Introduction to the New OINP
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has recently undergone a significant transformation. The provincial government has restructured its economic immigration pathways to better respond to immediate labour market needs. Whether you are an Ontario employer looking to fill critical roles or a foreign national seeking permanent residence in Canada, understanding this new framework is critical.
At Elliott Immigration Corporation, our team is closely monitoring these changes to ensure our clients remain compliant and prepared. The province has shifted away from its previous system of multiple categories, opting instead for a consolidated approach. This guide will walk you through the newly introduced system, from eligibility criteria to the exact steps required for a successful application.
A Consolidated Provincial Pathway
In a major policy shift, the Ontario government has permanently closed all previous employer-driven OINP streams. These legacy pathways have been replaced by a single pathway known as the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is now the economic immigration pathway for these types of applicants under the OINP. It offers eligible skilled foreign workers with a qualifying job offer, and work experience in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) occupation, a route to seek provincial nomination. Additionally, this stream includes a provision for eligible self-employed physicians who can apply without needing a formal job offer. Ontario aims to expedite processing for the workers its economy needs most urgently by consolidating its processing efforts.
Please note that a provincial nomination is an intermediate step. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes the final decision on all permanent residence applications. Furthermore, a person applying from inside Canada must have valid temporary resident status, and every applicant must demonstrate a genuine intention to reside in Ontario.
Applicant Requirements
To qualify for nomination under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, candidates must meet stringent requirements. The province has established specific work experience, education, and language thresholds depending on your occupation’s TEER (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) category or your status as a medical professional. An Invitation to Apply (ITA) is required to submit an application, and simply meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an invitation.
TEER 0 to 3 Occupations
- Work Experience: Your specific work experience requirements depend on your current situation. Most applicants must have at least 2 years of cumulative, full-time work experience in the same NOC within the past 5 years, or the part-time equivalent. Current employees must have at least 6 months of consecutive, full-time work experience in the exact offered position within the past 12 months. Recent Ontario Graduates must have at least 3 months of consecutive, full-time work experience in the exact offered position within the past 12 months.
- Experience Substitutions: The regulation provides specific substitutions, not a general same-industry exception. Experience in NOC Sub-Major Group 213 (professional engineering) can support an offer in Sub-Major Group 223 (technical engineering). Experience as a pharmacist (NOC 31120) supports an offer as a pharmacy technical assistant (NOC 33103). Experience as an RPN/LPN (NOC 32101) or RN/RPN (NOC 31301) supports an offer as a nurse aide, orderly, or patient service associate (NOC 33102).
- Transport Exceptions: Applicants with offers as transport truck drivers (NOC 73300) and bus, subway, and other transit operators (NOC 73301) must qualify strictly through the six-month current-employee route. Their employer must also hold a valid CVOR certificate with an “Excellent” or “Satisfactory” safety rating.
- Education: The standard rule requires a Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma requiring at least one year of full-time study, or a foreign equivalent supported by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) less than five years old. However, applicants in specially listed trades and related occupations need only a Canadian secondary school credential or equivalent. Applicants who already hold the mandatory licence or authorization required for the offered position are exempt from both the work experience and education requirements. Nurse aides (NOC 33102) benefit from a specific provision recognizing an eligible one-year Ontario college certificate. A recent Ontario graduate must have obtained their qualifying credential within the preceding three years.
- Language: Language results must generally be less than two years old. A recent Ontario graduate has no prescribed language requirement. Applicants in specified trades and related occupations require CLB 5. Most other TEER 0 to 3 applicants require a minimum CLB 6.
- Express Entry: Applicants in the TEER 0 to 3 categories may be eligible for an Express Entry nomination if they separately meet the federal Express Entry requirements, maintain a valid profile, and comply with all federal program requirements. An accepted Express Entry nomination adds 600 CRS points.
TEER 4 and 5 Occupations
- Work Experience: You must have at least 9 months of cumulative, full-time work experience in the past 2 years. This experience must be specifically in the same position and with the exact same employer named in your qualifying Ontario job offer.
- Education: Applicants must hold a Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent. Foreign high school diplomas must be verified by an ECA.
- Language: Applicants must demonstrate a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 in all four language skills. Language results must be less than two years old.
- Express Entry: TEER 4 and 5 nominations are base nominations and are not processed through Express Entry.
Self-Employed Physicians
Physicians have a unique pathway that bypasses the standard employer requirements.
- Work Experience: No job offer is required.
- Education and Licensing: The applicant must hold an independent-practice, academic-practice, or provisional certificate of registration and be a College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) member in good standing.
- Additional Requirements: The physician must be eligible to receive payment for publicly funded health services under the Health Insurance Act, must be or intend to be self-employed, and must intend to practice in Ontario.
- Express Entry: Self-employed physicians may be eligible for an Express Entry nomination if they separately meet the federal Express Entry requirements.
Employer Requirements
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream places significant responsibility on the employer. For an application to be successful, the employer must first be approved by the province. The employer must maintain a physical place of business in Ontario, and the Ontario Public Service (OPS) cannot participate in the OINP. The employer must also have no outstanding orders under the Employment Standards Act or Occupational Health and Safety Act.
To be eligible, the employer must have at least 3 years of active business operations. Financial and staffing requirements depend strictly on the location of the business:
- Greater Toronto Area (GTA): The business must demonstrate $1,000,000 in gross annual revenue in the past year and employ 5 full-time Canadian citizens or permanent residents who work at the relevant location.
- Expressly Listed Census Divisions: For businesses located in Ottawa, Waterloo, Hamilton, Simcoe, Middlesex, Niagara, Essex, Wellington, Greater Sudbury, Frontenac, Brant, Peterborough, Hastings, and Thunder Bay, the business must demonstrate $500,000 in gross annual revenue in the past year and employ 3 full-time Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the relevant location.
- Other Locations: For all other areas, the business must demonstrate $250,000 in gross annual revenue in each of its two most recently completed fiscal years. Businesses in these locations must still employ at least 3 full-time Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the relevant location.
Job Offer Requirements
Securing a job offer is not enough. The offer itself must meet rigorous provincial standards to be deemed eligible. The position must be full-time and indeterminate, and the work must primarily take place in Ontario. The position must also be urgently necessary to the employer’s business. Neither the applicant nor their family members may hold or previously have held equity in the employer, subject to a narrow employee compensation exception of less than 10%.
The offered pay must align with the following rules:
- For most applicants, the wage must meet or exceed the applicable regional median wage.
- If the applicant already works for the employer in the offered position, the offered wage must also be at least equal to the wage the employer currently pays the applicant.
- For a recent Ontario graduate in the TEER 0 to 3 category, the applicable Job Bank regional low wage may be accepted.
- Collective agreements can affect the applicable wage calculation.
Tighter Processing Deadlines
Navigating the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream requires precise coordination between the employer and the applicant. The process begins with the employer registering the job offer in the Employer Portal and the applicant submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Once an Invitation to Apply (ITA) is issued, the timeline is strict.
- Employer Deadline: The employer has exactly 14 calendar days from the date the ITA is issued to submit all required corporate and financial documents for position approval.
- Applicant Deadline: The applicant has exactly 17 calendar days from the date the ITA is issued to submit their complete application for a provincial nomination.
The applicant cannot formally submit their application until the employer has submitted the position-approval application, even though the employer’s 14-day and applicant’s 17-day periods are calculated from the same ITA date. Both the employer and the employee must have their documentation fully prepared before an EOI is registered or an ITA is ever issued.
Final Strategic Takeaways
Due to the strict submission windows, we recommend that both businesses and applicants gather their supporting documents well in advance. Employers should have their financial statements, organizational charts, and tax documents ready before initiating the portal registration. Applicants must have their language test results and ECA reports secured before submitting an EOI.
Where Ontario requires proof of recruitment, the employer must be able to demonstrate genuine and reasonable efforts to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Employers and representatives must also avoid conflicts of interest, particularly where the same individual could be acting both as a recruiter for the employer and as the applicant’s immigration representative.
If you are an employer looking to retain talent, or a foreign worker ready to secure your future in Ontario, we are here to help. Schedule a consultation with our experienced professionals today by visiting: https://canadianimmigrationpartners.com/consultation/
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