Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program – Ontario Workforce Priority stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa/Program Name	Ontario Workforce Priority stream (OINP)
Intended Outcome	Provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence
Target Applicants	Skilled foreign workers and self-employed physicians
Job Offer Requirement	Required (exempt for eligible physicians)
Employer Participation	Must register and submit job offer
Stay Duration	Permanent (upon IRCC PR approval)
Program Cost	Not stated in the source
Language Minimum	CLB 4 to CLB 6
Education Minimum	High school diploma to postsecondary credential
Work Rights	Tied to approved job offer/permit
Study Rights	Permitted under valid temporary status
Medicare (OHIP)	Required billing number for physicians
Travel Facility	Not stated in the source
Family Sponsorship	Not stated in the source
Citizenship Pathway	IRCC permanent residence pathway
Temporary Visa Record	Requires valid status if in Canada
Federal PR Application Deadline	Within 6 months of nomination

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Purpose

The Ontario Workforce Priority stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers eligible skilled foreign workers with a qualifying job offer, as well as eligible self-employed physicians without a job offer, a pathway to be nominated to live and work permanently in Ontario. Nomination allows candidates to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.

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Eligibility Criteria

1. Job Offer Applicants

To qualify with an employer job offer, applicants must:

• Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through the Expression of Interest (EOI) system.
• Submit documentation proving the scoring factors claimed in the EOI.
• Meet stream requirements for work experience, licensing, language, education, legal status, and intention to reside in Ontario.
• Have their employer's application for approval of the employment position approved by the OINP.

Work Experience Requirements

• TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 Occupations (Must meet one):
  • Consecutive Experience: At least 6 months of consecutive, paid, full-time work experience (minimum 780 hours/year, 30 hours/week) in the job offer employment position within the 12 months before applying.
  • Recent Ontario Graduates: At least 3 months of consecutive, paid, full-time work experience (minimum 390 hours/year, 30 hours/week) in the job offer position within the 12 months before applying, having graduated within the last 3 years from an eligible Ontario institution with a degree/diploma (≥2 years), Ontario College Graduate Certificate, Master’s, or PhD.
  • Cumulative Experience: At least 2 years of cumulative, paid, full-time work experience (minimum 3,120 hours over 2 years, or part-time equivalent) within the past 5 years in the same NOC occupation (or specific eligible related NOCs for engineers, pharmacists, and nurses).
  • Mandatory Licence: Hold a valid mandatory licence or authorization required under Ontario/federal law.
  • Special Rule: NOC 73300 (Transport truck drivers) and NOC 73301 (Transit operators) must always satisfy the 6 months of consecutive work experience rule, even if licensed or a recent graduate.
• TEER 4 or 5 Occupations:
  • At least 9 months of cumulative, paid, full-time work experience (minimum 1,170 hours/year, 30 hours/week) in the job offer position within the 2 years before applying.

Language Requirements

Test results must be less than 2 years old at submission:

• TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3:
  • Minimum CLB 6 in all four proficiencies (reading, writing, listening, speaking).
  • Minimum CLB 5 for listed skilled trades (Major Groups 72, 73, 82, 83, 93; Minor Group 6320; Unit Group 62200).
  • Exemption: Language test not required if the applicant graduated within the last 3 years from an eligible Ontario institution with an eligible credential.
• TEER 4 or 5: Minimum CLB 4 in all four proficiencies.
• Accepted Tests: IELTS (General Training only), CELPIP (General only, selected for "IRCC purposes"), PTE Core, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada.

Education Requirements

• TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3:
  • Postsecondary degree or diploma (minimum 1 full-time academic year) from an eligible Canadian institution or foreign equivalent.
  • Secondary school diploma if the position is a listed skilled trade.
  • One-year Ontario college certificate from an eligible Canadian institution for NOC 33102 (Nurse aides, orderlies, patient service associates).
  • Mandatory licence/authorization (except truck/transit drivers).
• TEER 4 or 5: Canadian secondary school diploma or foreign equivalent.
• Foreign Credentials: Require an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report issued within the past 5 years by an IRCC-designated organization.

Legal Status in Canada

• Applicants residing in Canada must hold valid temporary status (visitor record, study permit, or work permit) or have maintained status at application and nomination.

Intention to Reside

• Must demonstrate ties and intent to live and work in Ontario (e.g., employment, studies, family ties, property, volunteering).

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2. Self-Employed Physicians

Self-employed physicians do not need a job offer or employer application if they:

• Hold an active Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) billing number.
• Are members in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario with a certificate authorizing independent practice, academic practice, or provisional registration.
• Note: Postgraduate education licence holders must apply through the job offer stream.

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Employer and Job Offer Requirements

Employers participating in the stream must:

• Have been in active business for at least 3 years.
• Maintain Ontario business premises where the applicant will work.
• Have no outstanding orders under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 or Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Meet required revenue and full-time Canadian citizen/PR employee thresholds based on location.
• Demonstrate recruitment efforts if the applicant lives outside Canada or works outside Ontario.
• (Note: Ontario Public Service entities are ineligible).

Job Offer Conditions:

• Permanent, full-time position in Ontario urgently necessary to business operations.
• Meets the prevailing wage level.
• Must not affect a labour dispute.

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Application Process and Deadlines

Stream with Job Offer

[Step 1: Employer Portal] 
Employer submits job offer -> Generates Job Offer ID
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       ▼
[Step 2: Candidate EOI] 
Candidate registers EOI within 30 calendar days
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       ▼
[Step 3: Invitation to Apply (ITA)]
Employer submits position approval application (within 14 calendar days of ITA)
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Candidate submits OINP application and fee (within 17 calendar days of ITA, AFTER employer submits)

Self-Employed Physicians

1. Contact OINP directly to register an EOI.
2. Upon receiving an ITA, submit the application and fee within 17 calendar days.

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Express Entry and Post-Nomination

• Nomination Package: Approved applicants receive a nomination approval letter, nomination certificate, and (if applicable) a work permit support letter.
• Federal PR Submission: Nominees must apply to IRCC for permanent residence within 6 months.
• Express Entry Option (TEER 0–3):
  • Eligible candidates maintaining an active IRCC Express Entry profile can receive an Express Entry nomination.
  • Candidates have 30 calendar days to accept the nomination in Express Entry to obtain 600 additional CRS points.
  • Once invited by IRCC, candidates have 60 calendar days to submit the PR application.

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Conditions, Obligations, and Compliance

• Employment Continuity: Nominees must continue working in the approved employment position throughout the nomination period until PR is decided.
• Reporting Changes: Any changes to job duties, wage, hours, or terms must be reported to the OINP immediately.
• Post-Nomination Audits: The OINP Post-Nomination Verification Unit monitors compliance. Nominations and employer approvals will be cancelled if conditions are breached.
• Termination: If employment is terminated post-nomination, the nomination is cancelled, and the applicant must register a new EOI to reapply.
• Representatives: Self-appointed representative applications are invalid, returned as incomplete, and refunded.