Ontario offers various pathways to permanent residence for temporary residents through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), a key component of Ontario’s PNP. As Canada’s most popular destination for newcomers, Ontario leverages the OINP to address local labor market needs and demographic gaps by inviting immigration candidates who are well-suited for the province. The OINP allows the provincial government to nominate individuals who meet specific criteria, thus facilitating their transition to permanent residency in Ontario. This targeted approach ensures that Ontario’s immigration system aligns with the region’s economic and social needs. It is one of the eleven PNPs that the Canadian provinces and territory oversee.

Which ONIP Streams Require Residency in Ontario? 

Three Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams in Ontario expressly demand that applicants be residents of the province, either currently or in the past.

Human Capital Category under the Skilled Trades Stream 

The Human Capital category is one of four that make up the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. The Skilled Trades stream is included in this category.

Applicants must have a valid work visa and be residents of Ontario at the time of application in order to be eligible for the Skilled Trades stream.

This stream is connected to IRCC Express Entry system. The CRS grants candidates nominated under the Skilled Trades stream an extra 600 points, greatly increasing their prospects of obtaining permanent residency.

To be eligible for permanent residency through this stream, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • You must have a valid Express Entry profile.
  • You need at least one year of full-time paid work experience.
  • You should have a valid license or certificate if applicable.
  • You must achieve a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 or higher in either English or French.

Masters and PhD Pathways – Success in the Masters Graduate Stream 

Applicants may also look into the Masters and PhD categories of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The Masters Graduate Stream is one of the two separate streams that make up this category.

For foreign graduates with a master’s degree from an Ontario university that qualifies, there is a special master’s graduate stream. The Expression of Interest system of the province powers this stream. Interested candidates must register an EOI and develop a profile in order to be considered for permanent residency. The Masters Graduate Stream is not linked to IRCC Express Entry system, in contrast to the Skilled Trades Stream.

In addition to holding a Master’s degree from an eligible university in Ontario, applicants must also meet two key criteria to qualify for the program:

Residency Requirement: Applicants must have legally resided in Ontario for at least one of the past two years. This ensures that candidates have established a connection to the province and are familiar with the local environment and opportunities.

Language Proficiency: Applicants must achieve a CLB Level 7 or higher in either English or French. This language proficiency level demonstrates that candidates have the necessary language skills to successfully integrate into the Ontario workforce and community.

PhD Graduate Stream in the Masters and PhD Category 

The PhD Graduate Stream is designed for individuals who hold a PhD degree from an eligible university in Ontario. This stream offers a pathway to permanent residency for PhD graduates who wish to settle in Ontario.

Like the Masters Graduate Stream, the PhD Graduate Stream is not aligned with the Express Entry system. To be eligible for permanent residency through this stream, applicants must have legally resided in Ontario for at least one of the last two years. This requirement ensures that candidates have a strong connection to the province.

Those who are interested in applying for permanent residency must register an Expression of Interest and establish a profile. Information regarding their credentials and plans to reside and work in Ontario must be submitted as part of this procedure.

Note that there is a CAD 1,500 non-refundable application fee for both the PhD and Masters Graduate Streams. This cost must be paid at the time of submission and is necessary for the application to be processed.

Exploring Your OINP Immigration Options 

Three primary categories comprise the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. The streams within these categories that have not yet been covered in this essay will be succinctly summarized in this summary.

Please visit the dedicated homepage for more information on all of the OINP’s categories and streams, including eligibility requirements, application fees, how each stream operates, and what to do after making an OINP nomination.

Note that this post already covered the information for the Masters and PhD Category streams.

Understanding the Human Capital Category 

The Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program are part of the Human Capital Priorities stream, which is connected to Express Entry. Candidates must have a valid Express Entry profile and a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree. They must also have at least one year of full-time paid work experience to be eligible.

Analogously, candidates for the French-speaking Skilled Worker stream, which is linked to Express Entry and includes the FSWP and CEC, must exhibit a minimum of CLB level 7 in French in addition to strong proficiency in both English and French. In addition to a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree and at least one year of full-time paid work experience, applicants must have a valid Express Entry profile. They must also meet these requirements to be considered.

Employer Job Offer Category 

A job offer is necessary for the Foreign Worker stream, which is not connected to Express Entry. It is designed for competent workers in non-licensed or certified occupations with a minimum of two years of work experience. The compensation offered in the employment offer must be more than the Ontario median wage for that particular occupation.

The International Students stream is intended for recent graduates from Ontario post-secondary institutions who have a job offer. It is also unrelated to Express Entry.

The In-Demand Skills stream is for “intermediate skilled workers” in particular areas who have a job offer in an in-demand occupation; it is unrelated to Express Entry. The following requirements must be met: a high school diploma, CLB level 4 or above in English or French, and a job offer with a salary above the Ontario median wage for the occupation. Additionally, applicants must have a minimum of nine months of work experience.

A job offer that exceeds the Ontario median wage for the same occupation is necessary for the Skilled Trades stream. This stream is also unrelated to Express Entry. A two-year degree or diploma from a Canadian institution is required of applicants.

Categories of business 

The Entrepreneur stream is intended for foreign nationals who want to launch a business in Ontario or purchase an existing one. It is not connected to Express Entry. Applicants must have at least 24 months of business experience from the previous 60 months in order to be eligible. In addition, they must actively participate in the operation of the company. They must also own at least one-third of its equity.