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Why Apply for Ontario PNP?
Ontario is Canada’s most populous province and a top destination for immigrants. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) helps skilled workers, international graduates, and entrepreneurs gain permanent residency. With its diverse economy, strong labour market, and high quality of life, Ontario offers excellent opportunities for newcomers.
- The annual Ontario PNP quota set at 10,750 spots
- OINP draws are prioritizing healthcare and IT professionals
- Minimum CRS score required is 400
- Employer Job Offer streams remain the most active pathways under OINP in 2025.
- 184,400 job vacancies for skilled professionals
What is the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)?
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) operates as the official selection system which allows Ontario to identify and nominate foreign nationals who possess essential qualifications. Through this program Ontario teams up with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to help skilled workers graduates and entrepreneurs obtain permanent residence. OINP features various streams that concentrate on employer job offers along with human capital components and entrepreneurial ventures. The program serves as a crucial element of Ontario's plan to fulfill economic needs and fill workforce gaps by accepting immigrants who bring potential for provincial growth.
*Want to apply for OINP? Sign up with Y-Axis to help you with the process.
Benefits of the Ontario PNP
Some of the benefits of applying for Ontario PNP are as follows:
- Boosts Your Express Entry Score: When Ontario grants you a nomination it grants you 600 CRS points which nearly ensures Canadian permanent residency.
- Multiple Immigration Pathways: The OINP delivers several immigration streams which support skilled workers and international graduates and entrepreneurs thus providing various application choices.
- Priority for In-Demand Occupations: The province of Ontario focuses on selecting candidates from healthcare, IT, skilled trades and finance sectors to enhance job availability for these professions.
- Access to Public Services: Those who get nominated will benefit from Ontario’s healthcare system together with its excellent educational institutions as well as numerous social service programs.
- Live in Canada’s Economic Powerhouse: When you move to Ontario you gain access to thriving cities such as Toronto and Ottawa which provide numerous career opportunities alongside high living standards.
Ontario PNP Immigration Targets 2023–2025
The Ontario PNP Immigration Targets 2023–2025 outlines the yearly numbers of nominations that Ontario receives through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The targets which the province establishes through federal government collaboration serve as a blueprint for Ontario to meet workforce needs while promoting economic expansion through immigrant intake.|
The table below has complete details of the Immigration targets for 2023-2025:
| Year | Nominations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 16,500 |
| 2024 | 18,500 |
| 2025 | 21,500 |
OINP Streams
The table below has complete details of the Ontario PNP categories along with the streams:
| Stream Category | Stream | Is a Job Offer Required? | Who can apply? | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express Entry–Linked Streams | Human Capital Priorities Stream | No | Skilled workers with work experience | Active Express Entry profile, job experience, CRS score |
| French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream | No | Bilingual skilled workers | CLB 7 (French), CLB 6 (English), Express Entry profile | |
| Skilled Trades Stream | No | Workers in Ontario trade occupations | 1 year Ontario work experience, Express Entry profile | |
| Employer Job Offer Streams | Foreign Worker Stream | Yes | Foreign skilled workers with a job offer | Full-time job offer in Ontario, relevant experience |
| International Student Stream | Yes | Recent graduates from Ontario institutions | Job offer, completed eligible program in Ontario | |
| In-Demand Skills Stream | Yes | Workers in high-demand roles | Job offer in eligible occupation, Ontario work experience | |
| Graduate Streams | Masters Graduate Stream | No | Master’s degree holders from Ontario | Must apply within 2 years of graduation |
| PhD Graduate Stream | No | PhD graduates from Ontario | Must apply within 2 years of graduation | |
| Business Stream | Entrepreneur Stream | No | Business owners and investors | Investment, business plan, active business in Ontario |
Eligibility Criteria for Ontario PNP
The table below has complete details of the Ontario PNP eligibility:
| Stream Name | Work Experience | Education Requirement | Language Requirement | Other Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker | At least 2 years of paid full-time work experience in the same occupation as the job offer within the last 5 years. | Not specified. | Not specified. | Full-time, permanent job offer in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation; intention to reside in Ontario. |
| Employer Job Offer: International Student | Not required. | Completed a degree or diploma from an eligible Canadian institution within the last two years. | Not specified. | Full-time, permanent job offer in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation; intention to reside in Ontario. |
| Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills | At least 9 months of paid full-time work experience in Ontario in the same in-demand occupation within the last 3 years. | Equivalent to a Canadian secondary school (high school) diploma or higher. | CLB 4 or higher in English or French. | Full-time, permanent job offer in an in-demand occupation; intention to reside in Ontario. |
| Masters Graduate | Not required. | Master’s degree from an eligible Ontario university. | CLB 7 or higher in English or French. | Must have legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years; sufficient settlement funds; intention to reside in Ontario. |
| PhD Graduate | Not required. | PhD degree from an eligible Ontario university. | Not specified. | Must have legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years; sufficient settlement funds; intention to reside in Ontario. |
| Human Capital Priorities (Express Entry) | At least one year of continuous paid full-time work experience in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation within the last 5 years. | Canadian bachelor's degree or equivalent foreign credential. | CLB 7 or higher in English or French. | Valid Express Entry profile; sufficient settlement funds; intention to reside in Ontario. |
| Skilled Trades (Express Entry) | At least one year of cumulative paid full-time work experience in Ontario in a skilled trade within the last 2 years. | Not specified. | CLB 5 or higher in English or French. | Valid Express Entry profile; intention to reside in Ontario. |
| French-Speaking Skilled Worker (Express Entry) | At least one year of continuous paid full-time work experience in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation within the last 5 years. | Canadian bachelor's degree or equivalent foreign credential. | CLB 7 or higher in French and CLB 6 or higher in English. | Valid Express Entry profile; sufficient settlement funds; intention to reside in Ontario. |
| Entrepreneur | At least 24 months of full-time business experience in the last 60 months as an owner or senior manager. | Not specified. | Not specified. | Minimum net worth and investment requirements; create at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; intention to reside in Ontario. |
Ontario PNP Requirements
You must meet the following requirements to apply for the Ontario PNP:
- The application process requires candidates to prove they plan to settle and work within Ontario.
- Applicants within Canada need to present valid legal status, including visitor permit,s along with student or work permits.
- Applicants who apply through Employer Job Offer streams need to secure a full-time permanent job offer from an Ontario-based employer.
- Work experience between one and two years will be needed according to the chosen stream.
- The educational requirements establish minimum standards which vary from high school level to PhD level based on the selected stream.
- Each applicant should achieve specified language proficiency standards which typically range from CLB level 4 up to CLB level 7 for English or French communication.
- Applicants must provide proof of settlement funds unless they currently have employment in Ontario or hold a valid job offer.
- A valid Express Entry profile serves as an essential requirement for all Express Entry-aligned streams.
- Applicants need to ensure they do not have any grounds for inadmissibility to Canada based on criminal, medical or security reasons.
- The streams maintain their own unique requirements which applicants need to fulfil after satisfying these standard conditions.
How to Apply for the Ontario PNP?
You can follow the steps below to apply for the Ontario PNP:
Step 1: Determine which OINP stream matches your qualifications
Step 2: Make an EOI or Express Entry profile according to the requirements
Step 3: Anticipate an invitation or notification of interest from Ontario
Step 4: Use the OINP e-Filing Portal to send your application
Step 5: Obtain a provincial nomination
Step 6: Submit your PR application to IRCC through your nomination
Step 7: Finish medical exams, together with biometric,s along background assessments
Ontario PNP Processing Time
The table below has complete details of the average processing time for OINP:
| OINP Stream | Average Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Ontario’s Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker | 90 – 120 days |
| Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities | 60 – 90 days |
| Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades | 120 – 150 days |
| Masters Graduate | 30 – 60 days |
| PhD Graduate | 30 – 60 days |
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker | 120 – 150 days |
| Employer Job Offer: International Student | 90 – 120 days |
| Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills | 120 – 150 days |
| Entrepreneur | Expression of Interest (EOI) Assessment: Less than 30 days |
| Applications: Depends on complexity of the application |
In-Demand Occupations in Ontario
The table below has details of the in-demand occupations in Ontario along with their average annual salaries:
| Occupation | Average Annual Salary (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $133,328 |
| Software Engineers and Designers | $104,000 |
| Data Scientists | $95,000 |
| Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses | $85,000 |
| Physiotherapists | $90,000 |
| Occupational Therapists | $85,000 |
| Human Resources Professionals | $79,560 |
| Financial Auditors and Accountants | $85,000 |
| Construction Managers | $100,000 |
| Electricians (Except Industrial and Power System) | $70,000 |
Latest Ontario PNP Draws
| Month | No. of Draws | Total No. of Invitations |
|---|---|---|
| December | 3 | 1133 |
| November | NA | NA |
| October | 3 | 1680 |
| September | 5 | 4536 |
| August | 3 | 468 |
| July | NA | NA |
| June | 6 | 3791 |
| May | NA | NA |
| April | NA | NA |
| March | NA | NA |
| February | NA | NA |
| January | 1 | 4 |
How can Y-Axis help you?
Y-Axis is the world's No.1 overseas Immigration consultant, providing unbiased and innovative immigration assistance for 25+ years.
Our team of experts will assist you with:
- Check free eligibility through the Y-Axis Canada Immigration Points Calculator
- Filling out the application form
- Assistance to migrate to Canada
- Arranging the requirements
- Looking for jobs in Canada? Avail Y-Axis Resume Marketing Services to find the right one!
- Guidance to obtain Canada PR
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