Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program: Express Entry streams

Eligibility requirements

Ontario Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities Stream

This stream is designed for skilled workers who wish to live and work in Ontario, and who have proven skills and abilities to successfully establish themselves in the province.

To qualify under this stream, applicants must have:

• Ongoing profile under the Federal Express Entry system and be qualified for either the FSWP or the CEC.
• Hold minimum of 1-year of full time, or full-time equivalent work experience under NOC occupation level 0, A or B, in the past five years if applying under the FSWP or in the past three years if applying under CEC.
• Hold the equivalent of a Canadian Bachelors degree or higher.
• Show language proficiency of minimum CLB level 7 in English or in French.
• Intention to reside in the province of Ontario.
• Residing with legal status in Canada, if applicable.
• Proof of required settlement funds.

Human Capital Priorities Tech Draws

Ontario targets six specific technology sector occupations with tech draws from the Express Entry pool as part of the HCP stream.As well as meeting the above requirements, candidates must have experience in one of the six occupations to qualify.

HCP Tech Draws: Target Occupations

1. Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
2. Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
3. Computer engineers (NOC 2147)
4. Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)
5. Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)
6. Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)

Ontario Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

This stream targets French-speaking candidates who also have strong English language proficiency and who wish to live and work in the province of Ontario.

To qualify under this stream, applicants must have:

• Active profile under the Federal Express Entry system and be qualified for either the FSWP or the CEC.
• Hold minimum of 1-year of full time, or full-time equivalent work experience under NOC occupation level 0, A or B, in the past five years if applying under the FSWP or in the past three years if applying under CEC.
• Hold the equivalent of a Canadian Bachelors degree or higher.
• Minimum language proficiency of NCLC level 7 in French and minimum CLB level 6 in English.
• Intention to reside in the Province of Ontario.
• Residing with legal status in Canada, if applicable.
• Proof of required settlement funds.

Ontario Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream

This stream targets skilled trades workers in eligible sectors, who live and work legally in Ontario at the time of their application.

To qualify applicants must have:

• Active profile under the Federal Express Entry system and be qualified for CEC.
• At least 12 months, cumulative or continuous, of full-time paid work experience in Ontario, within the last two years prior to the Notification of Interest, in NOC minor group 633, or major groups 72, 73 or 82.
• Proof of Ontario license or certification if an occupational requirement.
• A valid work permit and residing in Ontario at the time of application.
• Minimum language CLB level 5 or above in English or in French.
• Proof of required settlement funds.

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program: Employer Job Offer streams

Eligibility Requirements

Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream

To qualify under this stream, applicants must have:

• A permanent and full-time job offer under NOC 0, A or B that meets the median wage levels for Ontario, and in a position that is necessary to the business;
  • For those already working in the position, the proposed wage must be equal or greater than the current wage being paid
• Two cumulative years of relevant work experience in the previous five years before the date of application;
• Relevant mandatory licensing in Ontario, if the position so requires;
• Live abroad, or be working, studying or visiting Canada on a valid permit;
• Intention to settle in Ontario.

Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream

To qualify under this stream, applicants must have:

• A permanent and full-time job offer under NOC 0, A or B that meets low wage levels for Ontario, and in a position that is necessary to the business;
  • For those already working in the position, the proposed wage must be equal or greater than the current wage being paid
• Either
  • Graduated or met requirements of a full-time minimum two-year degree from a publicly-funded Canadian college or university; OR
  • Graduated or met requirements of a full-time minimum one-year post-graduate diploma program from a publicly-funded Canadian college or university.
• Completed at least half the studies in Canada;
• Apply within two years from the date you completed the above course
• Legal status in Ontario
• Intention to settle in Ontario.

Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

This stream targets candidates with specific skilled in-demand in Ontario. To qualify, applicants must have:

• A permanent and full-time job offer under certain occupations in the agriculture or construction sector and meets the median wage in Ontario for the occupation (see table below), and in a position that is necessary to the business.
  • For those already working in the position, the proposed wage must be equal or greater than the current wage being paid.
• 9 months of cumulative work experience in the last three years in one of the eligible occupations. Experience must be paid and full time or the equivalent amount in part-time work in Ontario.
  • Seasonal work does not count.
• Equivalent of Canadian high school education or higher.
• Valid certificate or license at the time of application for any claimed work experience that requires it.
• Minimum CLB 4 in English or French in all language competencies.
• Live abroad, or be working, studying or visiting Canada on a valid permit;
• Intention to settle in Ontario.

Regional Immigration Pilot

Ontario’s Regional Immigration Pilot is designed to use the OINP to bring skilled labour not available locally to smaller Ontario communities.

 Participating Communities

• Chatham-Kent.
• Cornwall.
• Quinte West/Belleville.

Candidate Requirements

• Full-time and permanent job offer from an employer in one of the participating communities.
• Meet the criteria for one of the Employer Job Offer category streams (see below).

Number of Nominations

Approximately 150 Employer Job Offer nominations have been set aside for the pilot.

Ontario Entrepreneur Stream (OES) – Ontario Nominee Program

Ontario Entrepreneur Stream: Financial Requirements

1) Net Worth

• Minimum net worth of $800,000 if your proposed business will be in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Outside the GTA, minimum net worth is $400,000.
• Proposed business in either ICT or digital communications, minimum net worth is $400,000 anywhere in province.

2) Investment and Ownership

• Invest at least $600,000 in an Ontario business and own at least 33 per cent if business is in GTA.
• Outside GTA, invest at least $200,000 and own at least 33 per cent.
• Proposed business in either ICT or digital communications, invest at least $200,000 and own at least 33 per cent anywhere in province.

Ontario Entrepreneur Stream: Non-Financial Requirements

• At least 24 months of full-time business experience in the past 60 months, as an owner or senior manager.
• Create two full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents in the proposed company if located inside the GTA. Business located outside the GTA, or in either ICT or digital communications, must create one full time job.
• Make exploratory visit to Ontario in the 12 months prior to application. Note: This only applies to those buying an existing business.
• Minimum CLB 4 in English or French.
• Physically reside in Ontario for at least 75 % of the time you are managing the business.

Experience:

This factor is further divided into two sections: Business experience must be:

• Ownership experience (must have owned at least 33% of the business and have been actively involved in management) OR 
• Senior management experience (decision-making responsibilities in areas such as operations, finance, sales, marketing, human resources, etc.)
• In the past 5 years
• Minimum required is 2 years: if you have below 24 months of experience, you are not eligible for the OES

Specific Experience must be:

• In a high growth business or in an export trade business
• As a business owner OR senior management
• Within the last 5 years

Investment:

Personal net worth must be legally acquired and verifiable. It includes all assets minus all liabilities, yours and your spouse’s or common law partner’s, if applicable.

Minimum required is $800,000 if the business is located in GTA, or $400,000 if the business is located outside GTA or it operates in ICT/Digital communications.

Investment amount must be of minimum $600,000 if business is in GTA OR at least $200,000 if outside GTA or operates in ICT/Digital communications.

Human Capital :

Human capital factor provides points for the level of education you completed and the proficiency level you obtained in English or in French.

No minimum level of education is required for the OES, but points are given only for post-secondary diplomas or degrees.

If the education is not obtained in Canada, you must provide an Education Credential Assessment of your highest education level achieved.

A language test is also not mandatory, but points are given if you achieve minimum of CLB4 in all four language abilities, in English or in French, at the time of nomination.