The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers three key immigration streams aligned with Canada’s Express Entry system. These streams target skilled workers, trades professionals, and French-speaking candidates who want to settle permanently in Ontario. You must have an active Express Entry profile to be considered under any of these streams.
On This Page, You Will Find:
- Overview of Ontario’s Express Entry-linked immigration streams
- Human Capital Priorities Stream requirements
- Skilled Trades Stream requirements
- French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream details
- Language, education, and settlement fund requirements
- Frequently asked questions
Ontario Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities Stream
This stream targets skilled workers with high human capital, such as education, language skills, and work experience. A job offer is not required.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements:
1. Work Experience
Choose to be assessed under either:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP):
- Minimum 1 year of continuous, full-time (or equivalent part-time) paid work in the same NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation.
- Experience must be within the last 5 years.
- May be Canadian or foreign experience.
- Self-employed work is accepted only if independently verifiable through third-party documentation (e.g. client letters, contracts, invoices).
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC):
- Minimum 1 year of cumulative, full-time (or equivalent part-time) paid work in Canada in one or more NOC TEER 0–3 occupations.
- Experience must be within the last 3 years.
- Must be acquired under legal status in Canada.
- If invited in a targeted draw, at least 6 months must be in the primary NOC.
- Self-employment is not eligible under CEC, except for physicians in NOC 31100, 31101, or 31102.
Other notes:
- Must have accumulated at least 1,560 hours over a minimum of 12 months.
- Volunteer work and unpaid internships are not accepted.
- Time spent on extended leave is not counted.
2. Education
- Must have a Canadian bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degree or an equivalent foreign credential (with a valid Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)).
- ECA must be from a designated organisation (e.g., WES, CES, IQAS, ICAS) and be no more than 5 years old.
- Nurses may be exempt if they:
- Are registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), and
- Their NOC is 31300, 31301, 31302, or 32101.
3. Language Proficiency
- Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in either English or French.
- Accepted tests:
- English: IELTS (General), CELPIP (General), PTE Core
- French: TEF, TCF Canada
- Test results must be less than 2 years old at the time of application.
4. Settlement Funds
- Must demonstrate sufficient funds to support yourself and family, based on IRCC’s minimums.
- Can be shown through:
- Bank statements
- Income from employment in Ontario
- A job offer
- Example: A family of four must show approx. $29,000 in combined savings and/or income.
5. Intent to Reside in Ontario
- Must show ties such as:
- Employment history
- Job applications/interviews
- Property ownership or leases
- Study or volunteer work
- Family or social connections in Ontario
6. Legal Status in Canada (if applicable)
- If applying from within Canada, you must have legal temporary status (or be in maintained status).
7. FSWP Point Grid (if applying under FSWP)
- Must score at least 67 points out of 100 based on six selection factors:
- Education
- Language ability
- Work experience
- Age
- Arranged employment
- Adaptability
Ontario Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream
This stream targets candidates with Ontario-based work experience in selected skilled trades.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements:
1. Work Experience
- At least 1 year of cumulative paid full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in Ontario within the last 2 years.
- Experience must be in one or more of these NOC groups:
- Major Groups: 72 (except transport officers), 73, 82, 83, 93 (excluding aircraft-related), or
- Minor Group: 6320 (excluding cooks)
- If invited through a targeted draw, at least 6 months must be in the primary NOC.
- Self-employment and student work (e.g. co-op placements) are not eligible.
- Must have worked legally in Ontario.
2. Certification (if applicable)
- If the job is in a compulsory trade, you must:
- Have held a valid trade certificate or licence at the time of work
- Hold a valid certificate or licence at the time of application
- Learn more from Skilled Trades Ontario
3. Current Residence and Legal Status
- Must be living in Ontario on a valid work permit.
- Maintained status is accepted.
4. Language Proficiency
- Minimum CLB level 5 in English or French.
- Accepted tests (within 2 years): IELTS (General), CELPIP (General), PTE Core, TEF, TCF Canada
5. Settlement Funds
- Same requirements and examples as Human Capital Priorities Stream.
6. Intent to Reside in Ontario
- Must show concrete intention to live in Ontario.
Ontario Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
This stream supports bilingual (French-English) candidates who meet high human capital criteria.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements:
1. Work Experience
Must qualify under either FSWP or CEC (same rules as Human Capital stream):
- FSWP: 1 year continuous work in NOC TEER 0–3 within the last 5 years
- CEC: 1 year cumulative work in Canada in NOC TEER 0–3 within the last 3 years
- Physicians in NOC 31100, 31101, 31102 may include self-employed experience under CEC
- Same restrictions on unpaid, student, and volunteer work apply
2. Education
- Canadian bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degree, or equivalent foreign credential with a valid ECA (max 5 years old)
- Nurses may be exempt if registered with CNO and working in relevant NOCs
3. Language Proficiency
- French: CLB 7 or higher
- English: CLB 6 or higher
- You must take approved tests in both languages. Results must be under 2 years old.
4. Settlement Funds
- Same as other two streams
5. Intent to Reside in Ontario
- Same criteria apply as other streams
6. Legal Status in Canada (if applicable)
- Must hold valid status or maintained status if applying from within Canada
7. FSWP Points Grid (if applicable)
- Must score 67 or higher out of 100 on the six selection factors
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a job offer to apply to Ontario’s Express Entry streams?
No. A job offer is not required for any of the three Express Entry-linked OINP streams. However, having one can help you meet the settlement fund requirement.
Can I apply from outside Canada?
Yes. You can apply from outside Canada, especially under the Human Capital and French-Speaking Skilled Worker streams, as long as you meet all the eligibility criteria.
What counts as settlement funds?
Acceptable proof includes bank statements, non-locked investment accounts, a job offer, or employment income in Ontario. These can be combined to meet the required amount.
How do I prove my intention to live in Ontario?
Examples include working or studying in Ontario, applying for jobs, owning or renting property, or having family and community ties in the province.
Can I use work experience from while I was a student?
Generally, no. Work experience gained during full-time studies, such as co-op placements, does not count unless you are a physician under specific NOCs in the CEC stream.