Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Expression of Interest System

Overview of the OINP Expression of Interest System

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) uses an Expression of Interest (EOI) system to manage applications for several immigration streams. You must register an EOI to be considered for the following streams:

• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream
• Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream
• Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream
• Masters Graduate Stream
• PhD Graduate Stream

Submitting an EOI is not the same as applying to the OINP or for Canadian permanent residence. It simply signals your interest and provides important information for ranking candidates based on Ontario’s economic and labour market needs.

How to Register an Expression of Interest

Before registering, make sure you meet the eligibility requirements of your chosen stream. You can only register one EOI per stream at any time.

• Fees: There is no fee to register an EOI. Application fees are paid later if you are invited to apply.
• Updating Information: You can update your EOI anytime before receiving an invitation.
• Validity: EOIs remain valid for up to 12 months. If you are not invited within that time, you must register again.

Physicians eligible to apply without a job offer must contact the OINP for special instructions before registering.

How Candidates Are Selected and Invited to Apply

After you register, your EOI is scored based on various factors and placed in a selection pool. Invitations to apply are issued either on a general or targeted basis.

Selections are made based on attributes such as:

• Level and field of education
• Language proficiency (English or French)
• Location intention (inside or outside the Greater Toronto Area)
• Work experience and job offer
• Earnings history
• Strategic priorities for Ontario’s labour market needs

If you are invited to apply, you must submit your complete application within 14 calendar days.

Failure to apply within the timeframe results in removal from the selection pool, although you can re-register at any time.

OINP EOI Scoring System

Candidates’ EOIs are scored based on a combination of employment factors, education, language proficiency, regionalization, and other human capital factors. Here is the detailed scoring breakdown:

Employment and Labour Market Factors

Job Offer: NOC TEER Category

• TEER 0 or 1: 10 points
• TEER 2 or 3: 8 points
• TEER 4 or 5: 0 points

Job Offer: Broad Occupational Category

• Category 0, 2, 3: 10 points
• Category 7: 7 points
• Category 1, 9: 5 points
• Category 4, 8: 4 points
• Category 5, 6: 3 points

Job Offer: Wage

• $40 per hour or higher: 10 points
• $35 to $39.99 per hour: 8 points
• $30 to $34.99 per hour: 7 points
• $25 to $29.99 per hour: 6 points
• $20 to $24.99 per hour: 5 points
• Less than $20 per hour: 0 points

Work Permit Status

• With a valid work or study permit: 10 points
• Without a valid work or study permit: 0 points

Job Tenure with Job Offer Employer

• 6 months or more: 3 points
• Less than 6 months: 0 points

Canadian Work Experience: Earnings History

• $40,000 or more earnings in a year (based on CRA Notice of Assessment): 3 points
• Less than $40,000 earnings in a year: 0 points

Education Factors

Highest Level of Education

• PhD or M.D.: 10 points
• Master’s degree: 8 points
• Bachelor’s degree: 6 points
• Graduate diploma or certificate: 6 points
• Undergraduate diploma or certificate: 5 points
• Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 5 points
• Less than college or trade certification: 0 points

Field of Study

• STEM, Health, Trades: 12 points
• Business, Social Sciences, Education, Behavioural Sciences: 6 points
• Arts and Humanities: 0 points

Canadian Education Experience

• More than one Canadian post-secondary credential: 10 points
• One Canadian post-secondary credential: 5 points

Language Factors

Official Language Ability (CLB Levels)

• CLB 9 or higher: 10 points
• CLB 8: 6 points
• CLB 7: 4 points
• CLB 6 or lower: 0 points

Knowledge of Official Languages

• Two official languages (minimum CLB 7 in one, CLB 6 in the other): 10 points
• One official language: 5 points

Regionalization Factors

Location of Job Offer

• Northern Ontario: 10 points
• Other areas outside GTA (except Northern Ontario): 8 points
• Inside GTA (except Toronto): 3 points
• Toronto: 0 points

Location of Study

• Northern Ontario: 10 points
• Other areas outside GTA (except Northern Ontario): 8 points
• Inside GTA (except Toronto): 3 points
• Toronto: 0 points
• Completed credential online (not in-person classes): 0 points

What Happens After You Apply

Once you submit your application through the OINP e-Filing Portal:

• You will receive an email confirmation.
• You can track the status online.
• Processing times vary and can be checked on the OINP website.

If nominated, you will receive:

• A nomination approval letter
• A work permit support letter (if applicable)
• A nomination certificate

You must then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence within six months.