Why Apply for Ontario PNP?

The Provincial Nominee Program for Ontario experienced a major decrease in its allocation for the year 2025. The federal government made a half cut in provincial nomination allocations which caused Ontario to receive 10,750 nominations instead of 21,500 in 2024. The decrease in available nominations has created more competition among applicants while extending the time it takes to process applications. The province maintains its focus on selecting skilled economic immigrants who bring value to Ontario's labour market requirements.

The general requirements for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) include the following:

• Applicants must demonstrate plans to make Ontario their permanent home.
• Applicants must have Canadian legal status when applying from inside Canada.
• The Employer Job Offer streams require applicants to possess valid permanent full-time employment offers.
• The relevant work experience requirements differ between streams but generally require 1 to 2 years of experience.
• The educational requirements span from high school to PhD level depending on the stream requirements.
• Each stream and category requires applicants to achieve specific language proficiency levels ranging from CLB 4 to 7.
• Applicants need to have enough settlement funds except when they already work or possess a valid job offer.
• Express Entry profiles must be valid for applicants who wish to apply through Express Entry-linked streams.
• Applicants must not have any grounds for inadmissibility to Canada including medical or criminal reasons.

Note: Each stream has its own specific eligibility requirements that applicants need to meet.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) operates nine streams which fall into three primary intake categories known as the Expression of Interest (EOI) system and the Express Entry system. These streams specifically aim at foreign workers and international students who possess the skills along with experience and education needed for economic growth in Ontario. Every stream establishes specific requirements based on various applicant characteristics.

The OINP divides its program into several categories which include:

• Employer Job Offer (Foreign Worker and International Student and In-Demand Skills streams)
• Human Capital (Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate and Express Entry Human Capital Priorities and French-Speaking Skilled Worker and Skilled Trades)
• Business (Entrepreneur stream).

Note: The program divides its applicants into different categories based on their employment offers and educational background and professional experience and business investment goals.

Ontario's Express Entry-aligned Human Capital Priorities Stream typically requires candidates to score 400 points on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) but the province has made exceptions to this rule. The Ontario government sometimes chooses candidates who have CRS scores that fall below 400 when they need to fill particular roles or when they need candidates with specific language abilities. The minimum CRS score changes each draw based on the province's current labour market needs and its immigration targets.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program conducted its latest draw session on June 3, 2025. During this draw Ontario issued 3,719 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates through its Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills streams. The draw focused on selecting candidates who met specific occupation requirements and lived in particular regions to fill labour shortage positions in those areas.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) holds regular draws during different times of the year. The number of draws depends on multiple factors including Ontario's labour market conditions and federal nomination capacity and application numbers. The lower nomination quota in 2025 has reduced the number of draws compared to previous years.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) charges different application fees based on the stream which applicants choose.

The table below has details of the OINP application fees:

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) application processing periods vary based on its different streams. The average processing time for most streams is around 60 to 90 days. The processing duration may become extended because of the overall application volume, case complexity and the federal nomination allocations.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program that allows the province to nominate skilled foreign workers, international graduates, and entrepreneurs for Canadian permanent residency. The program is designed to address Ontario’s labor market and economic development needs by selecting candidates with the right skills and experience. Once nominated by Ontario, applicants can apply to the federal government (IRCC) for permanent residence. The OINP works closely with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to manage streams aligned with Express Entry, as well as streams outside Express Entry, making it one of the most popular pathways for PR.

Eligibility for the Ontario PNP depends on the specific stream chosen. Generally, candidates must have relevant education, skilled work experience, and language proficiency in English or French. Many streams require applicants to have ties to Ontario, such as a job offer, prior study, or work experience in the province. For Express Entry–linked streams, candidates must meet federal criteria under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class. Additional requirements include settlement funds and intent to reside in Ontario. Each stream has tailored criteria, so applicants must check the exact eligibility before applying.

Several OINP streams are linked to Canada’s federal Express Entry system. When Ontario identifies candidates in the Express Entry pool who meet its labor market needs, it issues a “Notification of Interest” (NOI). Candidates who receive an NOI can apply to the OINP for a provincial nomination. If approved, the nomination adds 600 points to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw. This integration helps Ontario select top talent and offers candidates a faster and more assured pathway to Canadian PR.

The OINP offers multiple streams under three main categories

• Human Capital Category: Includes Express Entry–linked streams such as Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, and Skilled Trades.
• Employer Job Offer Category: For workers with a valid job offer in Ontario, covering Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills streams.
• Business Category: For entrepreneurs planning to start or buy a business in Ontario.

Note: Each stream addresses different immigration needs, from attracting international graduates to skilled tradespeople, and contributes to Ontario’s economic growth and workforce development.

Not all OINP streams require a job offer. For example, the Human Capital Priorities, Skilled Trades, and French-Speaking Skilled Worker streams under the Express Entry system do not need a job offer. Instead, eligibility is based on factors like education, work experience, and language proficiency. However, streams under the Employer Job Offer Category do require a valid full-time, permanent job offer from an Ontario employer. Whether a job offer is needed depends entirely on the stream you apply for, so candidates must carefully review requirements before submitting their application.

For Express Entry–linked streams under the Human Capital Category, candidates must first meet federal eligibility and enter the Express Entry pool. The OINP typically targets candidates with CRS scores set by the province in its draws. While the minimum federal eligibility score is 67 points under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Ontario often invites candidates with CRS scores in the range of 300 to 500+, depending on the draw and labor needs. A provincial nomination itself adds 600 CRS points, ensuring a much higher chance of receiving an ITA for permanent residence.

The required documents depend on the stream you are applying for, but the following are commonly needed across most categories:

• Valid passport or government-issued identity documents
• Language test results (IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF/TCF) to prove English or French proficiency
• Educational credentials such as diplomas, degrees, or certificates
• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if your studies were completed outside Canada
• Proof of work experience, which may include:

• Employer reference letters
• Employment contracts
• Recent pay stubs

• Job offer letter and employer documents (if applying under a stream that requires a valid job offer)
• Police clearance certificates from countries where you have lived
• Proof of legal status in your current country of residence (e.g., work permit or visa)
• Certified translations for documents not issued in English or French

You can follow the below steps to apply for Ontario PNP:

Step 1: Check the eligibility requirements for your chosen OINP stream.

Step 2: Create a federal Express Entry profile or register in Ontario’s Expression of Interest (EOI) system.

Step 3: Wait to receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) or an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Step 4: Submit your complete application through the OINP e-Filing Portal within the deadline (usually 45 days).

Step 5: Upload all required documents and pay the application fee.

Step 6: Receive your provincial nomination if approved.

Step 7: Apply to the federal government for permanent residence using your nomination.

Ontario operates several Express Entry-aligned, or “enhanced,” streams that allow the province to select candidates directly from the federal Express Entry pool. To participate, you must first create an Express Entry profile with the Government of Canada, providing details such as education, work experience, and language results. Ontario then searches the pool and issues Notifications of Interest to candidates who meet the criteria of its streams, such as the Human Capital Priorities, Skilled Trades, or French-Speaking Skilled Worker streams. Receiving a Notification of Interest allows you to apply to Ontario for nomination. If approved, Ontario awards you 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points in Express Entry, virtually guaranteeing an invitation to apply for permanent residence in the next federal draw. This partnership makes Express Entry one of the fastest routes to Canadian immigration for skilled workers.

The processing time for an Ontario PNP nomination depends on the stream and the completeness of your application. For graduates applying under the Masters Graduate or PhD Graduate streams, decisions are typically made within 30 to 60 days. For Express Entry streams such as the Human Capital Priorities stream, average processing ranges from 60 to 90 days. More complex streams, such as the Skilled Trades or Employer Job Offer categories, can take 90 to 120 days or even longer depending on the case. These timelines only reflect the provincial nomination stage. Once nominated, applicants must submit their permanent residence application to the federal government, which involves additional processing time. Overall, while the Ontario nomination stage can be relatively quick, the complete journey to permanent residence may take several months after receiving the nomination.