Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers you a way to immigrate to Canada. Through the OINP, Ontario:
invites residency applications from non-Canadians who want to make Ontario their home; and
nominates successful applicants to the federal government, so they can gain permanent residency in Canada
The OINP offers two pathways for skilled and semi-skilled workers who want to become a permanent resident in Ontario. Each pathway contains different categories you can apply under, depending on your occupation skill level, job, or international student status. The two pathways are:
Employer job offer streams: For foreign nationals who already have a permanent job offer from an employer in the province of Ontario
Human capital streams: For individuals who have a profile in Canada’s Express Entry system and for graduate students
Employer job offer category
The employer job offer category has three streams. You must have a permanent offer of employment from an Ontario employer for a full-time job to qualify.
Foreign Worker stream: for foreign workers in and outside of Canada with a job offer in a skilled occupation. A skilled position is one which is classified as at Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
International Student stream: for international students who have graduated from a minimum two year post-secondary program in Canada and who have received a job offer in a skilled occupation in Ontario
In-Demand Skills stream: for low skilled workers in specific sectors, such as agriculture, construction, trucking and personal support workers. who have at least 9 months of full-time paid work experience in Ontario, in the same in-demand occupation as your job offer.
Human Capital Category
The human capital category has five sub-categories:
Masters graduate stream: For international students who have completed a Master’s degree from an Ontario university and apply within two years of getting their degree.
PHD graduate stream: For international students who have completed a PHD from an Ontario university and apply within two years of getting their degree.
Express Entry French-speaking skilled workers stream: For fluent French-Speaking skilled workers with the required work experience, education and language proficiency in French and English
Express Entry human capital priorities stream: For skilled workers with the required work experience, education and language proficiency in French or English
Express Entry skilled trades stream: For workers with work experience in Ontario in an eligible trade occupation
OINP Application Process
A broad overview of the process to apply to the OINP is below.
Stage 1: Application
Submit an applicant online through the OINP e-filing portal.Express Entry Stream applicants must receive a Notifications of Interest (NOI’s) from the OINP in their Express Entry profile prior to applying. Applicants for all other streams can apply directly to the OINP.
Stage 2: Nomination
If your application is approved, you will receive a confirmation of nomination as a provincial nominee from the OINP.
Stage 3: Permanent Residence
After receiving an OINP confirmation of nomination, you must submit an application for permanent residence. Applicants with an Express Entry Profile will apply online via the Express Entry system. All other applicant s will submit a paper based application to the IRCC Centralized In take Office (CIO) in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.
OINP Application Processing Times and Fees
Currently, the OINP processing time for all streams is 60-90 days.
The OINP charges an application fee of $1500.
Immigration Refugee Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Fees and Processing Times
Main Applicant-Processing fee $825 and right of permanent residence fee $500
Spouse or Partner-Processing fee $820 and right of permanent residence fee $500
Each Dependent Child- Processing Fee of $225
The processing time for an applicant with an Express Entry profile and who has applied to a provincial Express Entry stream is 6 months. The processing time for all other applicants is approximately 18 months.
Proof of Funds
You must show that you have sufficient funds to successfully establish yourself and your family in Canada and to pay your immigration costs and travel expenses (if applicable) at the time of your application for permanent residency to IRCC (as well as at Express Entry profile submission stage). The amount of money you need to s determined by the size of your family, as shown below.
| Number of family members | Funds Required ( in Canadian dollars) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $12,960 |
| 2 | $16,135 |
| 3 | $19,836 |
| 4 | $24,083 |
| 5 | $27,315 |
| 6 | $30,806 |
| 7 | $34,299 |
| For each additional family member | $3,492 |
The funds must be in your name or in the name of your accompanying spouse. These funds must be unencumbered by debts or obligations transferable and available to you. Funds must be liquid (i.e. not real estate) and cannot be borrowed. You normally do not have to show that you have these funds if:
You have a valid job offer (offer of arranged employment) in AND
You are currently working or authorized to work in Canada
How can a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant Help?
In addition to making sure the application is complete there are three main areas where an RCIC can help.
Immigration Strategy and Option: An RCIC can advise you on the different options that are available to you to obtain permanent residence in Canada and explain the pros and cons of each option. It is important you choose the best immigration program from the start as this will likely save you time and money in the long run.
Professional Representation: If you do not have a representative assisting you then you will probably only submit the minimum required documentation. Submitting only those documents sometimes is not enough to make your case and to satisfy the program officer or visa officer you meet the requirements of the visa. Generally, it is wise to submit as much evidence as you can above and beyond the minimum required. Your representative can assist you in preparing and submitting a strong application by identifying the weaknesses in your application and advising you how to strengthen your application.
Submission letter: An RCIC will prepare and submit a submission letter on behalf of the applicant along with the application. The submission letter is an important part of the application which summarizes and more importantly demonstrates why you meet the requirements of the visa.
Ready to apply to the OINP?
We will:
Review your information and develop a strategy to apply
Submit your profile to the OINP expression of interest system
Prepare and submit your application for nomination to the OINP
Prepare and submit your permanent resident visa application to IRCC
Act as your authorized representative to the OINP and IRCC.
If you want to apply for permanent residence through the OINP we are here to help! Please complete our free assessment form or contact us and one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants will revert to you within 48 hours
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