Overview

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) allows foreign nationals with the right skills, experience and education to apply for a nomination for permanent residence in Ontario.

You can submit an application to the OINP on your own or appoint a paid representative to do so on your behalf. By law only certain professionals may act as paid representatives.

You may get free help or advice from any other individual, but this must be disclosed in your online application.

Authorizing a representative to assist you can be helpful but is not necessary.

If you are an applicant or an employer and choose to use an authorized representative, please follow the appropriate steps on how to appoint one. This will ensure you retain access to, and control of, your online application and allow you to change or end your authorization if you need to.

Who can be an authorized representative

Authorized representatives are regulated under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 and must be:

No one else is legally allowed to charge you or receive any other type of payment to be your authorized representative.

If you have any questions concerning whether or not a lawyer who is a member of another Canadian provincial or territorial law society is authorized to practice law in Ontario, please contact the Law Society of Ontario.

Applicants

In this section, applicants can learn:

Protect your registration by creating your own profile using your personal email address and phone number

Authorized representatives are not allowed to appoint themselves. This means that you must appoint your authorized representative to act on your behalf using your own OINP profile in the e-Filing system.

You must create your profile using your personal email address and phone number. Authorized representatives are not allowed to:

  • create a My Ontario account for you
  • use any other email address for your profile or create one themselves for the purpose of a registration with the OINP

Registrations in the expression of interest system that were created by self-appointed authorized representatives are invalid and will be withdrawn by the OINP. This means that your registration will be withdrawn if it is determined that you either:

  • did not create your My Ontario account
  • did not authorize your representative correctly

In this case, your application will be returned as incomplete and your application fee will be refunded.

The OINP does not manage My Ontario accounts and we cannot help you if you lose access to your account. To keep access to and control of your account, never share your My Ontario password with anyone, including your representative.

Follow the instructions below to correctly appoint your authorized representative.

How to appoint an authorized representative to register your expression of interest

Under the Masters and PhD streams

Step 1: authorized representative registers an expression of interest

Your authorized representative needs to create their own profile in the portal if they don’t already have one.

To register an expression of interest on your behalf, your authorized representative needs your:

  • first and last name as it appears on your passport, travel or identity document
  • date of birth
  • personal telephone number
  • personal email address
  • country of residence
  • passport number

Authorized representatives are not allowed to use any other email address to register your expression of interest, including their own email or an email they create to register with the OINP. Using your own email means you will receive all registration emails directly and are able to control your profile.

Step 2: applicant receives PIN and enrolment emails

Once your expression of interest has been submitted, you will receive two emails:

  1. the first email will include your enrolment number
  2. the second email will include your PIN number

Please note that you have 48 hours to register for a My Ontario account using the PIN and enrollment numbers before they expire.

Step 3: applicant creates a My Ontario account

Click on the link in the first email to register a My Ontario account as follows:

  • select Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) from the list of services
  • input the PIN and enrolment numbers

Your authorized representative is not allowed to create your My Ontario account for you. If you already have a ONe-key account you may sign in with it.

Step 4: applicant appoints their authorized representative

Go to the OINP e-Filing Portal and click on the row containing your file number. Once the ‘My Representative’ box appears, click on ‘Appoint’.

Once you have appointed your authorized representative, your expression of interest will be entered in the selection pool.

If you have already registered an expression of interest, please follow the instructions listed under If you are already registered in the OINP e-Filing Portal to appoint your authorized representative.

Under the International Student, In-Demand Skills and Foreign Worker streams

New OINP users
Step 1: applicant receives PIN and enrolment emails

If you have never registered a profile in the OINP e-Filing Portal, you will need to activate your account using PIN and enrolment emails.

Once your employer submits your job offer, you will receive two emails:

  1. the first email will include your job offer ID and your enrolment number
  2. the second email will include your PIN number

Please note that you have 48 hours to register for a My Ontario account using the PIN and enrollment numbers before they expire.

Step 2: applicant creates a My Ontario account

Click on the link in the first email to register a My Ontario account as follows:

  • select Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) from the list of services
  • input the PIN and enrolment numbers

Your authorized representative is not allowed to create your My Ontario account for you. If you already have a ONe-key account you may sign in with it.

Step 3: authorized representative registers an expression of interest

Your authorized representative needs to create their own profile in the portal if they don’t already have one.

To register an expression of interest on your behalf, your authorized representative needs the following personal information:

  • first and last name as it appears on your passport, travel or identity document
  • date of birth
  • personal telephone number
  • personal email address
  • country of residence
  • passport number

You will also need to share your job offer ID with your authorized representative in order for them to register an expression of interest on your behalf. Your authorized representative will have 30 calendar days to register an expression of interest using the job offer ID number before it expires.

Authorized representatives are not allowed to use any other email address to register your expression of interest, including their own email or an email they create to register with the OINP. Using your own email means you will receive all registration emails directly and are able to control your profile.

Step 4: applicant appoints their authorized representative

Go to the OINP e-Filing Portal and click on the row containing your file number. Once the ‘My Representative’ box appears, click on ‘Appoint’.

Once you have appointed your authorized representative, your expression of interest will be entered in the selection pool.

Returning OINP users
Step 1: authorized representative registers an expression of interest

Your authorized representative needs to create their own profile in the OINP e-Filing Portal if they don’t already have one.

To register an expression of interest on your behalf, your authorized representative needs the following personal information:

  • first and last name as it appears on your passport, travel or identity document
  • date of birth
  • personal telephone number
  • personal email address
  • country of residence
  • passport number

You will need to share your job offer ID with your authorized representative in order for them to register an expression of interest on your behalf. You will receive a unique job offer ID via email once your employer has submitted a job offer for your position. Your authorized representative will have 30 calendar days to register an expression of interest using the job offer ID number before it expires.

Authorized representatives are not allowed to use any other email address to register your expression of interest, including their own email or an email they create to register with the OINP. Using your own email means you will receive all registration emails directly and are able to control your profile.

Step 2: applicant appoints their authorized representative

Go to the OINP e-Filing Portal and click on the row containing your file number. Once the ‘My Representative’ box appears, click on ‘Appoint’.

Once you have appointed your authorized representative, your expression of interest will be entered in the selection pool.

How to appoint an authorized representative to submit your Express Entry application

Step 1: authorized representative registers applicant’s profile

Your authorized representative needs to create their own profile in the portal if they don’t already have one.

To submit a registration on your behalf, your authorized representative needs your:

  • first and last name as it appears on your passport, travel or identity document
  • date of birth
  • personal telephone number
  • personal email address
  • country of residence

Authorized representatives are not allowed to use any other email address to submit your application, including their own email or an email they create to register with the OINP. Using your own email means you will receive all registration emails directly and are able to control your profile.

Step 2: applicant receives PIN and enrolment emails

Once you and your authorized representative both have profiles in the portal, you will receive two emails:

  1. the first email will include your enrolment number
  2. the second email will include your PIN number

Step 3: applicant creates a My Ontario account

Click the link in the first email to register a My Ontario account as follows:

  1. Select Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) from the list of services.
  2. Input your PIN and enrolment numbers.

Your authorized representative is not allowed to create your My Ontario account for you. If you already have a My Ontario account you may sign in with it.

Step 4: applicant appoints their authorized representative

Go to the OINP e-Filing Portal and click on the row containing your file number. Once the ‘My Representative’ box appears, click on ‘Appoint’.

Step 5: authorized representative submits application on behalf of applicant

Your authorized representative can now log in to their account and submit an application on your behalf.

How to appoint an authorized representative if you have registered an expression of interest or have an Express Entry application in progress

Step 1: authorized representative enters applicant’s file number and email address in the OINP e-Filing Portal

Give your authorized representative the following information:

  • your file number
  • first and last name as it appears on your passport, travel or identity document
  • your email address

If your authorized representative does not have their own profile in the OINP e-Filing Portal, they must create one. Once that’s done, your authorized representative should:

  1. Log into the OINP e-Filing Portal.
  2. Click on ‘Add an existing application’.
  3. Enter your file number and email address.

Step 2: applicant receives representative authorization email

Once your application has been added, you will receive an email asking you to log into your account to authorize the representative.

Step 3: applicant appoints their authorized representative

Go to the OINP e-Filing Portal and click on the row containing your file number. Once the ‘My Representative’ box appears, click on ‘Appoint’.

Important:  Authorized representatives are not allowed to self-appoint. You must appoint your authorized representative from your own profile. Never share your password with your authorized representative or any other individual.

How to cancel an authorized representative

If you want to cancel your authorized representative:

  1. Log into your account in the OINP e-Filing Portal.
  2. Click on the row containing your file number.
  3. Once the ‘My Representative’ box appears, select ‘Cancel’.

Once you’ve cancelled your authorized representative, they will no longer be authorized to conduct any business on your behalf or access your information.

Getting assistance from authorized representatives and other individuals

Assistance from authorized representatives

If you get help from an authorized representative, but you do not appoint them as your authorized representative, you must disclose this in your online application.

Important:

  • If you don’t disclose that you received assistance from an authorized representative, we may return your application as incomplete.
  • Remember, authorized representatives must register an account and get appointed by you before they can submit an application on your behalf.
  • Authorized representatives cannot use an email address belonging to, or created by themselves, for the purpose of self-appointing.

Assistance from other individuals

You can also get help with your application from someone who is not authorized. You will be asked to disclose this in your online application.

Individuals who are not authorized representatives cannot charge you for their service or ask for any other type of compensation, or submit an application on your behalf.

Only authorized representatives can register as a representative in the OINP e-Filing Portal.

Employers

You may appoint an authorized representative to assist with submitting job offers or completing applications to the OINP. To appoint an authorized representative, you must first create a draft job offer in the Employer Portal and the authorized representative must already be registered with the OINP.

Only a signing officer or employer contact can create a draft job offer. If you appoint an authorized representative to the job offer, they cannot edit the employee-applicant’s name, email address, or job title fields. Once the draft job offer has been created and the authorized representative has registered with the OINP, the authorized representative can then complete the rest of the job offer.

Your authorized representative cannot sign and submit your application. Only the authorized signing officer can sign the consent form and submit an application.

You may change or cancel an authorized representative at any time under each job offer in the Employer Portal.

For detailed instructions on getting assistance from authorized representatives please refer to the Employer Portal User Guide.

Authorized representatives

In this section, authorized representatives can learn:

Before you register

If you will be acting as an authorized representative, make sure you are authorized to do so in Ontario.

Once you confirm you’re authorized, you must:

  • create a profile in the OINP e-Filing Portal
  • use your authorized representative account to submit applications on behalf of applicants or employers — you cannot submit an application through an applicant’s or an employer’s My Ontario account

If you are submitting an expression of interest or application on behalf of an applicant, you should have the applicant’s:

  • file number or job offer ID if applying under an employer job offer stream
  • first and last name as it appears on their passport, travel or identity document
  • email address

How to register as an authorized representative

  1. Access the OINP e-Filing Portal and select ‘New Representative’ if you have not yet registered in the e-Filing Portal.
  2. Enter your last name, first name and email.
  3. You will be automatically redirected to log into your My Ontario account. If you don’t have a My Ontario account, click on ‘Sign up now!’
  4. From My Ontario you will be automatically redirected to complete your representative profile.
  5. Once your profile is complete, click ‘Submit’ and you will be redirected to your main page in the portal.

How to submit an application on behalf of an applicant

Job offer ID for Employer Job Offer streams

If you are submitting an expression of interest or application under the Employer Job Offer streams, you will need to have the job offer ID and applicant’s email address. The job offer ID will be issued to the applicant once the employer has submitted the job offer.

Step 1: register your applicant

  1. From the main page of the OINP e-filing Portal, click on ‘Submit New Application’ and select the applicant’s stream.
  2. Read and acknowledge the Representative’s Declaration by checking the box and clicking OK. This step is only required the first time you submit an application.
  3. You will be automatically redirected to register a profile for the applicant. Once finished, click ‘Submit’.
  4. Make sure you carefully enter the applicant’s information when you are creating this profile because we will not accept requests to change complete names or dates of birth.
  5. If the applicant does not have a last name on their passport, travel or identity document:
    • enter ‘N/A’ in the first name field
    • put their first name in the last name field
  6. A confirmation number will appear on the screen. Click on ‘Finish’ to return to your main page.
  7. Click on Refresh Applicant’s List to view the applicant’s information.

Step 2: get authorized and complete the application

The applicant will receive two emails from the OINP telling them that you have registered a profile on their behalf.

The first email will include the applicant’s enrolment number and the second will include the PIN number.

The applicant must then authorize you as their representative by:

  1. logging in to the OINP e-Filing Portal through the link in the email they received. They will first be taken to pages to enter both their PIN and enrolment numbers.
  2. clicking on the row containing their file number
  3. clicking on ‘Appoint’

Once you’re appointed, log in to the OINP e-Filing Portal through your My Ontario account and begin the application.

You will only be able to complete an application on behalf of an applicant once you have been appointed to do so.

Technical issues

If you experience a technical issue notify us via our webform with a description of the problem, a screenshot of your full screen and include the relevant file number(s). If the applicant experiences a technical issue, they must submit a webform with the same information.

How to support an employer with submitting a job offer or completing an application

After you have registered with the OINP as an authorized representative, you must be appointed by the employer under each individual job offer or application that they wish for you to represent via the Employer Portal.

After the employer has created a job offer draft, they can appoint you as a representative to complete and submit the job offer.

You will receive an email with the job ID once you have been appointed as an authorized representative for a job offer. To access the job offer, click on the ‘Job offer and Application dashboard’ hyperlink on the landing page. If the employee-applicant is invited to apply, you may assist the employer with completing the application for approval of an employment position. Once the application has been finalized, you must complete the representative’s declaration in ink.

Note that only the authorized signing officer can sign the consent form and submit an application. You cannot sign and submit the application on behalf of the employer

For detailed information about supporting employers with completing job offers or applications, please refer to the Employer Portal User Guide.

Migrate your ONe-key account to a My Ontario account

As of March 31, 2025, returning OINP users who are still using a ONe-key Account will need to create a My Ontario account to sign in to the OINP e-filing system as the ONe-key service will no longer be available after that date.

If you do not have a My Ontario account

  1. Access the OINP e-filing portal and complete the reCAPTCHA.
  2. Sign up for one by clicking on “Create Account”.
  3. Once you have created an account, the system will automatically return you the OINP e-filing portal.
  4. Indicate that you are a New Applicant.

Once you have successfully created your My Ontario account, please submit a webform with your full name and the email address that you used to register your My Ontario account. This will sync your email address with the existing profile in our system. All new correspondence from the OINP will be sent to the email address you have used to register your My Ontario Account.

Remember your password, as you will need this in the future to log in to the OINP e-Filing Portal. The OINP does not manage My Ontario accounts and we cannot help you if you lose access to your account. To keep access to and control of your account, never share your password with anyone.

Contact us

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