The Ontario International Students stream is a component of the Employer Job Offer streams within the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) administered by the province of Ontario. Specifically designed for individuals who have obtained a Canadian educational credential and secured a job offer from an employer in Ontario, the International Students stream aims to facilitate the immigration process for foreign nationals.
Overview of OINP
- The International Student stream under the Employer Job Offer program provides a pathway for international students holding a job offer in a skilled occupation to seek permanent residence and employmensct in Ontario.
- To be eligible, the job offer must fall under TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 according to the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
- The application process begins with registering in the OINP’s Expression of Interest System and waiting for an invitation to apply. Once invited, applicants can proceed to submit their nomination for permanent residence by the Ontario government through the online portal.
- If nominated, the final step involves applying to the federal government via Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which holds the authority to make the ultimate decision regarding permanent residency status.
Calculate your OINP Scores through Ontario PNP Points Calculator
Program Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | No |
| Connection to Province | No |
| Job Offer | Yes |
| Language Proficiency | No minimum |
| Level of Education | Post-secondary 2 years |
| Work Experience | No minimum |
| Investment Requirement | None |
Applicant Requirements
1. Expression of interest and invitation to apply
- To be considered, you need to have received an invitation to apply and submitted your application within the specified deadline.
- It is crucial to validate the qualifications you asserted in your Expression of Interest, as registered with the OINP, by providing appropriate evidence.
2. Education
- Eligibility Requirement: Obtain a degree or diploma from a recognized Canadian institution.
- Full-Time Basis: The degree or diploma should take at least two years for full-time study.
- Alternative Criteria: A one-year program is acceptable if it mandates a completed degree as an admission requirement.
- Exclusion: Programs with broader admission criteria like “degree or diploma” are ineligible, even if a degree was previously obtained.
- Certificate Programs: Eligible if taking at least one year to complete and requiring a completed degree for admission.
- Duration Clarification: Even if a certificate program lasts two or more years, it must still adhere to the degree requirement.
3. Valid license or other authorization (if applicable)
- Position Requirement: If the offered position necessitates a license to practice in Ontario:5. Legal status in Canada (if applicable)
5. Legal status in Canada (if applicable) - Mandatory Compliance: The applicant must possess a valid license, certificate, or authorization for practicing the profession.
- Issuing Authority: The license must be issued by a recognized regulatory body in Ontario.
4. Intention to live in Ontario
- Residency Intention: OINP applicants must prove their intent to live in Ontario.
- Connection Indicators: Show ties through relatives, past education, etc.
- Investment Proof: Property purchase in the province validates commitment.
- Societal Involvement: Active participation in Ontario society, like volunteering or work experience, is considered evidence of residency intent.
5. Legal status in Canada
- Legal Status Requirement: Applicants within Canada must have legal status (visitor record, study permit, or work permit) when applying and maintain it until nomination.
- Implied Status Eligibility: ‘Implied status’ applicants can apply, meaning they’ve submitted an IRCC application to renew/extend their temporary status before expiry.
- Continued Stay: Those with implied status can stay in Canada and maintain current work or study conditions until a decision is reached on their IRCC application.
6. Application Time
Submit your application within two years after fulfilling the requirements for your degree, diploma, or certificate, also referred to as your education credential.
Note: Ensure that you have finished your degree, diploma, or certificate before submitting your application.
Employer requirements
1. General
- Employment Conditions
- The employer must provide a full-time, indeterminate position with a salary meeting industry standards.
- Business Eligibility:
- The business must have been actively operating for at least three years before application submission.
- The business premises in Ontario where work will take place are required.
- Compliance Check:
- The employer should have no outstanding orders against them under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000, or the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
2. Business Requirements
Your employer’s business must satisfy the applicable revenue requirement for the most recently concluded fiscal year, which is the year used for tax or accounting purposes.
- Within the Greater Toronto Area:
- Minimum gross annual revenue of CAD 1 million.
- At least five full-time employees.
- Outside the Greater Toronto Area:
- Minimum gross annual revenue of CAD 500,000.
- At least three full-time employees.
3. Recruitment Requirements & Employer Form
- For a location within the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York, and Peel regions):
- A minimum of five full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, working at or reporting to the specified location.
- For a location outside the Greater Toronto Area:
- A minimum of three full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, working at or reporting to the specified location.
Also: Your employer is required to submit an application for approval of an employment position by completing and signing the Employer Form.
Application Procedure
1. Expression of Interest (EOI) Submission:
- Eligible applicants submit an EOI through the OINP e-Filing Portal.
- The OINP uses a points-based system to rank profiles.
- Highest-ranking candidates receive invitations in OINP draws.
2. Invitation to Apply (ITA):
- Invited applicants have 14 days to apply for nomination.
3. Nomination Approval:
- If the province approves the application, Ontario notifies the applicant through their ONe-Key account.
4. Federal Permanent Residence Application:
- After provincial nomination, applicants must submit a federal application for Canadian permanent residence.
- The application is paper-based and sent by mail to the appropriate centre.
5. Processing Timeline:
- Paper-based PNP applications for permanent residence are generally processed within 18 months.
OINP Ranking System
| Factor | Maximum Points | |
|---|---|---|
| Job offer | NOC skill level | 10 |
| NOC type | 10 | |
| Wage | 10 | |
| Canadian Work Experience | Length | 4 |
| NOC skill level | 3 | |
| Earnings history | 3 | |
| Education | Highest level of education | 10 |
| Field of study | 10 | |
| Canadian education experience | 10 | |
| Language | Official language ability (CLB level) | 10 |
| Knowledge of official languages (English, French, or both) | 10 | |
| Regional Immigration | Location of job offer | 10 |
| Location of study | 10 | |
| Strategic Priorities | Ontario might allocate extra points to address specific labor market demands as necessary. | 10 |
| Total Available Points | 120 | |
