Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP): Requirements, Eligibility, Process & Documents for Indians
Ontario's economic immigration program. 9 streams across the Expression of Interest and Express Entry intake systems. The largest PNP in Canada by allocation.
7-13 months (federal)
CAD 1,500-2,000 (provincial) + CAD 1,525 (federal)
Permanent
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is Ontario's economic immigration program. It works in collaboration with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to nominate foreign workers, international students, and business owners for Canadian permanent residence based on the skills and experience the Ontario economy needs. The OINP operates 9 streams across two intake systems: the Expression of Interest (EOI) system for paper-based PNP streams, and the Express Entry system for streams aligned with the federal Express Entry pool.
OINP nominations through the Express Entry-aligned streams add 600 CRS points to a candidate's federal Express Entry profile, which effectively guarantees an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence in the next federal draw. Ontario is the largest PNP by allocation in Canada and is the top destination for skilled immigrants from India. The OINP only accepts applications from candidates who have first received an invitation to apply or a notification of interest from Ontario.
Eligibility
Who can apply for Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program?
- Foreign workers with a job offer in Ontario in a skilled occupation under one of the Employer Job Offer streams (Foreign Worker, International Student, or In-Demand Skills)
- International graduates of Canadian post-secondary institutions with a qualifying job offer in Ontario (Employer Job Offer: International Student stream)
- Graduates with a Masters or PhD degree from an eligible Ontario university (Masters Graduate or PhD Graduate streams) — no job offer required
- Skilled workers in the federal Express Entry pool with the required work experience, education, and language ability (Human Capital Priorities stream)
- French-speaking skilled workers with strong English language abilities who have a profile in the federal Express Entry pool (French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream)
- Skilled tradespeople with Ontario work experience in an eligible skilled trade and an Express Entry profile (Skilled Trades stream)
- Experienced businesspeople who plan to start a new business or buy and grow an existing business in Ontario (Entrepreneur stream)
- Spouses or common-law partners and dependent children can be included as accompanying family members on any OINP application
Specific eligibility criteria vary by stream. Visit ontario.ca and review the official stream page for exact requirements, occupation lists, language minimums, and any periodic intake announcements.
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Requirements
What are the requirements and key details of Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program?
- Two Intake Systems: Expression of Interest (EOI) system for paper-based PNP streams; Express Entry system for streams aligned with the federal Express Entry pool
- Number of OINP Streams: 9 streams: 3 Express Entry-aligned and 6 Expression of Interest streams
- Express Entry CRS Boost: +600 CRS points added to your federal Express Entry profile upon nomination through any Express Entry-aligned OINP stream
- Invitation Required: You can only apply to the OINP after receiving an invitation to apply (EOI streams) or a notification of interest (Express Entry streams) from Ontario
- Express Entry Stream Application Deadline: 45 calendar days from the date of the notification of interest
- Masters/PhD Graduate Stream Deadline: 14 calendar days from the date of the invitation to apply
- Employer Job Offer Stream Deadline: 17 calendar days for the applicant; the employer must submit the position approval within 14 days
- OINP Application Fee — Express Entry Streams: CAD 1,500 (Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, Skilled Trades)
- OINP Application Fee — Most EOI Streams: CAD 1,500 (Masters Graduate, PhD Graduate, EJO International Student, physicians under EJO Foreign Worker without a job offer)
- OINP Application Fee — EJO Foreign Worker / In-Demand Skills (outside GTA): CAD 1,500 if the job offer is outside the Greater Toronto Area
- OINP Application Fee — EJO Foreign Worker / In-Demand Skills (within GTA): CAD 2,000 if the job offer is within the GTA (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York, and Peel regions)
- Federal Government Fee: CAD 1,525 per adult (CAD 950 processing + CAD 575 RPRF); CAD 260 per dependent child
- Biometrics Fee: CAD 85 (individual); CAD 170 (family of 2+)
- Federal Processing Time: Approximately 7 months for Express Entry-aligned PNP applications, or approximately 13 months for base PNP applications, after IRCC begins processing
- Intent to Reside: Must demonstrate genuine intent to live and work in Ontario after becoming a permanent resident
Documents
What are the documents required for Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program?
- Valid passport and travel documents for all applicants and accompanying family members
- Invitation to apply or notification of interest issued by the OINP (required to start an application)
- Language test results (IELTS General Training, CELPIP, TEF Canada, TCF Canada, or PTE Core) demonstrating the CLB level required for your stream
- Educational credentials and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report for any post-secondary credentials earned outside Canada
- Work experience documentation: employment letters on company letterhead, contracts, pay stubs, and tax records covering the qualifying work experience for your stream
- Job offer letter from an Ontario employer (Employer Job Offer streams only) plus the employer's approved position from the OINP Employer Portal
- Master's or PhD diploma and transcripts from an eligible Ontario university (Masters Graduate / PhD Graduate streams only)
- Business plan, performance agreement, and financial documents showing source of investment funds (Entrepreneur stream only)
- Federal Express Entry profile number and Job Seeker Validation Code (Express Entry-aligned streams only)
- Medical examination results from an IRCC-approved panel physician (collected at the federal stage)
- Police clearance certificates from every country where you lived for 6+ months since age 18 (collected at the federal stage)
- Biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) at a designated collection centre (collected at the federal stage)
- Proof of relationship for spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children (marriage certificate, birth certificates, etc.)
Application Process
How to Apply for Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program: Step-by-Step Process
Choose the Right OINP Stream
Review all 9 OINP streams and identify the ones you may qualify for based on your work experience, education, language ability, and whether you have an Ontario job offer. Use the OINP Stream Selector Tool on ontario.ca for an initial eligibility check.
Take a Language Test and Get an ECA
Take an IRCC-approved language test (IELTS General Training, CELPIP, TEF Canada, TCF Canada, or PTE Core) and obtain an Educational Credential Assessment for any foreign credentials. Aim for the highest possible score in your stream's language test.
Register an EOI or Create an Express Entry Profile
If you are applying to an EOI stream, register an Expression of Interest with the OINP. If you are applying to an Express Entry-aligned stream, first create a federal Express Entry profile with IRCC and ensure your profile is active in the Express Entry pool.
Receive an Invitation to Apply or Notification of Interest
Wait for the OINP to invite you. EOI streams issue invitations to apply when your profile matches an OINP draw. Express Entry-aligned streams issue notifications of interest by searching the federal Express Entry pool. You can only apply after receiving one of these.
Submit Your OINP Application
Submit your application through the OINP e-Filing Portal within the deadline for your stream (45 days for Express Entry, 14 days for Masters/PhD, 17 days for Employer Job Offer streams). Pay the OINP application fee (CAD 1,500 or CAD 2,000 depending on stream and location).
Receive Provincial Nomination
If your OINP application is approved, Ontario issues a nomination certificate. For Express Entry-aligned streams, the nomination adds 600 CRS points to your federal Express Entry profile, virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence in the next federal draw.
Apply to IRCC for Federal Permanent Residence
Submit your federal permanent residence application to IRCC. For Express Entry-aligned streams, update your Express Entry profile and accept the federal ITA within 60 days. For base PNP streams, submit your PR application directly to IRCC. Pay the federal fee of CAD 1,525 per adult plus biometrics.
Land in Canada and Settle in Ontario
After IRCC approval, you receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and PR visa. Land in Canada to activate PR status and settle in Ontario. Federal processing typically takes 7 months for Express Entry-aligned PNP or 13 months for base PNP applications.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is the largest provincial nominee program in Canada and the most common provincial pathway for skilled immigrants from India. Your eligibility depends on which of the 9 OINP streams matches your profile, whether you already have an Ontario job offer or Ontario education, and whether you have an active federal Express Entry profile. The OINP only accepts applications from candidates who have first received an invitation or notification of interest.
Review every requirement for your chosen OINP stream before registering an EOI or creating an Express Entry profile. Apply only after receiving an invitation, and submit within the stream-specific deadline. For details on each stream's eligibility, visit ontario.ca and review the official stream page.
For detailed insights on eligibility, document checklist, visa validity, and common refusal reasons, explore PR Visa FAQs guide to know the answers of all your questions.
Related Resources
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