Overview

The Ontario Workforce Priority stream offers eligible skilled foreign workers with a qualifying job offer and work experience in any National Occupational Classification (NOC) occupation a pathway to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario. The stream is also available to eligible self-employed physicians who do not have a job offer.

If you are a skilled foreign worker who meets the stream requirements, your employer must first initiate the process through the employer portal. You can then register an expression of interest.

If you are invited to apply, you must demonstrate that you possess the attributes outlined in your expression of interest and meet the eligibility criteria set out on this page. Your employer must also seek approval of the employment position by applying through the employer portal.

If your application is approved, you may then apply to the federal government through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. IRCC makes the final decision on who becomes a permanent resident.

Self-employed physician

If you are a self-employed physician, you may apply without having a job offer. Please refer to the requirements under the self-employed physicians section.

Applicant requirements

These requirements apply to you if you’re applying with a job offer under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream.

To qualify for nomination, you must meet all the following requirements:

  • Have an employer who has registered with the program and submitted an application for an approval of your employment position.
  • Receive an invitation to apply and apply within the deadline.
  • Provide documentation to support the scoring factors that you attested to in your expression of interest (EOI) that formed the basis of your invitation to apply.
  • Meet the following stream requirements and provide supporting documentation as outlined in the document checklist:
  • Your employer’s application for an approval of your employment position must be approved for your application for a certificate of nomination to be approved.

There are different requirements depending on the TEER category of your job offer NOC. The TEER category is determined by the second digit of your occupation’s 5-digit NOC. For example, the TEER category for NOC 13102 — Payroll administrators is 3.

Review the requirements below to learn how to meet all stream requirements.  

Please refer to Ontario Regulation 422/17 for more details on each requirement.

1. Expression of interest and invitation to apply

  • You must have received an invitation to apply and applied within the deadline.
  • You must demonstrate that you have the qualifications that you claimed and attested to in your expression of interest.

2. Work experience (or mandatory licence or other authorization)

Your work experience requirement depends on the TEER category of your job offer NOC.

Your job offer employment position means the employment position your employer is seeking approval for and which is set out in your job offer.

Job offer under TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3

If you have a job offer under TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3, you must have one of the following:

  • At least 6 months of consecutive, paid full-time work experience in the job offer employment position, within the 12 months before the date you made your application.
  • If you are a recent Ontario graduate, at least 3 months of consecutive, paid full-time work experience in the job offer employment position within the 12 months before the date you made your application.
  • At least 2 years of cumulative, paid, full-time work experience in the same NOC occupation as the job offer employment position (or in a different position that is permissible if your job offer employment position is in NOC 33102, NOC Sub-Major Group 223 or NOC 33103) within 5 years before the date you made your application, or the equivalent paid, part-time work experience
  • Licence or other authorization required under Ontario or federal law to work in the job offer employment position.
6 months of consecutive work experience in the job offer employment position within the last year

You must have:

  • at least 6 months of consecutive, paid, full-time work experience in the employment position your employer is seeking approval for and which is set out in your job offer
  • gained this experience within the 12 months before the date you submitted your application

Full-time work experience means work experience in the employment position your employer is seeking approval for and which is set out in your job offer (meaning, the same occupation, employer and location, etc.) which must require at least 390 hours of paid work in a 12-month period and at least 30 hours of paid work per week in a 12-month period.

Return to work experience requirements for job offer under TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3.

3 months of consecutive work experience in the job offer within the last year for a recent Ontario graduate

If you are a recent Ontario graduate, meaning that you:

  • graduated from an eligible Ontario institution within the last 3 years with one of the following credentials:
    • post-secondary degree or diploma that took at least 2 years to complete on a full-time basis
    • Ontario College Graduate Certificate
    • Master’s degree
    • PhD degree

You must have:

  • at least 3 months of consecutive, paid, full-time work experience in the employment position your employer is seeking approval for and which is set out in your job offer
  • gained this experience within the 12 months before the date you submitted your application

Full-time work experience means work experience in the employment position your employer is seeking approval for and which is set out in your job offer (meaning, the same occupation, employer and location, etc.), which must require at least 390 hours of paid work in a 12-month period and at least 30 hours of paid work per week in a 12-month period.

Return to work experience requirements for job offer under TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3.

2 years of cumulative work experience in the job offer NOC within the past 5 years

You must have:

  • at least 2 years of cumulative, paid, full-time work experience
  • gained this work experience within the past 5 years before the date you submitted your application

The experience must be in one or more of the following:

  • The same NOC occupation as the job offer employment position.
  • A NOC occupation in Sub-Major Group 213 (Professional occupations in engineering), if you have a job offer for an employment position in a NOC occupation in Sub-Major Group 223 (Technical occupations related to engineering).
  • NOC occupation 31120 (Pharmacists), if you have a job offer for an employment position in NOC occupation 33103 (Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants).
  • NOC occupation 32101 (Licensed Practical Nurses) or 31301 (Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses), if you have a job offer for an employment position in NOC occupation 33102 (Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates).

In short, applicants whose job offer employment position is for a professional occupation in engineering, as a pharmacist, or a licensed practical nurse, can use experience in that occupation, or in one of the listed related NOC occupations, to meet the minimum work experience requirement.

Full-time work experience

Full-time work experience means working in a job with at least 30 hours of paid work in a week that amounts to at least 3,120 hours of paid work over a two-year period.

Part-time work experience

Part-time equivalent work experience means working in:

  • 1 job for at least 15 hours of paid work in a week that amounts to at least 3,120 hours of paid work over a 4-year period
  • more than 1 job for at least 30 hours of paid work in a week, for 2 years, that amounts to at least 3,120 hours of paid work in that 2-year period

Return to work experience requirements for job offer under TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3.

Mandatory licence or other authorization in the job offer employment position

If your job offer is for an employment position that requires a licence or other authorization under Ontario or Canadian law to perform the work, you must hold that valid licence or authorization from the appropriate regulatory body in Ontario or Canada. In that case, subject to the exception below, you do not need to demonstrate work experience in your occupation or job offer employment position.

Return to work experience requirements for job offer under TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3.

Transport truck drivers and Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators 

If your job offer is for a NOC 73300 – Transport truck drivers or NOC 73301 – Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators employment position, you must meet the minimum 6 months of consecutive, paid, work experience requirement set out above, even if you are licensed or a recent Ontario graduate.

Job offer for a TEER category 4 or 5 employment position

If you have a job offer for a TEER category 4 or 5 employment position, you must have:

  • at least 9 months of cumulative, paid, full-time work experience in the employment position your employer is seeking approval for and which is set out in your job offer
  • gained this work experience within 2 years before the date you submitted your application

Full-time work experience means work experience in the employment position your employer is seeking approval for and which is set out in your job offer (meaning, the same occupation, employer and location, etc.) which must require at least 1,170 hours of paid work in a 12-month period and at least 30 hours of paid work per week in a 12-month period.

Notes on calculating work experience

Applicants can only use work experience that was completed by the time of application submission to demonstrate meeting the work experience requirements. Remember that you must also make sure you meet all stream criteria at the time you register your expression of interest. You should not apply if you do not meet all stream criteria.

Cumulative work experience means the work experience you’ve gained must add up to at least the minimum amount over the required period. Breaks in employment over the required period are allowed.

Vacation periods, regular sick leave and other standard paid short term leave entitlements as provided for in collective agreements, workplace legislation and/or individual employer policies will not generally be considered interruptions to full-time employment. Extended leaves will be considered interruptions to full-time employment and should not be included in the calculation of work experience.

Return to list of applicant requirements.

3. Valid licence or other authorization (if required by NOC)

If your job offer is for an employment position that requires a mandatory licence or other authorization under Ontario or Canadian law to perform the work, you must hold a valid licence or authorization from the appropriate regulatory body in Ontario or Canada at the time of application submission, and throughout the nomination period.

Find more information on licences and authorizations in Ontario and Canada at:

Return to list of applicant requirements.

4. Language

Your language requirement depends on the TEER category of your job offer employment position’s NOC.

If required, you must take an approved English or French language test and meet a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level in all four proficiencies before you submit your application.

The test date must be within 2 years prior to the application submission date.

Job offer for a TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 employment position

If you have a job offer employment position for a TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 NOC occupation, you must have one of the following:

  • CLB level 6 or higher in all four proficiencies, if your job offer employment position is not a NOC occupation listed as a skilled trade below
  • CLB level 5 or higher in all four proficiencies, if your job offer employment position is a NOC occupation listed as a skilled trade below
  • proof that you graduated from an eligible Ontario institution within the last 3 years with one of the following credentials:
    • postsecondary degree or diploma that took at least 2 years to complete on a full-time basis
    • Ontario College Graduate Certificate
    • Master’s degree
    • PhD degree

A language test is not required if you hold one of the listed credentials.

Skilled Trades occupations

The following NOCs qualify as a listed skilled trades occupation:

  • Major Group 72 - Technical trades and transportation offices and controllers (excluding occupations under Sub-Major Group 726)
  • Major Group 73 - General trades
  • Major Group 82 - Supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production
  • Major Group 83 - Occupations in natural resources and related production
  • Major Group 93 - Central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors (excluding aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors under Sub-Major Group 932)
  • Minor Group 6320 - Cooks, butchers, bakers
  • Unit Group 62200 - Chefs

Job offer for a TEER category 4 or 5 employment position

If you have a job offer for a TEER category 4 or 5 employment position, you must have a CLB level 4 or higher in all four proficiencies.

Language tests accepted

English tests

For English tests, we accept one of the following:

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) — we only accept the General Training test, not the IELTS Academic or One Skill Retake tests
  • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) — we only accept the General test
    • to authorize the OINP to confirm your test results, you must select “IRCC purposes” as the reason for the test and IRCC as the receiving institution
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core — we only accept the PTE Core test, not the PTE Academic test
French tests

For French tests, we accept:

  • Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF Canada)
  • Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada)

Learn more about the English and French language tests.

Return to list of applicant requirements.

5. Education

Your education requirement depends on the TEER category of your job offer employment position.

Job offer for a TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 employment position

If you have a job offer for a TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 employment position, you must have one of the following:

  • A postsecondary degree or diploma that takes at least one year to complete on a full-time basis from an eligible Canadian institution or its equivalent from an institution in another country, if your job offer employment position NOC is not a listed skilled trade.
    • This means at least one academic year of full-time study (that is at least 15 hours of instruction per week over the academic year — 2 semesters — including any period of training in the workplace as part of your studies. Part-time studies may qualify, if the program is equivalent to at least one full-time academic year)
  • A Canadian secondary school (high school) diploma or its equivalent in another country, if your job offer employment position NOC is a listed skilled trade.
  • If your job offer is for a NOC 33102—Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates employment position, proof that you have obtained an Ontario college certificate that requires at least one year of full-time study from an eligible Canadian institution.
  • Proof that you have a licence or other authorization for the job offer employment position if that position requires a mandatory licence or other authorization under Ontario or Canadian law to perform the work (NOC 73300–transport truck drivers and NOC 73301–bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators not included).

Job offer for a TEER category 4 or 5 employment position

If you have a job offer under TEER category 4 or 5, you must have a Canadian secondary school (high school) diploma or its equivalent in another country.

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report

If you completed your studies outside of Canada, you need to obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report that is less than five years old on the date your application is made that proves your Canadian equivalency.

The assessment must be done by one of the following organizations, designated by IRCC:

Each organization charges a different fee and has different processing times. Please check the website of each ECA organization to choose the one that is best for you.

You must provide the OINP with an electronic copy of the ECA report when you submit your online application. As noted above, the report cannot be more than 5 years old at the time you submit your application.

Learn how to authorize the OINP to confirm your ECA results in the applicant checklist page.

Return to list of applicant requirements.

If you are applying from within Canada, you must have legal status at the time you apply.

This could be a:

  • visitor record
  • study permit
  • work permit

Applicants may not qualify for nomination if they are residing in Canada without valid legal status at the time of nomination.

Maintained status

Maintained status means that you applied to IRCC to renew or extend your temporary status document (a visitor record, work permit, study permit) before its expiry date and are still awaiting the outcome of IRCC’s decision.

You may apply if you are in ‘maintained status’ at the time of your OINP application submission.

You can remain in Canada and continue to work or study under the same conditions as your existing permit until a decision is made on your pending IRCC application.

Return to list of applicant requirements.

7. Intention to live and work in Ontario

You must intend to live and work in Ontario after you’ve been granted permanent residence. We determine this by examining your ties to Ontario, which can include doing things like:

  • working or having worked in Ontario
  • getting job offers, applying to or interviewing for jobs
  • studying
  • volunteering
  • leasing or owning property
  • visiting
  • having professional networks and affiliations, family ties and personal relationships

Return to list of applicant requirements.

Employer requirements

To qualify under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream with a job offer, your employer must meet all the employer and job offer requirements below. The employer must also have their application for an approval of an employment position approved in order for your application for a certificate of nomination to be approved.

This section does not apply to self-employed physicians.

Please refer to section 4 of Ontario Regulation 422/17 and the Employer Guide for more details on each requirement.

Your employer must meet the following requirements:

  • been in active business for at least 3 years prior to submitting the application
  • have a business premises in Ontario where you will work
  • have no outstanding orders made against them under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 or the Occupational Health and Safety Act
  • meet revenue requirements based on the location of your job offer
  • have a minimum number of Canadian citizen or permanent resident full-time employees based on the location of your job offer
  • demonstrate that enough effort was made to recruit a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident prior to offering the position to you (this only applies if you are currently living outside Canada or working outside of Ontario)

Government and government agency jobs

Expressions of interest or applications submitted under the OINP, where the Ontario Public Service (OPS) or an OPS entity is listed as the employer, will not be accepted. This is because the OPS does not currently participate as an employer under the OINP.

All other government employers that are not staffed by OPS employees will be considered as separate legal entities and may be eligible to participate as an employer in the OINP if they meet all employer eligibility criteria.

Employer’s job offer requirements

Your employer’s job offer must:

  • be for a full-time and permanent position in Ontario
  • be urgently necessary to your employer’s business
  • not affect a labour dispute
  • meet the required wage level based on the location of your job offer

Effective date of job offer

If you are already working for the employer in the employment position your employer is seeking to have approved, you must continue to be employed in the employment position until you are nominated and throughout the post-nomination period until your application for permanent residence is granted or refused. If you are not currently working for the employer, the job offer must be effective on the date you obtain a work permit and begin working in the approved employment position.

Your employer must adhere to the terms and conditions in the job offer and begin paying you the approved wage once you are nominated and begin working. Any change to the terms of employment, including job duties, wage, hours, or term, must be reported to the OINP immediately.

Steps to apply with a job offer

If you’re an eligible skilled foreign worker, follow the steps below to apply to this stream if you have a job offer.

There are different steps to apply if you are either:

Applying with a job offer

Step 1: your employer submits a “job offer” for your position

Your employer must start the process by registering their business and providing information about your position by submitting a job offer in the Employer Portal.

After they submit a job offer, you will receive a job offer ID which you must use to register an EOI.

Step 2: register an EOI

Deadline: You must register an EOI within 30 calendar days of your employer submitting the job offer in the Employer Portal.

Step 3: if invited, you and your employer submit your respective applications

Employer deadline: Your employer must submit the application for the approval of an employment position within 14 calendar days of when we issued the invitation to apply.

Your deadlines as the applicant: You must submit your application and pay:

  • within 17 calendar days of when we issued the invitation to apply
  • after your employer submits their application for approval of the employment position (you can work on your application any time during the 17 days, but cannot submit it until after your employer submits the application for approval of an employment position)

Follow these steps to apply:

  1. Review the document checklist and prepare the documents you’ll need to apply.
  2. Click the “Submit an application” button below.
  3. Log in with your Ontario.ca Login as a returning user.
  4. From your My Applications page, click on the file number link to begin your application.

Please note your application file number is different than your EOI file number.

Using a representative

If you are using a representative, or you are a representative, the submission process is different. Learn more about how to appoint a representative or register as one.

Applications submitted by self-appointed representatives are invalid and will be withdrawn by the OINP. Your application will be returned as incomplete and your application fee will be refunded.

Self-employed professionals

Self-employed professionals or those with other contractual service arrangements where there is no legal employer-employee relationship are not eligible to apply under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream, with the exception of self-employed physicians.

Self-employed physicians may be eligible to apply to the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. Refer to the requirements for self-employed physicians to determine if you are eligible.

Steps to apply as a self-employed physician

If you are a self-employed physician, you are eligible to apply under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream if you meet both of the following requirements:

  • you are eligible to receive payment for publicly funded health services in accordance with the Health Insurance Act, 1990, meaning you have an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) billing number
  • you hold a certificate in one of the following classes and are a member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario:
    • certificates of registration authorizing independent practice
    • certificates of registration authorizing academic practice
    • provisional certificates of registration

If you meet these requirements, you do not need to meet the other applicant requirements listed on this page and the employer requirements do not apply. 

If you hold a postgraduate education licence, you are not eligible to apply as a self-employed physician but may be eligible to apply to the Ontario Workforce Priority stream if you have a job offer from an Ontario employer.

Contact us to begin the process of registering an EOI.

If invited, you must submit your application and pay within 17 calendar days from the date we issued the invitation to apply.

If you apply as a self-employed physician you have the option to be nominated through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Express Entry system.

Scoring factors

Once you register an EOI under this stream, you will be assigned points based on the following factors.

If you are invited to apply, you will be required to submit specific documents to support each scoring factor that you claimed and you had and received points for. Scoring factors are not the same as stream criteria. You must meet all criteria for this stream and provide the mandatory documents with your application.

Refer to the document checklist for the Ontario Workforce Priority stream.

Employment / labour market factors

NOC TEER category 

This is prepopulated in the EOI if applying with a job offer or if you are applying as a self-employed physician.

  • NOC TEER 0 or 1 — 9 points
  • NOC TEER 2 or 3 — 6 points
  • NOC TEER 4 — 0 points
  • NOC TEER 5 — 0 points

NOC broad occupational category

This is prepopulated in the EOI if applying with a job offer or if you are applying as a self-employed physician.

  • Occupational Category 3 — 10 points
  • Occupational Category 7 — 8 points
  • Occupational Category 2 — 6 points
  • Occupational Category 0, 1, 4, 8, 9 — 4 points
  • Occupational Category 5, 6 — 2 points

Hourly wage 

This is prepopulated in the EOI if applying with a job offer. For self-employed physicians, the hourly wage scoring factor is not applicable.

  • $40 per hour or higher — 15 points
  • $35 to $39.99 per hour — 12 points
  • $30 to $34.99 per hour — 10 points
  • $25 to $29.99 per hour — 8 points
  • $20 to $24.99 per hour — 5 points
  • Less than $20 per hour — 0 points

Ontario work experience

Job offer applicants

  • Over 24 months working in job offer position — 18 points
  • 13 to 24 months working in job offer position — 15 points
  • 6 to 12 months working in job offer position — 12 points
  • Less than 6 months working in job offer position or not currently working in position — 0 points

If the applicant has less than 6 months work experience in the job offer position, the scoring is as follows:

  • Over 24 months working in Ontario — 12 points
  • 13 to 24 months working in Ontario — 9 points
  • 6 to 12 months working in Ontario — 6 points
  • Less than 6 months working in Ontario or not currently working in Ontario — 0 points

Ontario work experience

Self-employed physicians

  • Over 24 months (2 years or more) cumulative medical practice in Ontario — 18 points  
  • 13 months up to 24 months cumulative medical practice in Ontario — 15 points 
  • 6 months up to 12 months cumulative medical practice in Ontario — 12 points 
  • Less than 6 months cumulative medical practice in Ontario — 0 points 

Canadian work experience: earnings history

Based on a Notice of Assessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency in the last 5 years.

  • $70k or more earnings in a year — 8 points
  • $50k to $69,999 — 6 points
  • $30k to $49,999 — 4 points
  • Under $30k earnings in a year — 0 points

Legal status in Canada

The work or study permit must confer legal status.

  • With valid work permit — 10 points
  • With valid study permit — 5 points
  • Without valid work or study permit — 0 points

Education

Highest level of education

Canadian credential or ECA required.

  • Doctorate or degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry — 10 points
  • Masters degree — 8 points
  • University certificate or diploma above a bachelor level — 6 points
  • Bachelors degree or equivalent — 6 points
  • Ontario College Graduate Certificate — 5 points
  • University certificate or diploma below a bachelor level — 5 points
  • College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma that is not an Ontario College Graduate Certificate — 5 points
  • Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma — 5 points
  • Less than college or trade certificate — 0 points

Number of Canadian education credentials

Credential must be a post-secondary education credential from an eligible Canadian institution that takes at least one year to complete on a full-time basis.

  • More than one Canadian credential — 10 points
  • One Canadian credential — 5 points
  • No Canadian credential — 0 points

Language

Official language ability (English or French)

You must take an approved English or French language test, and you will receive points based on your lowest CLB level across the 4 language areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking).

If you have taken both an English and French test, you will receive points based on the test with the higher CLB level. We do not accept Academic or One Skill Retake tests.

  • CLB 9 or higher — 15 points
  • CLB 8 — 12 points
  • CLB 7 — 8 points
  • CLB 6 — 4 points
  • CLB 5 or lower — 0 points

Knowledge of official languages

To receive points for 2 official languages, you must have at least CLB 6 across the 4 language areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking) for both tests. 

  • 2 official languages — 10 points
  • 1 official language — 5 points

Regionalization

Regional immigration: location of work location in job offer

For EOI registrations with a job offer, regional immigration will be determined based on the location of the work location in the job offer entered by the employer.

For self-employed physicians, regional immigration will be determined based on your Ontario practice address per your OHIP billing number registration.

  • Northern Ontario — 15 points
  • Eastern Ontario — 10 points
  • Central Ontario outside GTA — 10 points
  • Southwestern Ontario — 10 points
  • Inside GTA (except Toronto) — 5 points
  • Toronto — 0 points

For regionalization scoring factors, the regions are defined as follows:

  • Northern Ontario — includes the following Census Divisions: Muskoka, Haliburton, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Manitoulin, Sudbury, Greater Sudbury/Grand Sudbury, Timiskaming, Cochrane, Algoma, Thunder Bay, Rainy River and Kenora
  • Eastern Ontario — includes the following Census Divisions: Frontenac, Hastings, Kawartha Lakes, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Lennox and Addington, Northumberland, Ottawa, Peterborough, Prescott and Russell, Prince Edward, Renfrew, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
  • Central Ontario (excluding Greater Toronto Area) — includes the following Census Divisions: Dufferin, Grey, Simcoe, Waterloo and Wellington
  • Southwestern Ontario — includes the following Census Divisions: Brant, Bruce, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Essex, Haldimand-Norfolk, Hamilton, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Oxford and Perth
  • Inside Greater Toronto Area (except Toronto) — includes the regional municipalities of Durham, Halton, Peel and York
  • Toronto — includes the City of Toronto

Eligible Ontario and Canadian institutions

Eligible Ontario institutions

Colleges

  • Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • Centennial College
  • Collège Boréal
  • Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
  • Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • Fleming College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • George Brown Polytechnic
  • Georgian College
  • Humber Polytechnic
  • La Cité collégiale
  • Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • Michener Institute of Education at UHN
  • Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • Royal Military College of Canada
  • Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • Seneca Polytechnic
  • Sheridan College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • St. Lawrence College of Applied Arts and Technology

Universities

  • Algoma University
  • Brock University
  • Carleton University
  • Lakehead University
  • Laurentian University
  • McMaster University
  • Nipissing University
  • Ontario College of Art and Design University
  • Queen’s University
  • Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)
  • Trent University
  • Université de l’Ontario français
  • University of Guelph
  • Université de Hearst
  • University of Ontario Institute of Technology
  • University of Ottawa
  • University of Sudbury
  • University of Toronto
  • University of Waterloo
  • University of Windsor
  • Western University
  • Wilfrid Laurier University
  • York University

Indigenous Institutes

  • Six Nations Polytechnic

Eligible Canadian institutions

Alberta

Colleges
  • Bow Valley College
  • Keyano College
  • Lakeland College
  • Lethbridge College
  • Medicine Hat College
  • NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology)
  • NorQuest College
  • Northern Lakes College
  • Olds College
  • Portage College
  • Red Deer College
  • SAIT - Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Universities
  • Athabasca University
  • MacEwen University
  • Mount Royal University
  • University of Alberta
  • University of Calgary
  • University of Lethbridge

British Columbia

Colleges
  • British Columbia Institute of Technology
  • Camosun College
  • College of New Caledonia
  • College of the Rockies
  • Douglas College
  • Justice Institute of British Columbia
  • Langara College
  • Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
  • North Island College
  • Northern Lights College
  • Okanagan College
  • Selkirk College - Castelgar Campus
  • Vancouver Community College
Universities
  • Capilano University
  • Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University
  • Royal Roads University
  • Simon Fraser University
  • Thompson Rivers University
  • University of British Columbia
  • University of Northern British Columbia
  • University of the Fraser Valley
  • University of Victoria
  • Vancouver Island University

Manitoba

Colleges
  • Assiniboine Community College
  • Red River Polytechnic
  • Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology
Universities
  • Brandon University
  • University of Winnipeg
  • Université de Saint-Boniface
  • University College of the North
  • University of Manitoba

New Brunswick

Colleges
  • Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick
  • Maritime College of Forest Technology
  • New Brunswick College of Craft and Design
  • New Brunswick Community College
Universities
  • Mount Allison University
  • St. Thomas University
  • Université de Moncton
  • University of New Brunswick

Newfoundland and Labrador

Colleges
  • Centre for Nursing Studies
  • College of the North Atlantic
  • Western Regional School of Nursing
Universities
  • Memorial University of Newfoundland

Northwest Territories

Colleges
  • Aurora College

Nova Scotia

Colleges
  • Nova Scotia Community College
Universities
  • Acadia University
  • Atlantic School of Theology
  • Cape Breton University
  • Dalhousie University
  • Mount Saint Vincent University
  • Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD University)
  • Saint Mary’s University
  • St. Francis Xavier University
  • Université Sainte-Anne
  • University of King’s College (Associated with Dalhousie University)

Prince Edward Island

Colleges
  • Collège de l'île
  • Holland College
Universities
  • University of Prince Edward Island

Quebec

Colleges
  • Cégep André-Laurendeau
  • Cégep Beauce-Appalaches
  • Cégep d'Ahuntsic
  • Cégep de Baie-Comeau
  • Cégep de Bois-de-Boulogne
  • Cégep de Chicoutimi
  • Cégep de Drummondville
  • Cégep de Granby Haute-Yamaska
  • Cégep de Jonquière
  • Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue
  • Cégep de l’Outaouais
  • Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles
  • Cégep de la Pocatière
  • Cégep de Lévis-Lauzon
  • Cégep de Maisonneuve
  • Cégep de Matane
  • Cégep de Rimouski
  • Cégep de Rivière-du-Loup
  • Cégep de Rosemont
  • Cégep de Saint-Félicien
  • Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe
  • Cégep de Saint-Jérôme
  • Cégep de Saint-Laurent
  • Cégep de Sainte-Foy
  • Cégep de Sept-Îles
  • Cégep de Sherbrooke
  • Cégep de Sorel-Tracy
  • Cégep de Thetford
  • Cégep de Trois-Rivières
  • Cégep de Valleyfield
  • Cégep de Victoriaville
  • Cégep du Vieux Montréal
  • Cégep Edouard-Montpetit
  • Cégep Francois-Xavier Garneau
  • Cégep Gérald-Godin
  • Cégep John Abbott
  • Cégep Lionel-Groulx
  • Cégep Marie-Victorin
  • Cégep Montmorency
  • Cégep Limoilou
  • Cégep régional de Lanaudière
  • Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
  • Cégep Vanier
  • Centre régional de formation à distance du Grand-Montréal
  • Collège Ahuntsic
  • Collège d'Alma
  • Collège Dawson
  • Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne
  • Collège de Maisonneuve
  • Collège de Matane
  • Collège de Rosemont
  • Collège de Valleyfield
  • Collège Gérald-Godin
  • Collège Héritage
  • Collège Montmorency
  • Collège régional Champlain
  • Collège Vanier
  • Centre de formation professionnelle EXPÉ - secteur des Sources
Universities
  • Bishop’s University
  • Concordia University
  • École de technologie supérieure (Université du Québec)
  • École nationale d’administration publique (Université du Québec)
  • École Polytechnique de Montréal (affiliated with Université du Montréal)
  • École des Hautes Études Commerciales de Montréal
  • HEC Montréal (affiliated with Université du Montréal)
  • Institut national de la recherche scientifique (Université du Québec)
  • McGill University
  • Télé-Université (TÉLUQ)
  • Université de Montréal
  • Université de Sherbrooke
  • Université du Québec
  • Université Laval

Saskatchewan

Colleges
  • Great Plains College
  • North West Regional College
  • Saskatchewan Polytechnic
  • Southeast College
Universities
  • Campion College (Federated with the University of Regina)
  • First Nations University of Canada
  • Luther College (Federated with the University of Regina)
  • St. Thomas More College (Federated with the University of Saskatchewan)
  • University of Regina
  • University of Saskatchewan

Yukon

Colleges
  • Yukon University

If you are nominated

Review your next steps after nomination.

If your application is successful, you will receive the following by email:

  • a nomination approval letter
  • a nomination certificate
  • a work permit support letter (if applicable)

Once you have the necessary documentation, you must apply to IRCC for permanent residence within 6 months.

Express Entry

If you applied based on a TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation (job offer and self-employed physician applicants included) and indicated in your application that you would like to be nominated through the IRCC Express Entry system, you must ensure that you meet the minimum eligibility criteria of a federal Express Entry stream and maintain a valid profile in the Express Entry system throughout the application period. If you no longer wish to be considered for nomination through the Express Entry system or if there are any changes to your Express Entry profile number, you must notify the OINP immediately in writing prior to nomination.

If you choose this option and are approved, we will enter the details of your nomination into the IRCC Express Entry system. You will then receive a notification of your nomination through your IRCC online account. If you choose this option and let your Express Entry profile expire or lapse after nomination, you will need to start the OINP application process again — this includes creating an EOI and waiting to be invited to apply.

You have 30 calendar days to accept or refuse the nomination in the Express Entry system.

If you accept, you will receive an additional 600 points for being nominated, which means you will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence from IRCC in the next round of invitations.

You then have 60 calendar days to submit your application to IRCC for permanent residence.

Nomination conditions and post-nomination follow-ups

A nomination from the OINP is subject to conditions and/or restrictions during the nomination period (that is, until your permanent residence application is approved or refused). The conditions and/or restrictions are stated in your nomination approval letter, and your nomination may be cancelled if any of the conditions are not met.

If you are nominated based on an approved employment position, that employer approval and its employment position form the basis of your nomination. The OINP is unable to change an approved employment position after you are nominated.

If after you are nominated, your employment in the approved employment position is terminated by your employer or by you and your approval is cancelled, if you wish to pursue permanent residence under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream, you will need to submit a new EOI.

The OINP undertakes post-nomination follow-ups with nominees to confirm that conditions of nomination are met. Follow-ups are completed by the OINP’s Post-Nomination Verification Unit (oinp.verification@ontario.ca). If you or your employer are not meeting approval conditions, the OINP is authorized to cancel the approvals, including your nomination.

Learn how to apply for a work permit and permanent residence.

Disclaimer

The OINP is governed by the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 (Act) and its regulations. In the event of any inconsistency between the Act and its regulations and this page, the Act and its regulations take precedence. 

Contact us

Ask us a question via webform or by phone from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at: