Ontario Provincial Nominee Program
How the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program works — Human Capital Priorities, Employer Job Offer and Masters/PhD graduate streams, explained by a licensed RCIC.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program nominates skilled workers, graduates and employer-supported applicants for permanent residence. Its Human Capital Priorities stream draws directly from the federal Express Entry pool and does not require a job offer, while the Employer Job Offer streams are built around an offer from an Ontario employer. Ontario also runs dedicated streams for master's and PhD graduates of Ontario universities.
Key facts
| Program | Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) |
|---|---|
| Main stream families | Human Capital Priorities, Skilled Trades, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, Employer Job Offer, Masters and PhD Graduate, Entrepreneur |
| Job offer | Required for the Employer Job Offer streams; not required for Human Capital Priorities or the graduate streams |
| Express Entry link | Enhanced — Human Capital Priorities, Skilled Trades and French-Speaking Skilled Worker issue notifications of interest to candidates in the federal pool |
| Graduate streams | Available to master's and PhD graduates of eligible Ontario universities |
| French pathway | A dedicated French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream for francophone and bilingual candidates |
| Current criteria and intake | Verify on the official OINP website before applying |
Who may qualify?
- Express Entry candidates whose profile matches an OINP notification of interest
- Skilled tradespeople with qualifying Ontario work experience
- French-speaking candidates with strong French and English ability
- Applicants holding a job offer from an Ontario employer in an eligible occupation
- Recent master's or PhD graduates of an eligible Ontario university
Eligibility requirements
- Meeting the eligibility criteria of the specific stream you apply under
- Approved language test results at the minimum level that stream requires
- An educational credential assessment where the stream requires foreign education to be assessed
- Proof of settlement funds where the stream requires it
- Genuine intention to live and work in the nominating province or territory
How it works: step by step
- 1
Confirm your NOC and TEER
Provincial streams are built around National Occupational Classification codes, so confirm the code that matches your actual duties before anything else.
- 2
Check the current stream criteria
Open the official provincial page and confirm the stream is accepting applications and that you meet its current criteria.
- 3
Register or submit an expression of interest
Most jurisdictions ask you to register a profile first and issue invitations from that pool.
- 4
Apply for nomination
Submit the provincial application with supporting documents within the deadline stated in your invitation.
- 5
Apply to IRCC for permanent residence
A nomination is not permanent residence. You then file a federal PR application — through Express Entry if the stream is enhanced, or on paper if it is a base stream.
Expert insight
Ontario draws are targeted rather than open, so the practical work is making sure your Express Entry profile is accurate and complete — correct NOC, complete work history, up-to-date language results — before a round you might match runs.
Alternative pathways
Frequently asked questions
Immigration programs, fees and processing times change frequently. This page is general information, not immigration advice. Verify current requirements with official Government of Canada sources or speak with our RCIC.