Changes to the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP)

The Ontario government is updating the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to address three key areas: expand the province's healthcare workforce, increase the number of eligible occupations, and protect newcomers from immigration fraud. This strategic move tackles pressing labor shortages in the healthcare sector while ensuring a smooth and secure immigration experience for qualified individuals.

Key Highlights

• Easier Pathways for Nurses: Nurses registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario no longer need a bachelor’s degree to qualify for the OINP streams Express Entry Human Capital Priorities and French- Speaking Skilled Workers Streams opening up more opportunities for internationally educated nurses to receive a nomination through the program.

• Increased Penalties for Immigration Fraud: Administrative Monetary Penalties for immigration fraud have increased significantly, with the minimum penalty rising from $2,000 to $10,000.

• More Eligible Occupations: The number of occupations eligible for the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream has increased from 22 to 56, allowing more skilled workers to qualify. List of eligible occupations

List of Eligible Occupations

The position offered can be in any location in Ontario (inside and outside the Greater Toronto Area) and must be in one of the following occupations in National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER category 4 or 5:

• NOC 44101 - Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations

• NOC 65202 - Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale

• NOC 75110 - Construction trades helpers and labourers

• NOC 75119 - Other trades helpers and labourers

• NOC 84120 - Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators

• NOC 85100 - Livestock labourers

• NOC 85101 - Harvesting labourers

• NOC 85103 - Nursery and greenhouse labourers

• NOC 94141 - Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers

The position offered must be outside the Greater Toronto Area  (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions) and must be in one of the following occupations in National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER category 4 or 5:

• NOC 14400 - Shippers and Receivers

• NOC 14402 - Production logistics workers

• NOC 65320 - Dry cleaning, laundry and related occupations

• NOC 74200 - Railway yard and track maintenance workers

• NOC 74203 - Automotive and heavy truck and equipment parts installers and servicers

• NOC 74204 - Utility maintenance workers

• NOC 74205 - Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers

• NOC 75101 - Material handlers

• NOC 75211 - Railway and motor transport labourers

• NOC 75212 - Public works and maintenance labourers

• NOC 85102 - Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers

• NOC 94100 - Machine operators, mineral and metal processing

• NOC 94101 - Foundry workers

• NOC 94102 - Glass forming and finishing machine operators and glass cutters

• NOC 94103 - Concrete, clay and stone forming operators

• NOC 94104 - Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing

• NOC 94105 - Metalworking and forging machine operators

• NOC 94106 - Machining tool operators

• NOC 94107 - Machine operators of other metal products

• NOC 94110 - Chemical plant machine operators

• NOC 94111 - Plastics processing machine operators

• NOC 94112 - Rubber processing machine operators and related workers

• NOC 94120 - Sawmill machine operators

• NOC 94121 - Pulp mill, papermaking and finishing machine operators

• NOC 94123 - Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders

• NOC 94124 - Woodworking machine operators

• NOC 94132 - Industrial sewing machine operators

• NOC 94140 - Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing

• NOC 94142 - Fish and seafood plant workers

• NOC 94143 - Testers and graders, food and beverage processing

• NOC 94200 - Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors and testers

• NOC 94201 - Electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers

• NOC 94202 - Assemblers and inspectors, electrical appliance, apparatus and equipment manufacturing

• NOC 94203 - Assemblers, fabricators and inspectors, industrial electrical motors and transformers

• NOC 94204 - Mechanical assemblers and inspectors

• NOC 94205 - Machine operators and inspectors, electrical apparatus manufacturing

• NOC 94211 - Assemblers and inspectors of other wood products

• NOC 94212 - Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors

• NOC 94213 - Industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators

• NOC 94219 - Other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors

• NOC 95100 - Labourers in mineral and metal processing

• NOC 95101 - Labourers in metal fabrication

• NOC 95102 - Labourers in chemical products processing and utilities

• NOC 95103 - Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing

• NOC 95104 - Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing

• NOC 95106 - Labourers in food and beverage processing

• NOC 95107 - Labourers in fish and seafood processing

Permanent Residency Through Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is a provincial immigration program that allows the province of Ontario to nominate eligible individuals to apply for permanent residence (PR) in Canada. In this blog post, we will guide you through the OINP's two intake systems and highlight the eight streams available for potential immigrants.

OINP Intake Systems

Before diving into the application process, it's crucial to understand the two intake systems used by the OINP: the Expression of Interest system and the Express Entry system. These systems help manage applications and ensure a streamlined process for potential immigrants.

Expression of Interest System

The Expression of Interest system is your gateway to the OINP if you have a job offer in Ontario or hold a Master's or Ph.D. degree from an Ontario university.

A. Ontario’s Expression of Interest Streams for those who have a job offer in Ontario

• Foreign Worker Stream allows foreign workers with a job offer in a skilled occupation to apply for permanent residency in Ontario. Key eligibility requirements include the job being in TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC), being full-time and permanent, and meeting specific hourly and weekly work criteria.

• International Student Stream provides international students with a job offer in a skilled occupation that is urgently necessary to the employer's existing business. To be eligible, the job offer must be in a skilled occupation at TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC), and you must meet or exceed the low wage level in the region, and be based primarily in Ontario.

• The In-Demand Skills Stream allows foreign workers with job offers in specific in-demand occupations to apply for permanent residence. To qualify, the job offer must be full-time and permanent, meeting specific hourly and yearly work requirements. The offered position must align with NOC categories 4 or 5. Additionally, the offered wage must meet or exceed the median wage level for the specific region in Ontario where the applicant will work.
  

B. Ontario’s Expression of Interest Streams for those with a Masters or PhD degree from an Ontario university

• Masters Graduate Stream offers an opportunity for international graduates with a master's degree from an eligible Ontario university to apply for permanent residence in Ontario.

Key requirement

Have an eligible master's degree,

Language proficiency in English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher.

At least one year of legal residency in Ontario in the past two years

Sufficient settlement funds,

An intention to live in Ontario,

Legal status at the time of application,

Submission must be within two years of completing the Masters degree

• PhD Graduate Stream is a program in Ontario that allows international graduates with a PhD degree from an eligible Ontario university to apply for permanent residence. To apply, individuals must register in the OINP’s Expression of Interest System, receive an invitation to apply, and meet specific requirements.

Key requirements

• Demonstrating qualifications claimed in the expression of interest,

• Completing a Ph.D. degree from an eligible Ontario university,

• Residing in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years,

• Having settlement funds and intending to live and work in Ontario.

• Must also have legal status in Canada at the time of application

• Submit their application within two years of completing their Ph.D. degree

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Ontario’s Express Entry Streams

1. Human Capital Priorities Stream is part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) which provides an opportunity for foreign workers with the required skills, language proficiency, and education to apply for permanent residence in Ontario. To be eligible, candidates must have a valid profile in the Express Entry system and receive a Notification of Interest from Ontario.

Key requirements

• Work experience in either the Federal Skilled Workers Program or Canadian Experience Class,

• A Canadian degree or equivalent,

• Language proficiency,

• Settlement funds,

• An intention to live in Ontario, and legal status in Canada if applying from within the country.

• Candidates assessed under the Federal Skilled Worker Program must score at least 67 points on the six selection factors (education, language skills, work experience, age, arranged employment in Canada, and adaptability).

2. Skilled Trades Stream allows foreign nationals with eligible skilled trades experience in Ontario to apply for permanent residence.

Key requirements

• Applicants must have at least one year of cumulative paid full-time work experience in specific skilled trades within the last two years (or the equivalent in paid part-time work) in Ontario Major Groups 72 (excluding occupations under transportation officers), 73, 82, 83, 93 (excluding aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors) or Minor Group 6320 (excluding cooks) of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)

• You must have a legal status in Canada.

• You must have a valid certificate or license is required for compulsory trades.

• Applicants must currently reside in Ontario with a valid work permit,

• Must have language proficiency in English or French at CLB level 5 or higher

• Demonstrate settlement funds to support themselves and their dependents.

• Additionally, applicants must have the intention to live in Ontario.

3. French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream allows foreign workers with the necessary skilled work experience, language proficiency, and education to apply for permanent residence in Ontario.

Key requirements

Work experience:

• Choose between Federal Skilled Worker (FSWP) or Canadian Experience Class(CEC)

• For FSWP: You must have at least one year of continuous full-time paid work (or equivalent part-time) in TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3 within the last 5 years, aligned with your primary NOC.

• For CEC:  At least one year of cumulative full-time paid work (or equivalent part-time) in Canada in TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification within the last 3 years from the date of submitting your application.

Education:

• Canadian bachelor's, master's, or PhD, or equivalent foreign credential with an ECA report (not over 5 years old).

Language:

• English at CLB 6 and French at CLB 7 or higher, tested within the last 2 years using approved tests.

Settlement funds:

• Enough to support yourself and dependents based on family size (check the official website for the amount).

• This can be demonstrated through bank statements, investments, job offers in Ontario, etc.

Intention to live in Ontario:

• Demonstrate ties to the province through work, job offers, studies, volunteering, property ownership, family, etc.

Legal status in Canada (if applicable):

• Maintain legal status (visitor record, study permit, work permit) if applying from within Canada.

Federal Skilled Worker Program:

• A minimum score of 67 points on the six selection factors (education, language skills, work experience, age, arranged employment in Canada, and adaptability).

Canadian Permanent Residency with InfoPlace Canada!

Our team of immigration experts is well-versed in the latest updates to the OINP and can provide personalized guidance tailored to your unique circumstances. Whether you're considering applying for the Employer Job Offer: International Student stream or need assistance with Expression of Interest (EOI) adaptations, we're here to help.

Contact us for further assistance or book our tailored IN Canada PR Consultation. Let us be your trusted partner in navigating the evolving landscape of immigration opportunities in Ontario. Your journey toward permanent residency starts with a conversation with InfoPlace Canada.