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 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.
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Some of the benefits of applying for Ontario PNP are as follows:
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 |
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 low-skill 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/investors | Investment, business plan, active business in Ontario |
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. |
You must meet the following requirements 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
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 |
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 |
| Month | No. of draws | Total no. of Invitations |
| June | 6 | 3791 |
| May | NA | NA |
| April | NA | NA |
| March | NA | NA |
| February | NA | NA |
| January | 1 | 4 |
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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:
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:
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:
| Category | Streams Included | Application Fee (CAD) |
| Employer Job Offer | Foreign Worker, International Student, In-Demand Skills | $1,500 – $2,000 (based on GTA) |
| Human Capital | Masters Graduate, PhD Graduate, Express Entry streams (HCP, FSSW, Skilled Trades) | $1,500 |
| Business | Entrepreneur Stream | $3,500 |
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) requires applicants to provide certain documents that vary based on the selected stream. However the general list of documents include:
Note: The stream-specific requirements will determine which additional documents need to be submitted.
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.
