Ontario PNP: The Way to Live Your Aspirations and Dreams

Situated in central Canada, Ontario is the most populous province in Canada. Home to almost 33% of the total population of Canada, Ontario is also the second-largest province. Every year, a huge number of immigrants come to Canada through the Ontario PNP.

Let’s see the details of this OINP program and how you can come to Ontario without any hassle.

What is the Ontario PNP Program?

The OINP or the Ontario Immigration Nomination Program is designed to attract and nominate skilled foreign workers, international students, and entrepreneurs who have the intent to live and work in Ontario, Canada.

As a province-specific program, the Ontario PNP has its own eligibility criteria and streams through which individuals can apply for nomination. Successful nominees through the Ontario PNP receive a provincial nomination certificate, which allows them to apply for permanent residency in Canada through the federal government.

The graph here shows the number of immigrants getting Ontario PR over the last 20 years. 2021-2022 is the year that has seen the highest number of immigrants moving to Ontario.

What are the Immigration Streams Available Under the Ontario PNP Program?

The OINP offers several immigration streams through which individuals can apply for nomination. These streams cater to different categories of applicants with varying skills, work experience, and education.

Immigration streams available under the Ontario PNP:

1. Ontario Express Entry
2. International Graduate Streams
3. Employer Job Offer
4. Business Streams

Here are some details about the different streams of applications for the Ontario PNP Program.

If you are planning to get an Ontario PR, here are the streams you can opt for to get into the Ontario immigration program.

1. Ontario Express Entry Stream - OINP

The Ontario Express Entry stream is a part of the Ontario PNP Program (Ontario Provincial Nominee Program). It is designed for candidates who are already in the federal Express Entry pool and meet the criteria to be eligible for Ontario's nomination.

Under this stream, Ontario can select candidates from the Express Entry pool who have the skills and experience needed in the province's labor market.

A successful nomination from Ontario can provide applicants with an additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS calculator for PNP Ontario), which significantly increases your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence from the Canadian government.

This Ontario Express Entry system handles the three application streams, namely the

• French-speaking skilled workers stream
• Human capital priorities stream
• Skilled trades stream

To apply under the Ontario Express Entry system, you must have an up–to–date Express Entry profile along with your most recent work experience, language test reports, and education qualifications. You are also required to have a notification of interest from the OINP.

Ontario PNP Eligibility Criteria for Express Entry

Now let’s see what are the Ontario PNP eligibility criteria for PR. To be nominated under the Ontario PNP, you must have

• Active Express Entry profile
• Eligible for federal economic immigration programs
• Genuine interest in settling in Ontario
• Skills and experience aligned with Ontario's labor market
• Meet language proficiency requirements
• Adequate settlement funds
• Timely application submission

Ontario PNP Requirements for Express Entry

Below are the additional Ontario PNP requirements, which are illustrated in the table below:

2. International Graduate Stream - OINP

The International Graduate Stream allows students with an Ontario Master's degree or Ph.D. to work and live in Ontario.

To apply for the stream, you must register under the Ontario Expression of Interest system and receive an invitation to apply from the Ontario Immigration Nomination Program (OINP).

After receiving the invitation to apply, you must apply to the federal government through Immigrants, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to get an Ontario PR.

Ontario PNP Eligibility Criteria for International Graduate Stream

If you are a recent international Master’s graduate or a Ph.D. holder from an Ontario university and willing to live and work in Ontario, then here are the Ontario PNP eligibility criteria for applying under the International Graduate Stream to receive your Ontario PR.

Ontario PNP Requirements for International Graduate Stream

Below are the additional Ontario PNP requirements under the International graduate stream

• Possession of a master's degree or Ph.D. degree from an eligible and publicly funded Ontario university
• Completion of a minimum of one academic year for the master's degree program and two years for the Ph.D
• Legally residing in Ontario or having resided outside Canada for at least one year within the past two years
• Attainment of a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 7 or higher in either English or French
• Demonstrated intention to live and work in the province of Ontario
• Adequate settlement funds to support yourself and any accompanying family members

3. Employer Job Offer Stream - OINP

The Employer Job Offer Stream is an immigration pathway under the Ontario PNP program that allows eligible foreign workers with a job offer from an Ontario employer to apply for permanent residency.

This stream is for candidates who already have a full-time job offer from an Ontario employer.

Ontario PNP Eligibility Criteria for the Employer Job Offer Stream

If you have a legit job offer from an Ontario employer, you can apply for an Ontario PR under the Employer Job Offer Stream of the Ontario Immigration System.

Here are the major Ontario PNP eligibility criteria to apply for the Employer Job Offer Stream under the Ontario Immigration System.

Ontario PNP Requirements for the Employer Job Offer Stream

Below are the Ontario PNP requirements for the employer job offer stream described in the form of a table:

*GTA - Greater Toronto Area

*Non-GTA - Outside Greater Toronto Area

4. Business Streams - OINP

Business Streams refer to specific categories or pathways under which individuals can apply for immigration or residency based on their business or entrepreneurial endeavors in Ontario.

These streams are designed to attract and support individuals who have the skills, experience, and resources to establish or invest in businesses in a particular province or country.

The minimum eligibility criteria for this stream include

Ontario PNP Eligibility Criteria for the Business Stream

Ontario PNP Requirements for the Business Stream

The Ontario PNP Business Stream requires individuals to meet specific requirements related to their business ownership or managerial experience, personal net worth, investment funds, and job creation.

• You must have had at least 24 months of full-time business experience in the last 60 months.
• within the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto and Durham, Halton, York, and Peel regions) you must have a minimum personal net worth of $800,000 Canadian
• Outside of the Greater Toronto Area, you must have a minimum personal net worth of $400,000 Canadian
• Within the Greater Toronto Area, you must make a minimum personal investment of $600,000 Canadian
• Outside of the Greater Toronto Area, you must make a minimum personal investment of $200,000 Canadian
• You must be actively involved, on an ongoing basis, in the management of the business.
• The primary purpose of investing capital in the business must be to make a profit. It must not be to derive interest, dividends, or capital gains.
• If the business is to be located inside the Greater Toronto Area you must create at least two permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
• If the business is to be located outside the Greater Toronto Area or in the information and communications technology or digital communications sector, regardless of location you must create at least one permanent full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Read about: Which Province in Canada is Best for PR

How to Apply for the Ontario PNP?

Ontario has the highest number of immigrants in Canada. So, if you are also planning to move to Ontario,

There are two pathways to applying for the Ontario PNP.

Following are the two pathways to apply for Ontario immigration. If your profile receives an invitation to apply in an Ontario PNP draw, you can take either route to apply for your desired Ontario PR.

Pathway 1: To Apply for the Ontario PNP

Step 1: Check out the eligibility criteria of the various immigration programs.

Step 2: Select the most suitable immigration stream.

Step 3: Send an EOI (Expression of Interest) to the OINP

(Or)

Step 4: You can apply directly to the program.

If you submit the EOI, then:

1. Step 1: Your application enters a pool.
2. Step 2: Ontario PNP will assess your profile.
3. Step 3: The highest-ranking scores are sent to the ITA via email.
4. Step 4: You have 90 days to send the completed online application.
5. Step 5: Submit the required documents.
6. Step 6: The candidates must attend an in-person interview with the OINP
7. Step 7: After this, the immigrants have to sign the Performance Agreement
8. Step 8: Then the province of Ontario will issue a Letter of Confirmation
9. Step 9: After this letter is sent to the IRCC, you will get a temporary work permit
10. Step 10: If you meet the terms outlined, you can apply for a provincial nomination
11. Step 11: Wait for the provincial nomination.
12. Step 12: If your application is successful, you will get the Certificate of Nomination
13. Step 13: You must apply for permanent residence.

Pathway 2: To Apply for the Ontario PNP

1. Step 1: Check out the eligibility criteria for the Express Entry
2. Step 2: Create a profile in the MyCIC account on Express Entry
3. Step 3: Note the job seeker validation code and the Express Entry profile number
4. Step 4: To apply for OINP express entry immigration programs, you must qualify for
   1. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
   2. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
5. Step 5: Your application enters the Express Entry pool
6. Step 6: The province searches for potential candidates
7. Step 7: If you are suitable, you will get the NOI (Notification of Interest)
8. Step 8: Submit your application to the OINP within 45 days
9. Step 9: After submission, you will get an email confirmation.
10. Step 10: If you are selected, you will get:
    1. A nomination certificate
    2. Work permit support letter
    3. Nomination approval letter
11. Step 11: Ontario PNP will put the provincial nomination details into the Express Entry
12. Step 12: You must accept the provincial nomination within 30 days
13. Step 13: If you accept, your CRS score will increase by 600 points.
14. Step 14: You will then get the ITA (invitation to apply) in the Express Entry draw.
15. Step 15: You must submit the permanent residency application within 60 days.

How to Use the OINP E-Filing Portal?

If you want to Apply for the Ontario PNP in the OINP e-filing portal directly then here are the steps:

1. Step 1: Access the OINP e-Filing Portal using a desktop or laptop computer and the latest version of supported web browsers.
2. Step 2: Pre-register and create a profile in the portal by providing your personal information.
3. Step 3: Sign up for a ONe-key account or use an existing account for authentication.
4. Step 4: Register your expression of interest for the desired stream, ensuring eligibility requirements are met.
5. Step 5: Fill out the application in the OINP e-Filing Portal, saving your progress as you go.
6. Step 6: Upload clear and legible supporting documents in the accepted formats.
7. Step 7: Check for errors in your application using the provided button.
8. Step 8: Pay the application fee online through CCPay using accepted credit cards.
9. Step 9: Submit your completed application, ensuring all mandatory questions are answered and the required documentation is uploaded.
10. Step 10: Receive a confirmation email with the application receipt and payment confirmation.
11. Step 11: Check your application status online through the OINP e-Filing Portal using your ONe-key account.

Applying for the Ontario PNP? Get your complete profile evaluation

OINP Processing Time

OINP processing time for the Ontario PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) can vary depending on various factors, including the stream you are applying under, the completeness of your application, and the current workload of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

Below is the general estimated OINP processing time given in the form of the table.

Ontario PNP Points Calculator

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) operates on a point-based system for immigration. The Ontario PNP point system assesses your eligibility for the Ontario provincial nomination, it is crucial to determine your Ontario PR points.

The Ontario PNP points calculator is an invaluable tool that evaluates factors like work experience, language proficiency, and education to calculate your points accurately.

To be eligible for creating an Express Entry profile, a minimum score of 67 out of 100 points is required. These points are allocated based on various selection factors, as given below:

Why Choose GetGIS?

GetGIS is a tech-enabled immigration consultancy that helps you with all aspects of your immigration process. GetGIS makes your immigration process smooth, so you can rest assured. Around 7,000 people have successfully immigrated to their dream countries; now it’s your time to immigrate.

We offer you services that make your journey to Canada easier. GetGIS offers you

• Tech-enabled services: You get complete tech-enabled services that you can track at any point.
• IELTS/CELPIP preparation: You can have your IELTS/CELPIP preparation to make your profile stronger and your ranking higher.
• Visa Application Process: GetGIS helps you draft your visa application and mitigates all the risks that you might face on your behalf.
• Post landing services: GetGIS does not leave your hands after you get into Canada; you get your assistance until the time you get a permanent residence permit in Canada.

So don’t wait for the right time; book your free consultation with GetGIS today.

Useful Resources and Further Reading

• 10 Best Cities to Live in Canada with Family
• 15 Benefits of Learning French in Canada
• Is Canada a safe place to live?
• Canada Economy