OINP STREAMS

OINP STREAMS

EMPLOYER JOB OFFER CATEGORY – FOREIGN WORKER STREAM

The Foreign Worker stream under the Employer Job Offer category is for foreign workers who have a full-time and permanent job offer in a skilled occupation in Ontario. The job offer must generally be in TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 under the National Occupational Classification (NOC), and the applicant must intend to live and work in Ontario permanently. Ontario also has specific rules for physicians under this stream.

Eligibility Requirements for Applicants

Job Offer:
Have a full-time and permanent job offer from an employer in Ontario. The job offer must generally be in a skilled occupation under TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. The wage offered must meet or exceed the median wage level for that occupation in the specific region of Ontario where the applicant will work.

Work Experience:
Have at least 2 years of paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work, in the same occupation as the job offer. The work experience must have been obtained within the 5 years before the date of application. If the occupation requires a mandatory licence or other authorization in Ontario, the applicant may need to meet the licensing requirement instead.

License or Authorization:
Have a valid licence or authorization if the occupation requires one in Ontario.

Intention to Live:
Must intend to live in Ontario. This can be assessed based on factors such as work, study, visit, or volunteer experience in Ontario, family or personal relationships in Ontario, and ownership or lease of property in Ontario.

Legal Status:
If the applicant is currently in Canada, they must have legal status at the time of application.

Eligibility Requirements for Employers

Active Business:
The employer must have been in active business for at least 3 years before submitting the application.

Business Location:
The business location where the applicant will work must be in Ontario.

Compliance:
The employer must have no outstanding orders against them under Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, 2000 or the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Recruitment Effort:
The employer must demonstrate that reasonable recruitment efforts were made to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident before offering the position to the applicant, unless the applicant is already authorized to work in Ontario.

Revenue Requirement:
If the applicant will work in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the employer must have at least $1,000,000 CAD in total gross annual revenue.
If the applicant will work outside the GTA, the employer must have at least $500,000 CAD in total gross annual revenue.

Employee Requirement:
If the applicant will work in the GTA, the employer must have at least 5 full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the location where the applicant will work or report to work.

If the applicant will work outside the GTA, the employer must have at least 3 full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the location where the applicant will work or report to work.

Employer Portal Requirement:
For Employer Job Offer streams, the employer must use the OINP Employer Portal. The employer must first submit the job offer through the Employer Portal. The applicant must then register an Expression of Interest within 30 calendar days. If the applicant receives an Invitation to Apply, the employer must submit the application for approval of the employment position within 14 calendar days, and the applicant must submit the OINP application within 17 calendar days.

EMPLOYER JOB OFFER CATEGORY – INTERNATIONAL STUDENT STREAM

The International Student stream under the Employer Job Offer category is for recent graduates who have a full-time and permanent job offer in Ontario. The job offer must generally be in a skilled occupation under TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3, and the applicant must intend to live and work in Ontario permanently.

Eligibility Requirements for Applicants

Education:
Have a degree, diploma, or certificate from an eligible Canadian institution. The program must have taken at least 2 years to complete on a full-time basis, or at least 1 year to complete on a full-time basis if the program required a completed degree as an admission requirement.

Application Timing:
The applicant must apply within 2 years of completing the study program in Canada.

Job Offer:
Have a full-time and permanent job offer from an employer in Ontario. The job offer must generally be in a skilled occupation under TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. The wage offered must meet or exceed the low wage level for that occupation in the specific region of Ontario where the applicant will work.

License or Authorization:
Have a valid licence or authorization if the occupation requires one in Ontario.

Intention to Live:
Must intend to live in Ontario. This can be assessed based on factors such as work, study, visit, or volunteer experience in Ontario, family or personal relationships in Ontario, and ownership or lease of property in Ontario.

Legal Status:
If the applicant is currently in Canada, they must have legal status at the time of application.

Eligibility Requirements for Employers

Active Business:
The employer must have been in active business for at least 3 years before submitting the application.

Business Location:
The business location where the applicant will work must be in Ontario.

Compliance:
The employer must have no outstanding orders against them under Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, 2000 or the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Recruitment Effort:
The employer must demonstrate that reasonable recruitment efforts were made to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident before offering the position to the applicant, unless the applicant is already authorized to work in Ontario.

Revenue Requirement:
If the applicant will work in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the employer must have at least $1,000,000 CAD in total gross annual revenue.
If the applicant will work outside the GTA, the employer must have at least $500,000 CAD in total gross annual revenue.

Employee Requirement:
If the applicant will work in the GTA, the employer must have at least 5 full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the location where the applicant will work or report to work.
If the applicant will work outside the GTA, the employer must have at least 3 full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the location where the applicant will work or report to work.

Employer Portal Requirement:
For Employer Job Offer streams, the employer must use the OINP Employer Portal. The employer must first submit the job offer through the Employer Portal. The applicant must then register an Expression of Interest within 30 calendar days. If the applicant receives an Invitation to Apply, the employer must submit the application for approval of the employment position within 14 calendar days, and the applicant must submit the OINP application within 17 calendar days.

HUMAN CAPITAL CATEGORY – HUMAN CAPITAL PRIORITIES STREAM

The Human Capital Priorities stream is an Express Entry-linked OINP stream for foreign workers who have skilled work experience, education, language ability, and the intention to live in Ontario. To apply under this stream, the applicant must have a valid Express Entry profile and must receive a Notification of Interest from Ontario.

Eligibility Requirements for Applicants

Express Entry Profile:
The applicant must have a valid Express Entry profile with IRCC and must receive a Notification of Interest from Ontario before applying to the OINP.

Federal Program Eligibility:
The applicant must qualify under one of the following federal Express Entry programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program; or

• Canadian Experience Class.

Work Experience:

If assessed under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the applicant must have at least 1 year of continuous paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work, in the same primary occupation within the last 10 years. The occupation must be in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.

Ontario has also introduced specific changes allowing certain self-employed physicians to use self-employment experience under the Human Capital Priorities stream if the experience is in an eligible physician NOC. This applies to specific physician occupations only.

If assessed under the Canadian Experience Class, the applicant must have at least 1 year of paid full-time Canadian work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work, within the last 3 years. The occupation must be in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.

Education:
Have a Canadian bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degree, or an equivalent foreign credential supported by an Educational Credential Assessment.

Language:
Have a valid English or French language test result with a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark of CLB 7.

Settlement Funds:
Have enough funds to settle in Ontario. This can be shown through bank statements, ongoing employment income in Ontario, or a valid job offer in Ontario.

Intention to Live:
Must intend to live in Ontario. This can be assessed based on factors such as work, study, visit, or volunteer experience in Ontario, family or personal relationships in Ontario, and ownership or lease of property in Ontario.

Legal Status:
If the applicant is currently in Canada, they must have legal status at the time of application.

HUMAN CAPITAL CATEGORY – SKILLED TRADES STREAM

The Skilled Trades stream is an Express Entry-linked OINP stream for foreign workers with Ontario work experience in eligible skilled trades. To apply under this stream, the applicant must have a valid Express Entry profile and must receive a Notification of Interest from Ontario.
As of the latest Ontario program update located during this review, the OINP has suspended receiving applications under the Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream and has stated that it will return outstanding applications under this stream. Applications returned by OINP will have their application fees refunded. Applicants who still wish to proceed may need to consider another OINP stream if they meet the requirements.

 
Eligibility Requirements for Applicants

Express Entry Profile:
The applicant must have a valid Express Entry profile with IRCC and must receive a Notification of Interest from Ontario before applying to the OINP.

Work Experience:
Have at least 1 year of cumulative paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work, in Ontario in an eligible skilled trade. The work experience must have been obtained within the last 2 years before the date of application.

Eligible Occupations:
The work experience must be in an eligible skilled trade occupation recognized under this stream. The old wording referring to Minor Group 633 or Major Groups 72, 73 or 82 should be replaced because the NOC system has changed. Current eligibility should be checked against the OINP Skilled Trades stream page before using this stream.

License or Authorization:
Have a valid licence or authorization if the occupation requires one in Ontario.

Current Residence:
The applicant must be residing in Ontario.

Language:
Have a valid English or French language test result with a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark of CLB 5.

Settlement Funds:
Have enough funds to settle in Ontario. This can be shown through bank statements, ongoing employment income in Ontario, or a valid job offer in Ontario.

Intention to Live:
Must intend to live in Ontario. This can be assessed based on factors such as work, study, visit, or volunteer experience in Ontario, family or personal relationships in Ontario, and ownership or lease of property in Ontario.

Legal Status:
The applicant must have valid legal status in Canada.

Current Status:

The applicant must have valid legal status in Canada.