What is OINP?

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is Ontario's Provincial Nominee Program — the largest PNP in Canada by volume. OINP operates multiple streams targeting different applicant profiles, from skilled workers to international graduates to business owners.

A successful OINP nomination grants either a +600 CRS boost (for Express Entry-aligned streams) or direct PR application eligibility (for base streams).

OINP streams

Express Entry-aligned (Enhanced) streams

• Human Capital Priorities — for Express Entry pool candidates in priority NOCs/situations. Targeted draws.
• French-Speaking Skilled Worker — for Express Entry candidates with French-language ability (NCLC 7+).
• Federal Skilled Trades — for Express Entry FSTC candidates.

Employer Job Offer (Base) streams

• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker — for TEER 0-3 job offers from Ontario employers.
• Employer Job Offer: International Student — for Ontario DLI graduates with employer offer.
• Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills — for TEER 4-5 in-demand occupations (truck drivers NOC 73300, food-counter, construction trades helpers, home-support).

Other base streams

• Masters Graduate — for international graduates of Ontario master's programs (no job offer required).
• PhD Graduate — for international graduates of Ontario PhD programs.
• Entrepreneur — for business owners establishing/acquiring an Ontario business.

OINP enhanced vs base

• Enhanced (Express Entry-aligned): candidate must have active Express Entry profile, qualify under CEC/FSW/FSTC. Nomination adds +600 CRS to federal score, almost guaranteeing an ITA in the next aligned draw.
• Base (non-Express Entry): candidate doesn't need EE profile. Nomination grants direct PR application eligibility outside Express Entry.

How to apply to OINP

1. Determine the right stream based on your occupation, employer, education, and Canadian connections.
2. Submit Expression of Interest (EOI) through OINP's EOI portal.
3. Wait for invitation — OINP runs periodic targeted draws by stream.
4. Submit full application within 14 days of invitation.
5. Receive nomination certificate (typically 3-9 months after application).
6. Apply to IRCC for federal PR (Express Entry for enhanced streams; non-EE PR application for base).

Common gotchas

• Genuine intent to live in Ontario: OINP assesses settlement intention. Submitting EOI without credible Ontario connection (work, study, family) weakens credibility.
• Stream-specific eligibility: each stream has narrow criteria. Choosing the wrong stream is a leading refusal cause.
• Employer eligibility for Employer Job Offer streams: employer must meet OINP-specific requirements (revenue, employee count, business history).
• Tech Draws: OINP conducts targeted Tech Draws for specific tech NOCs — typically lower CRS cutoffs.

See also

• PNP — overview of all provincial programs.
• Ontario PNP service.