Whether you want to find a new career path or start a family, there are many ways that you can give yourself a better life by immigrating to Canada. Luckily, the federal, provincial, and territorial governments offer a wide range of beneficial programs to help foreign citizens immigrate and integrate into Canada. If you’re planning on immigrating to Ontario, you might be able to qualify for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to become a permanent resident.
Key Points
- The OINP helps skilled workers and business owners immigrate to Ontario.
- If a candidate is chosen, they’ll be invited to apply to the OINP.
- Candidates must meet the eligibility requirements of one of the OINP’s streams.
- Candidates can then apply to become permanent residents through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
What Is OINP?
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is a provincial economic immigration program that works in partnership with the Immigration, Refugees and Canadian Citizenship (IRCC) department. The IRCC has the final say when it comes to approving or denying applications for permanent residence through OINP.
Essentially, the OINP recognizes and nominates foreign workers, students, and other qualified people for permanent resident status. If you possess the skills, training, and knowledge to help Ontario meet its economic needs, you may qualify for the program.
How Long Does It Take To Get Permanent Residence Through OINP?
The time to get permanent residence through OINP depends on the application processing times. That said, it can take several months, depending on an applicant’s level of candidacy and experience, also known as an “OINP stream”. OINP has 9 streams through which you can apply (further explained below) to demonstrate your candidacy.
Once you’ve applied and qualified for a nomination by OINP, you’ll need to apply for permanent residence through the IRCC. The IRCC will then evaluate you and make the financial decision on whether you qualify for permanent residence.
What Can You Do With Permanent Residence Through The OINP?
If you get permanent resident status in Canada through OINP, you’ll have more rights than a temporary resident in Canada. In fact, you’ll have most of the same rights and freedoms as Canadian citizens.
Can You Get Access To Healthcare With Permanent Residence Through OINP?
Like many other social benefits, becoming a permanent resident through the OINP means you can access the healthcare system in Canada. You can also apply for Canadian citizenship and obtain protection under Canadian Law, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Can You Get A Job Anywhere In Canada With Permanent Residence Through OINP?
You can use your permanent residence to get a job anywhere in Canada. If you pay taxes and follow the federal, provincial, and municipal laws of your region, you’ll have the freedom to study or work wherever you want. However, there are certain exceptions. As a permanent resident, you cannot:
- Run or vote for political office
- Get certain jobs (mainly ones that need high-level security clearance)
Can You Get A Loan With Permanent Residence Through OINP?
Yes, as a permanent resident, you can get a personal loan in Canada. Most lenders require you to be a permanent resident or citizen of Canada to be eligible for a loan. However, your ability to qualify for a loan is a different story.
As a permanent resident, it can be difficult to qualify for a personal loan when you have a lack of credit history or a low income. This is particularly true with banks and credit unions, where the requirements are strict. Thankfully, there are alternative lenders who offer loans to newcomers and those who don’t have great credit.
Do note, while an alternative lender can be a good option you may pay higher interest rates. To get the best rate, you should consider fixing up your finances and building your credit score. You can also keep track of your credit score for free using Compare Hub.
How To Immigrate To Canada Using The OINP
The OINP has 9 streams that you can apply through to get nominated for permanent residence.
- Employee Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream – This is available to skilled foreign workers (in or outside Canada) who receive job offers in Ontario.
- Employee Job Offer: International Student Stream – This stream is for recent graduates who receive permanent job offers in Ontario.
- Employee Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream – This stream is for skilled foreign workers who get offered in-demand occupations in Ontario (construction, agriculture, etc.)
If you have a Master’s or Ph.D. degree from an accredited Ontario university, you can apply for OINP through these two streams:
- Master’s Graduate Stream – This stream gives international graduate students with master’s degrees the opportunity to live and work in Ontario permanently.
- Ph.D. Graduate Stream – This stream offers the same permanent residency benefits for international Ph.D. graduate students to live and work in Ontario.
If you have the skills and experience that Ontario employers need, you can apply for permanent residence nomination through OINP. To qualify, you must have an Express Entry profile and receive a notification of interest from the Ontario Government:
- Human Capital Priorities Stream – This is available to applicants with the right education, skills/experience, and language abilities to work and live permanently in Ontario.
- Skilled Trades Stream – This stream offers the same residency benefits but for foreign nationals who have work experience in an eligible trade in Ontario.
- French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream – This stream offers the same perks for French-speaking foreign workers with good English-speaking skills in Ontario.
If you’re a foreign entrepreneur with an excellent business idea, you may apply for the following stream:
- Entrepreneur Stream – This stream operates through its own Expression of interest system, which means you must register and get an invitation to apply. It allows foreign entrepreneurs to establish and buy businesses, as well as gain permanent residence in Ontario, provided they meet more stringent criteria.
What Is The Cost To Apply For The OINP?
The cost of applying for OINP varies according to the stream you choose:
- A fee of $1,500 applies for applications to the following streams:
- Master’s Graduate
- Ph.D. Graduate
- Employment Job Offer: International Student
If you’re applying for the Employment Job Offer: Foreign Worker or In-Demand streams through the OINP, the application fee actually varies by location:
- $1,500 for job offers outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
- $2,000 for job offers within the GTA (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, York)
How To Apply To The OINP
To apply to the OINP, follow these steps:
Step 1: Decide Which System To Register Through
Before applying to the OINP, you first have to register in the appropriate system:
- Expression of Interest system
- Express Entry system
At this point, the OINP will be notified that you want to apply. For ease of explanation, we’ll focus on applying through the Express Entry system in the next steps.
Step 2: Wait For Notification
Once you receive notification of interest through the Express Entry system, you’ll need to submit your application to the OINP within 45 days of the notification of interest from Ontario being issued.
Step 3: Determine Your Eligibility
Review the eligibility criteria for the relevant stream and make sure you meet the requirements for the draw and the stream. The stream requirements within the Express Entry system are as follows:
- Skilled Trades Stream: You’re a foreign national with Ontario work experience in a qualifying skilled trade.
- French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream: You’re a French-speaking skilled worker with good English language skills.
- Human Capital Priorities Stream: You have the necessary work experience, education and language abilities.
Step 4: Gather Your Supporting Documents
You’ll need to provide supporting documents to verify the information in your application and to show that you meet the qualification requirements. Check the document checklist for the stream that you want to apply through, as each stream may have different requirements.
Step 5: Submit Your Application
To submit your application online, log into your My Ontario account. If you don’t already have an account, you’ll need to create one by clicking “Create Account” and creating a profile in the OINP e-Filing Portal. You can then start your application by clicking on the file number beside the stream from which you received a notification.
Step 6: Pay The Application Fee
OINP fees start at $1,500, depending on the stream.
Final Thoughts
If you’re interested in becoming a permanent resident of Canada, it’s important to first contact IRCC to ask about your options. If you have the right experience and skills to contribute to Ontario’s economy, you can obtain permanent resident status through the Ontario Immigrant Nomination Program (OINP).
