Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program

Learn how foreign workers, international students, business owners, or entrepreneurs from outside of Canada can apply for permanent residence in Ontario, or how Ontario businesses can recruit international talent.

Have a Job Offer in Ontario?

You must first register in the OINP’s Expression of Interest System and receive an invitation to apply before you can apply online to be nominated by the Ontario government for permanent residence. If you are nominated, your next step is to apply to the federal government through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). They make the final decision on who becomes a permanent resident.

Foreign Worker Stream

This stream gives foreign workers with a job offer in a skilled occupation the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario. Your job offer must be in a skilled occupation at TEER (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) category 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

International Student Stream

This stream gives international students with a job offer in a skilled occupation the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario. Your job offer must be in a skilled occupation at TEER (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) category 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). This stream is open to foreign workers in and outside of Canada.

In-Demand Skills Stream

This stream gives foreign workers with a job offer in specific in-demand occupations such as agriculture, construction, and other select occupations the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario. This stream is open to foreign workers in and outside of Canada.

Have a Master’s or Ph.D. Degree from an Ontario University?

You must first register in the OINP’s Expression of Interest System and receive an invitation to apply before you can apply online to be nominated by the Ontario government for permanent residence. If you are nominated, your next step is to apply to the federal government through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). They make the final decision on who becomes a permanent resident.

Masters Graduate Stream

This stream gives international graduates with an Ontario master’s degree the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario.

Ph.D. Graduate Stream

This stream gives international graduates with an Ontario Ph.D. degree the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario.

Have the Skills & Experience that Ontario Employers Need?

You must have a valid profile in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) Express Entry system and receive a Notification of Interest from Ontario before you can apply online to be nominated by the Ontario government for permanent residence. If you are nominated, the next thing to do would be to apply to the federal government through IRCC as they make the final decision on who becomes a permanent resident.

Human Capital Priorities Stream

This stream gives foreign workers with the required skilled work experience, language abilities, and education the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario.

Skilled Trades Stream

This stream gives foreign nationals with Ontario work experience in eligible skilled trades the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario.

French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

This stream gives foreign workers with the required skilled work experience, language abilities, and education the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario.

Have a Great Business Idea and Are a Foreign Entrepreneur?

Entrepreneur Stream

This stream is for entrepreneurs from outside Canada interested in starting a new business or buying an existing business in Ontario. It gives an entrepreneur and one foreign national business partner the opportunity to be nominated for permanent residence once their business has been established in Ontario. If you are nominated, the next thing to do would be to apply to the federal government through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as they make the final decision on who becomes a permanent resident.

To learn more about OINP, click here