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Written By
Corinna Frattini
Dec 6, 2021
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Ontario is a popular choice for immigration to Canada. In fact, it is also known as one of the big three immigration provinces for permanent residents, followed by British Columbia, and Quebec. Together these three provinces represent the majority of arrivals in Canada. So if you’re thinking of making Ontario your new home, find out more about OINP pathways.
The OINP is a Government of Ontario program that provides permanent residence to selected applicants. The goal of this program is to help Ontario employers meet labour market shortages that exist in the province. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) works in partnership with the Ontario government to run this vital program.
The OINP nominates the people who meet the program requirements for permanent residence. However, IRCC makes the final decision to approve permanent residence applications.
Each province has a PNP (except for Quebec). These programs are for workers who have the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the economy of a province or territory, and who want to:
As well, each province has its own unique requirements. So provinces will target certain groups such as students, business people, skilled workers, or semi-skilled workers based on their needs. The OINP is the Provincial Nominee Program for Ontario.
Ontario is Canada’s leading manufacturing province with a rapidly growing technology base. These are just a few of the innovative industries that drive economic growth:
Aerospace: over 200 firms employing more than 44,000 direct and indirect people
Automotive: 300+ companies work in connected and autonomous development and smart technology
Financial Services: employs about 365,000 people in financial services firms
Cybersecurity: Ontario has cybersecurity hubs in Toronto, Waterloo Region, and Ottawa. And according to Invest Ontario, it also has the 2nd largest IT cluster in North America.
Cleantech: Interested in being at the forefront of environmental progress? Ontario has the largest cleantech sector in Canada and employs more than 134,000 employees.
With a fast-growing economy, attracting skilled talent from around the world is a priority. So, if you have skills in many of the in-demand jobs, the OINP may appeal to you.
Are you moving to Canada soon or already here? Do you need to find a job? Would you like to find good resources for finding employment in Canada? If so, join us for a free webinar where you can ask an expert your questions. We’ll discuss what you can do to make yourself more marketable to potential employers.
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINARIf Ontario sounds interesting to you, there are two ways that you may qualify for the OINP.
This is for workers who have a permanent job offer from an Ontario employer. The category has three streams that have an expression of interest (EOI) system.
This category is for workers with valuable work experience, education, language skills, and a profile in Canada’s Express Entry system. Graduate students can also qualify for this category. Also, there are two sub-categories:
International Graduate Streams:
The international graduate streams include both the Master’s Graduate Stream and the Ph.D. Graduate Stream. These streams allow graduates with an Ontario master’s degree or Ph.D. to apply for an OINP nomination.
Ontario Express Entry Streams:
The following three streams operate through the federal government’s Express Entry System. To qualify for Ontario’s Express Entry streams, you must receive a notification of interest from Ontario and have a current profile.
An expression of interest informs the OINP that you would like to be invited to apply for permanent residency in Ontario. As mentioned above, you can only apply to some of these streams if the OINP invites you to apply. So, an important first step is to register an EOI. When you register an EOI, it allows the OINP to gather information about your:
Ontario launched the EOI system in 2021 to manage the high demand for the OINP. And because Ontario is such a popular destination, the EOI system avoids the first-come-first-served model. Learn more about how to register an OINP expression of interest.
Once you register your EOI, your profile goes into a selection pool and your answers are scored. The OINP will notify you if you are invited to apply for the provincial nomination. But, if you receive an invitation it does not mean you get the provincial nomination. You will still have to meet the eligibility requirements of the stream that you are applying to. So be sure to check the requirements of the steam that you’re interested in.
Ontario is a popular immigration choice. And with the OINP, there are many streams that could lead you to this vibrant and prosperous province.
WRITTEN BY
Corinna Frattini
Senior Editor, Prepare for Canada
Corinna Frattini is the Senior Editor and Content Director for Prepare for Canada. She contributes articles to help newcomers achieve their goals in key areas related to living, working, and settling in Canada. With an extensive background in human resources and leadership development, her articles focus on what Canadian employers seek and how newcomers can continue their careers in Canada.
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