2009-2014 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Updates
Get information about OINP news and announcements.
December 2014
December 29, 2014
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has updated its minimum language requirements for International Students: Masters Graduate Stream for the 2015 nomination year.
Previously, applicants under the International Students: Masters Graduate Stream were required to demonstrate language proficiency in English with a minimum overall score of 7 or higher in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Test, or in French with a minimum overall score of 5 or higher in the Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF).
New Requirements
Effective February 1st, 2015 for the 2015 nomination year, International Masters Graduates will be required to demonstrate official language proficiency equivalent to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for each language competency (i.e. listening, reading, writing and speaking).
Applicants will be required to have the following minimum scores in each of the language competency:
- Listening: IELTS 6 or TEF 249-279
- Reading: IELTS 6 or TEF 207-232
- Writing: IELTS 6 or TEF 310-348
- Speaking: IELTS 6 or TEF 310-348
This new scoring methodology offers a fairer and more transparent process for applicants.
Note that IELTS or TEF tests will still need to be taken within 12 months of application submission.
Frequently Asked Question
What if I already submitted my application?
Applications received by Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program prior to February 1st, 2015 will be assessed using the previous minimum language requirements. Applications received after this date will be assessed using the new requirements. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their application is received by January 30th, 2015 if they are applying under the previous minimum language requirements.
Updated Application Guides and Forms to come. Please continue to check this website for updates.
October 2014
October 31, 2014
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has met its 2014 target of 2,500 nominations. Applicants can still submit their applications under all streams. However, because the nomination target has been reached, Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is unable to issue nominations for the remainder of 2014.
Nominee applications that have been received but have not been finalized in 2014 will automatically be placed in priority for finalization in 2015. Any application received after October 31, 2014 will be assessed as part of the 2015 nomination target.
Annual provincial nomination targets are determined by the Federal Government, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
Please continue to check this website for updates.
August 2014
August 1, 2014
Effective August 1, 2014, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is changing the definition of a dependent child for immigration programs (including the Provincial Nominee Program class). Children will be considered a dependent if they are under the age of 19. No exceptions will be made for children who are full-time students.
In all cases, a child with a mental or physical condition will continue to be considered a dependant, regardless of age, if they depend on their parents for financial support.
All permanent resident applications received by CIC and all PNP applications received by the province before August 1, 2014 will continue to benefit from the pre-amendment definition of dependent child. Please note that a complete application has to be received before August 1, 2014. Applications postmarked on July 31, 2014 or earlier, but not received until August 1, 2014 or later will be subject to the new definition.
In addition, as of August 1, 2014, a child’s age will be recorded as when the application is first submitted to the province. If they are eligible at this time, they will remain eligible throughout the application process.
For example:
Step 1: An applicant with a child aged 18 applies to The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Step 2: The applicant is assessed and nominated by the province for permanent residence (PR).
Step 3: The applicant consequently gathers required documents and submits his/her PR application to CIC, but their child is now over 19 years old. CIC would accept the age of the child on the date of the PNP application (locked in date).
More information on the impact of the change to the definition of dependent child is available on CIC's website as of August 1, 2014.
July 2013
July 23, 2013
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program recently updated some of its applications forms. Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is moving towards having all of its application forms in a PDF format. This move will eliminate confusion by having one single format for all program forms and ease client experience, as the PDF forms are now in a saveable format. Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program will no longer accept application forms in a Microsoft Word format.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is taking a phased approach to updating its forms. As part of first phase, the following forms have been updated to a saveable PDF format:
- Employer Pre-Screen Application
- Pre-Screen Application for Previously Approved Employers
- Nominee Application for International Graduates (PhD and Masters)
- Nominee Application with Job Offer
Please note that there are no changes to program criteria or documentation. However, Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program updated employer forms to:
- Clarify requirements around local recruitment efforts, and
- Ask employers to identify their sector of activity using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
To view and download the updated forms, please visit the forms and guides page of Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program will continue to accept old forms until the end of August 2013. Beginning September 1, 2013 applicants are required to submit the new forms, otherwise forms may be returned to the sender.
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
June 2013
June 20, 2013
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has successfully met its 2012 target of 1,100 nominations.
The nominations target for 2013 is 1,300 for all streams of the program. Please visit our website for any updates.
Annual provincial nomination targets are determined by the federal government, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
November 2012
November 23, 2012
As of November 5, 2012, Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is able to issue support letters for open work permits for skilled workers nominated by the program under the Federal Skilled Workers Backlog Reduction Pilot (FSW Pilot).
The support letters for open work permits will be issued to all nominees nominated under the FSW Pilot. The letters will allow FSW Pilot nominees to apply for an Ontario specific open work permit with a validity of up to two years. The open work permit will allow FSW Pilot nominees to come to Ontario faster and start working in the province before they receive their Permanent Resident status.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program will make this letter of support available to all FSW Pilot nominees and will be mailing packages in the next two months.
To view Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Operational Bulletin, please visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2012/ob470.asp.
July 2012
July 23, 2012
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is now able to issue support letters for open work permits for international students nominated by the program under the PhD or Masters graduates without job offer streams.
The support letters for open work permits will be issued to provide assistance to certain graduates who require a means of maintaining or establishing status in Canada while they transition to Permanent Residence (PR) in Ontario. An open work permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) would provide a bridge from student to worker for those nominees whose temporary authorization to remain in Canada following graduation would expire between the province’s nomination and the anticipated finalization of the student’s PR application. Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program will use its R204(c) authority under the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement and its Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Annex to facilitate the issuance of open work permits.
International students are expected to apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) to obtain temporary authorization to remain in Ontario. Only when PGWP avenue does not provide sufficient authorization to bridge an international student nominee to PR will Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program issue an open work permit.
To view Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Operational Bulletin on Ontario’s new authority please visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2012/ob406.asp.
May 2012
May 3, 2012
Please note that Ontario extended the deadline to apply to the Federal Skilled Worker Backlog Reduction Pilot (FSW Pilot) from May 4, 2012 to May 31, 2012.
March 2012
March 29, 2012
To get more skilled workers into Ontario faster, the province is working with the federal government to help reduce the backlog under the Federal Skilled Workers Program through the FSW Backlog Reduction Pilot (FSW Pilot).
Ontario is assisting with this backlog by nominating up to 600 additional foreign workers this year (2012). This is a separate component to the existing Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) (Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program). Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s nominations cap of 1,000 for 2012 will remain for the other parts of the program.
CIC has issued letters to all potential applicants, inviting them to apply to Ontario’s FSW Pilot. Please note that only individuals who received this letter may apply to Ontario’s FSW Pilot. Applicants will have until May 4, 2012, to submit an application to Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.
December 2011
December 1, 2011
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has changed how it processes permanent residence applications submitted by provincial nominees.
Effective December 1, 2011, all provincial nominees must submit their permanent residence applications to CIC's Centralized Intake Office (CIO) in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
To allow for a transition period, CIC will continue to accept applications at visa offices until March 31, 2012. After March 31, 2012 Ontario nominees must submit their permanent residence applications to CIO in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has updated the approval package we send to provincial nominees, as of December 1st, to reflect the changes to CIC's processes.
For more details on this new federal government process Ontario’s provincial nominees can visit CIC’s website. Provincial Nominees should always consult the federal government’s website for the latest updates with regards to permanent residence application process.
June 2011
June 30, 2011
As a result of changes made by the federal government, as of June 30, 2011, the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) is the regulator of immigration consultants. Immigration consultants in good standing with the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) on June 30, 2011, can begin to register with the ICCRC. As a transitional measure, CSIC members have a 120 days’ grace period ending on October 28, 2011 within which to register with the new governing body. (Source: Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council)
To reflect the federal government’s transitional measures, between June 30, 2011 and October 28, 2011 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program will be accepting applications from persons represented by CSIC members in good standing or, transitional or full members of ICCRC. (Please note that Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program will accept CSIC members in transition, who are not in good standing with CSIC due to non-payment of fees.)
After October 28, 2011, Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program will only accept applications from persons represented by members in good standing of the ICCRC.
May 2011
May 27, 2011
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has updated application forms, which gather additional information that is most commonly requested during processing of the application and will therefore improve processing.
- Form 149 - Employer Pre-Screen Application Form
- Form 152 - Joint Verification Form
- Form 178 - Pre-Screen Application Form for Previously Approved Employers
- Form 179 - Nominee Application Form Foreign Workers and International Students with a Job Offer
- Form 196 - Nominee Application for International Graduates (PhD and Masters)
Please read the guide or information sheet carefully as it contains important information on how to complete the new forms.
Effective June 2, 2011, only the new version of the application forms will be accepted by Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). Submissions received after this date, using the old forms, will be returned with a request to re-submit with the new forms. To ensure you have the most recent application forms, visit the Forms & Guides page.
September 2010
September 14, 2010
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is expanding to allow international students graduating from Masters programs in Ontario to apply for permanent residence without a job offer.
As part of the Open Ontario Plan to create new opportunities for jobs and growth, the province is increasing the number of international students by 50 per cent while maintaining spaces for Ontario students.
August 2010
August 4, 2010
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has provided additional information on what is acceptable Canadian work experience.
June 2010
June 14, 2010
International students who have graduated from a publicly funded Ontario university with a Masters degree can now apply to the program without a job offer as part of Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s new pilot.
International students who have graduated from a publicly funded Ontario university with a Masters degree may now qualify without a job offer from an Ontario employer under the Pilot International Masters Graduate Stream. Interested graduates need to submit a Nominee Application Form for International Graduates (PhD and Masters) directly to the program. For more information, please visit the International Students section of the website.
April 2010
April 21, 2010
International PhD graduates who have graduated from a publicly funded Ontario university can now apply to the program without a job offer.
International PhD graduates who have graduated from a publicly funded Ontario university may now qualify without a job offer from an Ontario employer under the International PhD Graduates Stream. Interested PhD graduates need to submit a Nominee Application Form for International PhD Graduates directly to the program.
April 15, 2010
Are you an international student? Interested in updates on the program? Want to connect with others interested in Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program? You can now learn more about the program on our Facebook page.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has launched its own Facebook page designed specifically for international students who are interested in learning more about how to qualify for the program. Students can visit often to learn about the latest updates and also post questions they may have.
July 2009
July 20, 2009
The Nominee Application Form is now available on this website.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has made it easier for prospective nominees to apply to the program. Prospective nominees can now complete the Nominee Application Form electronically before printing and submitting the completed form to Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. Please consult the Nominee Application Guide for detailed instructions on how to complete the Nominee Application Form.
Only individuals who have been issued a valid pre-screen file number are eligible to use this form. Nominee Application Forms from individuals without pre-approved Ontario employers will be returned. No record will be kept of the submission. Individuals found using this form fraudulently may be disqualified from future participation in any immigration program with the Government of Ontario.
For prospective nominees without Internet access or experiencing technical problems, please contact us for assistance or to request a Nominee Application Form to be sent by mail. Prospective nominees can contact Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program at 1-866-214-6820 (toll free in North America) or by e-mail at Opportunities.Ontario@ontario.ca.
July 8, 2009
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program brochures are now available.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program brochures for employers, foreign workers, international students and investors as well as a general brochure explaining the program are now available on this website.
June 2009
June 17, 2009
The Investment Referral Form is now available on this website.
The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI) is the first point of contact and referral for investors interested in using the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). By completing this Investment Referral Form, prospective investors will assist MCI to determine the most appropriate ministry to assess the investment proposal. After completing this Referral Form, prospective investors may send it to Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program electronically at Opportunities.Ontario@ontario.ca.
February 2009
February 20, 2009
The Ontario Pilot Provincial Nominee Program became Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) (Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program) on February 20, 2009.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program can nominate up to a maximum of 1,000 newcomers in 2009, many of whom are expected to be accompanied by their immediate family members. All prospective nominees must have full-time permanent job offers from pre-approved employers in a NOC 0, A or B occupation in order to be eligible.
Applications are processed on a first-come-first-served basis subject to the program criteria. Employers should apply early, as the number of potential nominations is limited.