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

International students, foreign workers, and others that possess the right skills, education, and experience might apply to the OINP for a nomination. The OINP recognizes and nominates those individuals for permanent residence in Canada that they find to possess the skills and experience required by the economy in Ontario. While nominating individuals for Canadian immigration through the PNP route is the prerogative of the provincial/territorial government concerned, it is the federal government of Canada that makes the final decision as to the grant of Canada PR.

 

Important Announcement: Ontario Discontinues the Entrepreneur Immigration Stream

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has decided to “wind down and close” the Entrepreneur Immigration Stream on and from November 04, 2024. The OINP will process the already submitted application under updated regulations and eligible candidates may acquire Canada PR via OINP. Applicants under this steam will be contacted and informed about the next steps to be taken for the application.  

 

New requirement for OINP applications: Applicant Consent Form

All applications being submitted for OINP program will be required to include an Application Consent Form starting from February 26, 2024. The form must be filled out correctly, dates, and signed by the applicant, spouse and dependents of applicant (if applicable), and submitted along with other documents. The Application Consent Form must be completed after receiving an ITA or NOI.

Note: Incomplete or incorrect forms will be rejected and applicants will receive a refund of the fee.

 

OINP to accept PTE Core as an English Language proficiency Test!

PTE Core as an English language proficiency Test will be now accepted by the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) starting from January 30, 2024. Students who received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) or a Notification of Interest (NOI) before January 30, 2024, will remain unaffected by the latest changes.

The score equivalency chart between PTE and CLB scores is given in the table below: 

CLB level	Listening	Reading	Speaking	Writing
10	89-90	88-90	89-90	90
9	82-88	78-87	84-88	88-89
8	71-81	69-77	76-83	79-87
7	60-70	60-68	68-75	69-78
6	50-59	51-59	59-67	60-68
5	39-49	42-50	51-58	51-59
4	28-38	33-41	42-50	41-50

 

OINP Streams

There are four streams under Ontario Immigration Nominee Program, which include:

• Human Capital Category
• Masters or Ph.D. Category
• Employer Job Offer Category
• Business Category

Human Capital Category

Ontario’s HCP Category has three sub-categories. The requirements and eligibility for each category are given below:

Category	Job offer required?	Express Entry profile	Additional Requirements
Human Capital Priorities Stream	No	Yes	Must have valid Express Entry profile.
			Must have at least one year of full-time paid work experience.
			Must have a bachelor’s, masters or PhD degree.
			Language requirement: CLB level 7 or higher (English or French)
French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream	No	Yes	Must have valid Express Entry profile
			Must have at least one year of full-time paid work experience
			Must have a bachelor’s, masters or PhD degree
			Language requirement: CLB level 7 or higher (French).
Skilled Trades Stream	No	Yes	Must have valid Express Entry profile
			Must have at least one year of full-time paid work experience
			Must have a valid certificate or licence (if applicable)
			Must be currently living in Ontario and hold a valid work permit at the time of application
			Language requirement: CLB level 5 or higher (English or French)

Masters and Ph.D. Category

Category	Job offer required?	Express Entry Profile	Additional Requirements
Masters Graduate Stream	No	No	Must have a masters degree from an eligible university in Ontario.
			Language requirement: CLB level 7 or higher (English or French)
			Must have legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years.
PhD Graduate Stream	No	No	Must have a PhD degree from an eligible university in Ontario.
			Must have legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years.

Employer Job Offer Category

This category has three sub-categories. The requirements and eligibility for each category are given below:

Category	Job offer required?	Additional Requirements
Foreign Worker Stream	Yes	Must have two years of work experience if occupation does not require license or other authorization
		Pay must be higher than the median wage level for that occupation in Ontario
In-Demand Skills Stream	Yes	Job must be in an in-demand occupation
		Must have nine months of work experience
		Language requirement: CLB 4 or higher (English or French)
		Must have a high school diploma
		Pay must be higher than the median wage level for that occupation in Ontario
Skilled Trades Stream	Yes	Pay must be higher than the low wage level for that occupation in Ontario
		Must have a two-year degree or diploma from a Canadian institution.

Eligibility Criteria

• Educational qualifications (at least a Bachelor’s Degree)
• ECA (Educational Credential Assessment)
• An intention of living and working in Ontario
• Language proficiency
• CRS score (400 or more)
• Min 1+ year relevant work experience
• Proof of funds

Steps to Apply

STEP 1: Check your eligibility through Y-Axis Canada Immigration Points Calculator.

STEP 2: Review the OINP selection criteria

STEP 3: Arrange the checklist of requirements

STEP 4: Apply for OINP

STEP 5: Migrate to Ontario, Canada

Processing Times

IRCC improved online processing times on 2nd May 2, 2024, to help new people from longer wait times to processing their applications. The updated processing times are now available for the following applications.

Application Type	Processing time as of 01st May 2024
Skilled workers (federal): Online visa Express Entry	5 months
Canadian experience class: Online visa Express Entry	5 Months
Provincial nominees: Online visa Express Entry	6 Months
Provincial nominees: Non-Express Entry	11 Months
Visitor visa (from outside Canada) India	25 Days
Visitor visa (from inside Canada)	23 Days
Study permit outside Canada	14 weeks
Work permit (from outside Canada) India	21 weeks
Spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner living outside Canada: Outside Quebec	13 Months
Parents or grandparents: Outside Quebec	20 Months

Ontario PNP Draws in 2024

Month	No. of draws	Total no. of Invitations
October	2	3,035
September	8	6,952
August	2	2,665
July	8	5,925
June	5	646
April	1	211
March	9	11,092
February	1	6638
January	8	8122

How Can Y-Axis Help You?

Y-Axis, the world’s best overseas immigration consultancy, provides unbiased immigration services for every client based on their interests and requirements. The impeccable services of Y-Axis include the following:

• Free eligibility check through Canada Immigration Points Calculator
• Expert guidance/counseling for Canada Immigration
• Coaching services: Expert CELPIP coaching, IELTS proficiency Coaching 
• Free career counseling; book your slot today
• Complete guidance for Canada PR visa
• Job search services to find jobs in Ontario