Canada immigration news: Canada’s federal government has increased the number of immigrants Ontario can nominate through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
The OINP’s nomination allocation was boosted to 9,750 this year, up more than 8 percent on the 9,000 candidates it nominated in 2021. The 2021 figure included an initial allocation of 8,600, before adding a further 400 when that was maxed out.
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About The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) supports employers by facilitating the immigration of managerial, professional and skilled foreign workers and international students required to meet their human resources needs.
The province of Ontario operates the OINP in partnership with the federal immigration department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Interested candidates must follow a two-stage process: apply for nomination to the provincial government, and then, if nominated, apply for permanent residence to the federal government.
OINP Streams
The OINP manages three immigration categories: Human Capital, Employer Job Offer and Business Immigration. Each category is further divided into several streams.
Human Capital Category
This category enables OINP to nominate candidates who have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to Ontario’s economy and labour market. It is comprised of three Express Entry streams and two international student streams:
- Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
- Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream
- Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream
- Masters Graduate Stream
- PhD Graduate Stream
Employer Job Offer Category
Interested individuals may apply under this category only if they have the support of an Ontario employer who has extended to them a full-time indeterminate job offer.
- Foreign Worker Stream
- International Student Stream
- In-Demand Skills Stream
- Regional Immigration Pilot
Business Category
The Ontario Business Immigration program has one immigration stream directed to applicants with a successful business background.
Ontario Entrepreneur Pilot
Meanwhile, or buy businesses outside the Greater Toronto Area via a new pilot.
The two-year pilot was originally announced in December 2021.
Under the existing Entrepreneur Stream of the OINP, the province aims to help regions hit hard by the pandemic by attracting $20 million in investment.
The Ontario government hopes the pilot will create jobs in sectors including information technology, life sciences and tourism.
Applicants will be nominated for permanent residence once their business has been operating in Ontario for 18 to 20 months.