Eligibility Requirements for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program

Below are the detailed eligibility requirements for the various categories of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

Under the OINP, candidates may qualify under one of the following categories:

• Ontario Express Entry
  • Ontario Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities Stream 
  • Ontario Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream 
• General Category
  • Foreign Skilled Worker with a Job Offer Stream
• International Student Category
  • International Student with a Job Offer Stream
  • International Student - Master's Graduate Stream
  • International Student - PhD Graduate Stream
• Business Category
  • Entrepreneur Stream
  • Corporate Stream
  • Investors Stream (discontinued)

Ontario Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities Stream

This stream targets foreign skilled workers with the necessary education, work experience, language proficiency, and other characteristics to establish economically and settle in the province of Ontario. 

To be considered under this stream, candidates must qualify for the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) federal Express Entry pool through either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class. Candidates may not apply directly to this stream. Instead, they must first receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) from the OINP based on their Express Entry profile. 

The OINP searches the Express Entry pool and identifies potential candidates who:

• Have a minimum score of 400 under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and
• Meet the criteria of Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities Stream (see below).

Candidates identified by the OINP will receive an NOI, which will invite them to apply to the OINP for nomination under the Human Capital Priorities Stream. From this point, selected candidates have 45 days to apply to the OINP under this stream. If their application is approved, candidates will be notified of their nomination by the OINP, which they can accept and use to apply to IRCC for permanent residence. 

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible under the Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream, candidates must:

• Score a minimum of 400 points under the CRS. The score must remain at or above 400 during both the Ontario nomination processing stage and at the federal application for permanent residence processing stage;
• Have a minimum level of work experience;
  • Candidates who choose to be assessed against the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) criteria must have at least one year of continuous and full-time employment experience, or part-time equivalent, in a National Occupation Classification (NOC) level 0, A, or B occupation in the five years prior to the date of the NOI from the OINP.
  • Candidates who choose to be assessed against the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) criteria must have at least one year of cumulative and full-time employment experience, or part-time equivalent, in a NOC 0, A, or B occupation in Canada in the three years prior to the date of the NOI from the OINP.
• Have a Canadian Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree OR an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report produced by a designated organization indicating that their foreign education credential is equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD;
• Demonstrate a language proficiency level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or above in all four competencies (speaking, reading, writing, and listening);
  • Language proficiency must be proved by test results from one of the following designated testing agencies:
    • IELTS (General Training Test only) for english;
    • CELPIP (General test only) for english; or
    • TEF for french;
• Intend to reside in Ontario, as demonstrated by a statement of intent and indication of ties to Ontario;
• Possess sufficient funds to cover settlement costs in Ontario. This must be supported by bank statements; and
• Meet the additional criteria under either the FSWP or CEC. 

The required settlement funds must be equal to or greater than the sums listed below for each family size.

Requirements for settlement funds are updated annually. Note that the number of family members includes both accompanying and non-accompanying dependents

Additional Criteria for the Federal Skilled Worker Program

In addition to the minimum eligibility requirements listed above, candidates applying to the Ontario Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities Stream through the FSWP must score at least 67 out of 100 points based on the IRCC's six selection factors: English and/or French skills, education, work experience, age, arranged employment in Canada, and adaptability.

Candidates should note that the OINP will only consider arranged employment in Ontario. Arranged employment in any province other than Ontario would contradict the candidate's statement of intent to reside in Ontario and result in a denial of the application to the OINP.

Selection Factors

Factor 1: English and/or French Skills

Factor 2: Education

Factor 3: Work Experience

Factor 4: Age

Factor 5: Arranged Employment in Canada

Factor 6: Adaptability

Additional Criteria for the Canadian Experience Class

In addition to the minimum eligibility requirements listed above, candidates applying to the Ontario Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities Stream through the CEC must:

• Have at least 12 months of full-time, or part-time equivalent, cumulative paid work experience in Canada in a NOC level 0, A, or B occupation in the three years prior to applying;
• Meet the minimum language level of CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs OR CLB 5 for NOC B jobs.
  • Note: The Human Capital Priorities Stream requires ALL applicants to have language level of CLB 7 in English or French regardless of occupation.
• Plan to live outside the province of Quebec; and
  • Note: Planning to live outside of Ontario can be deemed to contradict the candidate's statement of intent to reside in Ontario. This can result in the refusal of his or her application to the OINP.
• Be admissible to Canada.

Ontario Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

This stream targets French-Speaking skilled workers with strong English language abilities looking to establish themselves and settle in the province of Ontario. 

To be considered under this stream, candidates must qualify for the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) federal Express Entry pool through either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class. Candidates may not apply directly to this stream. Instead, they must first receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) from the OINP based on their Express Entry profile. 

The OINP searches the Express Entry pool and identifies potential candidates who meet the criteria of Ontario’s French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream (see below).

Candidates identified by the OINP will receive an NOI, which will invite them to apply to the OINP for nomination under the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream. From this point, selected candidates have 45 days to apply to the OINP under this stream. If their application is approved, candidates will be notified of their nomination by the OINP, which they can accept and use to apply to IRCC for permanent residence. 

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible under the Ontario Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream, candidates must:

• Demonstrate sufficient language ability in all four components (speaking, reading, writing, and listening) in both French and English;
  • These levels are Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in French and CLB 6 in English.
  • Language test results must come from one of the following designated testing agencies:
    • IELTS (General Training Test only) for english;
    • CELPIP (General test only) for english; or
    • TEF for french;
• Have a minimum level of work experience;
  • Candidates who choose to be assessed against the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) criteria must have at least one year of continuous and full-time employment experience, or part-time equivalent, in a National Occupation Classification (NOC) level 0, A, or B occupation in the five years prior to the date of the NOI from the OINP.
  • Candidates who choose to be assessed against the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) criteria must have at least one year of cumulative and full-time employment experience, or part-time equivalent, in a NOC 0, A, or B occupation in Canada in the three years prior to the date of the NOI from the OINP.
• Have a Canadian Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree OR an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report produced by a designated organization indicating that their foreign education is equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree;
• Intend to reside in Ontario, as demonstrated by a statement of intent and indication of ties to Ontario; and
• Possess sufficient funds to cover settlement costs in Ontario. This must be supported by bank statements.

The required settlement funds must be equal to or greater than the sums listed below for each family size.

Requirements for settlement funds are updated annually.

Additional Criteria for the Federal Skilled Worker Program

In addition to the minimum eligibility requirements listed above, candidates applying to the Ontario Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream through the FSWP must score at least 67 out of 100 points based on the IRCC's six selection factors: English and/or French skills, education, work experience, age, arranged employment in Canada, and adaptability.

Candidates should note that the OINP will only consider arranged employment in Ontario. Arranged employment in any province other than Ontario would contradict the candidate's statement of intent to reside in Ontario and result in a denial of the application to the OINP.

Selection Factors

Factor 1: English and/or French Skills

Factor 2: Education

Factor 3: Work Experience

Factor 4: Age

Factor 5: Arranged Employment in Canada

Factor 6: Adaptability

Additional Criteria for the Canadian Experience Class

In addition to the minimum eligibility requirements listed above, candidates applying to the Ontario Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream through the CEC must:

• Have at least 12 months of full-time, or part-time equivalent, cumulative paid work experience in Canada in a NOC level 0, A, or B occupation in the three years prior to applying;
• Meet the minimum language level of CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs OR CLB 5 for NOC B jobs.
  • Note: The French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream requires ALL applicants to have language level of CLB 7 in French and CLB 6 in English regardless of occupation.
• Plan to live outside the province of Quebec; and
  • Note: Planning to live outside of Ontario can be deemed to contradict the candidate's statement of intent to reside in Ontario. This can result in the refusal of his or her application to the OINP.
• Be admissible to Canada.

General Category

As of May 9, 2016, there is a temporary pause on the intake of applications to the Employer Pre-screen application process. Foreign skilled workers with job offers that have already been approved by the OINP may continue to submit a Nominee Application.

The OINP General Category targets foreign skilled workers with job offers who want to settle permanently in the province of Ontario.

For a nomination certificate to be issued under this category, both the employer and the foreign national must submit an application to show that eligibility requirements are met. Eligible employers are required to first submit a Pre-screen Application to OINP to have the position they want to fill approved. If the OINP approves this application, the prospective nominee (the foreign worker the employer is seeking to recruit), must submit a Nominee Application within 60 days of the approval of the Pre-screen Application.

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

In order to be eligible as a foreign worker under the OINP General Category, applicants must:

• Have at least two years (24 months) of paid and verifiable work experience, either in Canada or abroad, within the previous five years in their intended occupation OR have the appropriate registration in Ontario, if applying for a position in a regulated occupation in the province;
• Have a permanent, full-time job offer in a skilled occupation (NOC levels 0, A, or B) from the employer that is also submitting an application; and
• Be residing abroad OR residing, working or visiting Canada on a valid work permit, study permit or visitor record.

Minimum Requirements for Employers

In order to be eligible under this immigration category, the Ontario employer must:

• Have been in active business for at least three years;
• Have business premises in Ontario where the prospective nominee will work;
• Demonstrate sufficient proof of recruitment efforts if the prospective nominee is currently living abroad, visiting Canada, or working in a province or territory other than Ontario;
• Be in compliance with all provincial labour laws, including, but not limited to, employment standards, health and safety, and labour relations legislation; and 
• For employers located inside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA):
  • Have a minimum gross revue for the most recent fiscal year of $1,000,000, and
  • Have at least five permanent full-time employees.
• For employers located outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA):
  • Have a minimum gross revenue for the most recent fiscal year of $500,000, and
  • Have at least three permanent full-time employees.

Employers inside the GTA can request one position for every five full-time employees while employers outside of the GTA can request one position for every three full-time employees. Regardless of the number of positions an employer is seeking to fill, he or she must only complete one Pre-screen Application form. Employers are limited to a maximum of 20 position requests per calendar year.

Minimum Requirements for Positions

The job position offered must meet the following requirements:

• The position must meet the description of a “skilled occupation” defined by the government as NOC level 0, A, or B;
• The job offered must be for a permanent, full-time position (minimum 1,560 hours of paid employment in a 12-month period);
• The offer must meet prevailing wage rates for the occupation in Ontario;
• The offer must not affect the settlement of any labour dispute or the employment of any person involved in such a dispute;
• The offer must not adversely affect employment or training opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Ontario; and
• The position itself must be necessary for the company’s operations.

International Student with a Job Offer Stream

As of May 9, 2016, there is a temporary pause on the intake of applications to the Employer Pre-screen application process. International students with job offers that have already been approved by the OINP may continue to submit a Nominee Application.

For a nomination certificate to be issued under this category, both the employer and the international student must submit an application to show that eligibility requirements are met. Eligible employers are required to first submit a Pre-screen Application to OINP to have the position they want to fill approved. If the OINP approves this application, the prospective nominee (the international student the employer is seeking to recruit), must submit a Nominee Application within 60 days of the approval of the Pre-screen Application.

Minimum Requirements

International students with an approved job offer from a Canadian employer are eligible to apply under this stream if they:

• Have graduated from, or have met the requirements of a full-time degree or diploma program, at an eligible publicly-funded Canadian college or university;
  • The program of study must have been at least two years in length, OR a one -year post-graduate certificate program, which requires a previous degree or diploma.
  • The previous degree or diploma may have been obtained outside Canada.
• Have completed at least half of their studies in Canada;
• Have acquired an approved permanent, full-time job offer in a skilled occupation (NOC levels 0, A, or B); and
  • The job offer must meet the entry-level wage levels in Ontario for that occupation.
  • Note: the job need not be in the same field as the degree or diploma.
• Apply within two years of the date on which they received their Canadian degree or diploma.

International Student - Master's Graduate Stream

This stream gives students who have graduated with a Master's degree from an eligible publicly funded university in Ontario an opportunity to immigrate permanently to Ontario, without the requirement of a job offer. 

Minimum Requirements 

In order to be eligible for this stream, applicants must:

• Intend to live and work permanently in Ontario;
• Have graduated from an existing Master's program at an eligible publicly funded university in Ontario;
  • The program of study must have been at least one year in length and must have been completed on a full-time basis.
• Submit the application within two years of the date on which the Masters degree was granted;
• Be residing in Ontario with legal status (i.e., study permit, work permit, visitor record) OR residing outside of Canada;
  • Applicants currently residing in Canada, but outside of Ontario, do not qualify.
• Demonstrate a high language proficiency level in English or French of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or above in all four competencies (speaking, reading, writing, and listening);
  • Language proficiency must be proved by the following International English Language Testing (IELTS) General Test scores and Test d’Evaluation de Français (TEF) scores in each 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,
• Be able to show a minimum level of savings and/or income in order to support themselves and their dependants;
• Demonstrate residence in Ontario for at least 12 of the last 24 months before the application submission date; and,
• Not intend to pursue further academic studies in Ontario.

The required savings to be used as settlement funds mentioned in the above list must be equal to or greater than the sums listed below for each family size.

Requirements for settlement funds are updated annually. Note that the number of family members includes both accompanying and non-accompanying dependants.

International Student - PhD Graduate Stream

This stream gives students who have graduated from a PhD program at an eligible publicly funded university in Ontario an opportunity to immigrate permanently to Ontario, without the requirement of a job offer. 

Minimum Requirements

Under this stream, applicants must:

• Have successfully completed all PhD program requirements at an eligible publicly-funded university in Ontario;
  • At least two years of PhD studies must have been completed at the Ontario university.
• Submit the application within two years of the date on which the PhD was granted;
• Intend to live and work in Ontario; and
• Have legal status (i.e. study permit, work permit, visitor record) if living in Canada at the time of the application.
  • Applicants to this stream need not be in Canada at the time of application.

Entrepreneur Stream

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Entrepreneur Stream is designed to attract individuals who are looking to implement a new business initiative or buy an existing business in Ontario.

Successful applicants will obtain a temporary work permit support letter — based on a performance agreement — to establish the business in Ontario. If the investment and job creation agreements outlined in the performance agreement are adhered to, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to be nominated by the OINP for Canadian permanent resident status. The OINP Entrepreneur Stream operates on an 'Expression of Interest' model, whereby eligible participants must be invited to apply before they may submit a complete application.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

In order to make an Expression of Interest (EOI), applicants must meet the following minimum eligibility criteria:

• Candidates must have at least 36 months of full-time business experience in the last 60 months as a business owner or senior manager;
  • If the applicant has experience as both a business owner and a senior manager, he or she must choose only ONE to use for the EOI and for the application.
• Applicants require a minimum net worth, which varies depending on where the business will be located;
  • For businesses located within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), applicants must have a minimum net worth of $1,500,000.
  • For businesses located outside the GTA, applicants must have a minimum net worth of $800,000.
  • For businesses in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (regardless of where it will be located), applicants must have a minimum net worth of $800,000.
• Applicants must provide a third party verification report, prepared by an authorized service provider, in order to demonstrate their net worth.
• Applicants must make a minimum personal investment, which varies depending on the location of the proposed business;
  • If the proposed business will be located within the GTA, applicants must make a minimum personal investment of $1,000,000.
  • If the proposed business will be located outside the GTA, applicants must make a minimum personal investment of $500,000.
  • If the proposed business will be in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (regardless of where it will be located), applicants must make a minimum personal investment of $500,000.
• Applicants must have a minimum equity ownership of 33.3 percent (one-third);
• Applicants must commit to creating at least two permanent, full-time jobs for Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents; and 
  • If purchasing an existing business, the applicant must create two new full-time permanent positions in addition to the current staff.
• Applicants who purchase an existing business must make at least one business-related visit to Ontario in the 12 months prior to submitting the Expression of Interest.

NOTE: If the applicant is applying with a Business Partner who is also seeking nomination, both the applicant and the partner must individually meet all the minimum requirements listed above.

Minimum Requirements for Businesses

The proposed business must meet the following general requirements to participate in the Entrepreneur Stream:

• The proposed business’ purpose must intend to make a profit through the sale of goods and/or services;
• Primary income sources must be from active (earned) income, not passive (unearned) income;
• The proposed business must comply with Canadian legal requirements and all regulatory industry and licensing requirements which govern its legitimate operation;
• The proposed business must comply with all Ontario labour laws, including but not limited to employment standards, health and safety and labour relations legislation;
• The proposed business must be considered a permanent business in Ontario; and
• Third party investors must be a Schedule I or Schedule II bank or an institutional investor.

Other requirements specific to business succession:

• Any existing business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner or group of owners for the five years prior to the applicant's purchase of the business;
  • Proof of ownership and either a letter of intent to purchase the business or sale agreement is required.
• The purchase must completely transfer ownership from the previous owner(s) to the applicant, his or her Business Partner, if applicable, and/or any third party investor(s), if applicable;
• The proposed business must not have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees;
• The applicant must preserve all existing permanent full-time jobs and create two additional permanent full-time jobs;
• The applicant must maintain, at minimum, the current wage levels and employment terms of existing staff; and
• The proposed business plan must demonstrate that the applicant intends to grow the business. 

Minimum Requirements for Nominations

Applicants must meet the following requirements in order to be nominated once they have established the business and met the performance agreement. Successfully obtaining a nomination certificate allows applicants to make an application for Canadian permanent residence.

Applicants must only meet these criteria when they apply for nomination after the business has been established, not when applying to the Entrepreneur Stream.

• Applicants must demonstrate official language proficiency at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 level or equivalent.
  • CLB 5 can be demonstrated through the following International English Language Testing (IELTS) General Test Scores and Test d'Évaluation de Français scores in each language proficiency:
    • Listening: IELTS 5 or TEF 181-216
    • Reading: IELTS 4 or TEF 151-180
    • Writing: IELTS 5 or TEF 226-270
    • Speaking: IELTS 5 or TEF 226-270
• To meet the active management requirements of the program, applicants must be physically residing in Ontario for 75 percent (nine months out of the year) of the period in which they are establishing the business in Ontario (i.e. the performance agreement period).

Ineligible Businesses

Ontario will not process applications where there is a risk of little to no long-term economic benefit to the province. Consequently, the proposed business cannot be included in the following list of ineligible businesses.

Ineligible Businesses in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

• Existing Franchises in Ontario (new foreign franchises expanding into Ontario are permitted)
• Gas Stations
• Tire Recycling
• Scrap Metal Recycling
• Pawnbrokers
• Bed and Breakfasts
• Holding Companies
• Laundromats
• Automated Car Wash Operations
• Payday loan and related businesses
• Businesses which have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees

Ineligible Businesses outside the GTA

• Tire Recycling
• Scrap Metal Recycling
• Pawnbrokers
• Holding Companies
• Laundromats
• Automated Car Wash Operations
• Payday loan and related businesses
• Businesses which have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees

Expression of Interest (EOI)

An EOI is not an application, but rather an expression of the candidate's interest in participating in the OINP Entrepreneur Stream. If an individual is invited to apply based on his or her EOI, he or she may submit a complete application to the Entrepreneur Stream. The EOI model functions on a self-declared points-based system, therefore applicants may claim a score based on the scoring information provided below. The total score will determine whether or not the applicant may receive an Invitation to Apply under the OINP Entrepreneur Stream.

Scoring Factors and Breakdown of Points

Applicants can claim points for factors under three categories: Experience, Investment and Human Capital. The maximum score available is 160 points.

Experience Factors

Individuals may claim points based on business experience. The number of points is based on the individual's past business ownership experience OR senior management experience in the 60 months prior to submitting an EOI. If the individual has both business ownership and senior management experience in 36 of the past 60 months, he or she must choose one of these experiences in the EOI. As mentioned in the minimum eligibility requirements section above, there is a minimum requirement of 36 months of experience to be eligible for the Entrepreneur Stream.

If the applicant has a Business Partner, the partner must also have a minimum of 36 months of experience in the last 60 months.

Experience Factor 1: Business Owner

Individuals claiming points under this factor must have owned at least 33.3 percent of the business during the period claimed as the length of experience. It must also be demonstrated that they held an active role in the business, meaning that the individual was personally involved in the day-to-day operations of the business and had direct involvement in decision-making.

Experience Factor 2: Senior Manager

The Senior Manager role must have included senior decision-making responsibilities in areas such as operations, sales, finance, marketing, distribution, human resources, research and development, etc.

Experience Factor 3: Specific Experience

Individuals may claim points based on their past specific experience in a high growth business and/or in an export trade business.

• High Growth Business Experience: experience in a business that experienced at least 20 percent increase in revenue for two consecutive years. Submission of supporting documentation (e.g. financial statements) is mandatory if the individual is invited to apply.
• Export Trade Business Experience: experience in a business exporting at least 20 percent of total goods/services to a foreign market. Submission of supporting documentation (e.g. financial statements with export declarations, purchase orders, invoices) is mandatory if the individual is invited to apply.

Business owners who can provide supporting documentation verifying that their business was a high growth business or an export-trade business may claim these points.

Senior managers who can provide a reference letter from the employer and/or other supporting documentation indicating that their role in the business had a direct decision-making authority or a direct impact on the high growth activity/activities of the business may claim these points.

Investment Factors

Investment Factor 1: Net Worth

Personal net worth must be legally obtained and verifiable. Personal net worth includes all assets and those of the applicant's spouse or common-law partner, less any liabilities including mortgages and personal debts. Net worth must be in the applicant's and his or her spouse/common-law partner’s name.

As mentioned in the minimum eligibility requirements section above, there is a minimum requirement for personal net worth to be eligible for the Entrepreneur Stream, which varies according to where the proposed business will be located.

If the applicant has a Business Partner, the partner must also meet the appropriate minimum personal net worth requirement.

Investment Factor 2: Investment Amount

The minimum eligible personal investment must be derived from the applicant's personal net worth.

Third parties may provide external financing beyond the minimum investment amount if they are a Schedule I or Schedule II bank or an institutional investor. Third-party personal investments are not permitted. Applicants cannot claim points for investments that will be made by a third-party.

In order to be considered an eligible investment, the expenditure must be essential to the establishment and operation of a new business or to purchase, improve and operate an existing business.

If the applicant is purchasing an existing business, he or she must:

• Invest some funds towards improvement/expansion of the business; and
• Note that improvement/expansion does not include regular operating expenses such as recurring inventory, wages, rent, utilities, or maintaining the same levels of marketing or advertising expenses, legal or professional fees, business licenses, etc.

The following are considered ineligible investments:

• Cash, cash equivalents or working capital; and
• Wage payments made to the applicant him/herself and his/her family members.

As mentioned in the minimum eligibility requirements section above, there is a minimum requirement for investment amount to be eligible for the Entrepreneur Stream, which varies according to where the proposed business will be located.

If the applicant has a Business Partner, the partner must also meet the appropriate minimum investment amount requirement.

Investment Factor 3: Job Creation

Applicants may claim points based on the total number of permanent full-time jobs they will create for Canadian citizens or permanent residents. 

Applicants must demonstrate that they will create at least two permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents in order to be eligible under the OINP Entrepreneur Stream, as mentioned in the above minimum requirements section. These jobs must be paid at the prevailing wage rate and must consist of a minimum of 1,560 hours of paid employment in a 12-month period.

If the applicant has a Business Partner, he or she must also create two jobs, making a total of four new jobs for the proposed business.

Investment Factor 4: Exploratory Visits

Applicants may claim points based on any business-related visits to Ontario made within the year prior to the EOI submission. There is no mandatory requirement for exploratory visits, unless the applicant is purchasing an existing business.

Investment Factor 5: Key Sector Targeted

Applicants may claim points if the proposed business is in a key sector, as determined by the government of Ontario.

These key sectors have been defined as economic priorities for Ontario:

• Aerospace
• Automotive
• Financial services
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• Information & Communications Technology
• Life Sciences
• Mining
• Tourism Investment
• Water Technology

Investment Factor 6: National Occupation Classification (NOC) 0, A or B Jobs

Applicants may claim points based on the NOC 0, NOC A or NOC B jobs their proposed business will create for Canadian citizens or permanent residents. 

Human Capital Factors

Human Capital Factor 1: Level of Education

Applicants may claim points based on their highest level of education completed. There is no minimum requirement to be considered for the Entrepreneur Stream.

Applicants invited to apply who are claiming to have completed six months or more of post-secondary education will be required to provide evidence of this education, including Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) results.

Human Capital Factor 2: Official Language Ability

While it is not mandatory to demonstrate language abilities in English and/or French in to be considered for the Entrepreneur Stream at the time of submitting the EOI, language proficiency equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 is required at the time of nomination by OINP. 

Applicants must demonstrate their language proficiency with either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Test scores or Test d’Evaluation de Français (TEF). 

To learn more about CLBs and language ability, click here.

Expression of Interest (EOI) Scoring, Draws, and Processing Periods

Meeting all the minimum requirements does not guarantee that an applicant will be invited to apply to the OINP Entrepreneur Stream. There is no minimum score, as EOIs will be ranked against each other and only top candidates will be invited to apply. If an applicant is applying with a Business Partner, the final score will be calculated using the lowest submitted score of the two candidates. This final score will be used to rank the EOI against other EOI scores received.

At the beginning of each Processing Period, a draw will occur, with only the top scoring EOI’s being selected for processing. Draws occur approximately every 120 days. The final “cut-off” score may vary between Processing Periods due to differences in scores submitted during respective months.

EOIs not selected within 12 months from the date of receipt will be removed from the selection pool. Individuals will be able to re-apply to enter the selection pool after an EOI has been removed.

Interview

The applicant (and Business Partner, if applicable) may be required to attend a mandatory in-person interview at OINP’s offices. The purpose of the mandatory interview is to get a better understanding of the business plan and past experience. The applicant (and Business Partner, if applicable) is responsible for all transportation arrangements and costs incurred associated with the interview.

Performance Agreement

If the application is approved, the applicant (and Business Partner, if applicable) will be required to sign a Performance Agreement with the province of Ontario. The Performance Agreement outlines the commitments required in order to be nominated for permanent resident status. This document will include, but may not be limited to:

• A description of the business (including industry and its location);
• The investment amounts and timelines;
• The number and type of jobs to be created for Canadian citizens or permanent residents;
• Mandatory business milestones and achievements (depending on the specific business); and
• Timeframes for any commitments.

Performance Agreements are unique to each applicant and are based on the information provided in the application (including the EOI), the business plan, and the interview, if applicable. Applicants who fail to satisfy the business commitments outlined in the Performance Agreement will not be eligible for nomination for permanent resident status.

Once the applicant (and his or her Business Partner, if applicable) have signed the agreement, OINP will issue a Letter of Confirmation so that he or she can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a temporary work permit. 

Business Establishment

After the Performance Agreement is signed, successful applicants must arrive in Ontario with their valid temporary work permit issued by IRCC within one year of the date of the Letter of Confirmation. 

After arrival in Ontario, individuals have up to 20 months to implement the business plan and meet all commitments under the Performance Agreement. Successful applicants are responsible for submitting a Final Report to the OINP between 18 and 20 months after their arrival in Ontario with a valid temporary work permit. The Final Report should demondtrate that the candidate has met all objectives set out in the Performance Agreement.

The required permanent full-time jobs created by the new business must be filled within 10 months of the date of the applicant's arrival in Canada and they must remain filled for at least 10 months, up to the date that the Final Report is submitted to the OINP.

The Final Report along with supporting documentation must be submitted to the OINP in order to initiate the nomination process.

Nomination Requirements

Successful nominees must apply to IRCC for permanent resident status within six months of being nominated by OINP. In addition to meeting all obligations of the Performance Agreement, applicants (and their Business Partners, if applicable) must:

Corporate Stream

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Corporate Stream helps and supports established international corporations looking to expand into Ontario or buy an existing business. Once the business has been successfully established, key staff are eligible to apply for a provincial nomination certificate, allowing them to eventually become permanent residents of Canada. The principal applicant under this stream is the corporation's signing officer.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Corporate Requirements

In order to be eligible, international corporations must:

• Have been established for at least 36 months at the time of application;
• Currently employ key staff seeking nominations, and these key staff must be essential to the business operation in Ontario;
• Create five full-time permanent positions for Canadian citizens or permanent residents for each nominee position being sought;
• Key staff nominees will have two years to demonstrate a minimum language requirement prior to permanent residence nomination; and
• Create five new full-time permanent jobs for Canadians or permanent residents per key staff member.
  • Positions must be paid at or above the associated prevailing wage level.
  • The positions must be continuously filled for at least 10 months prior to the submission of the Final Report (see Nomination). 

In the case of business succession, the following additional criteria apply:

• Any existing business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner for the previous 60 months (five years);
• The purchase must completely transfer ownership from the previous owner(s) to the corporation;
• The business must not have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees;
• The proposed business plan must grow the business; 
• The corporation must maintain, at minimum, the current wage levels and employment terms of existing staff;
• The corporation must meet the job creation commitment; and
• The corporation must preserve all existing permanent full-time jobs.

If the business to be established in Ontario is a land development or leasehold company, the following additional criteria apply:

• Limit of three projects per year;
• The proposed activity must be a permanent, ongoing business that seeks to expand or improve the current status of the land site, as well as ensure that the investing company has an ongoing and active management role in the proposed business;
• Eligible leasehold companies must produce the proposed good or deliver a service of their own and not just set-up to manage the operations of other companies to make a profit;
• Eligible land development companies have to demonstrate that the proposed business is a long-term and non-speculative investment and that the associated land development will be an integral part of the core ongoing business enterprise;
• Corporations must provide local site certification documents and/or related local planning authority approval; and 
• In the two-year monitoring period, the corporation must demonstrate that all of the commitments outlined in the Performance Agreement are met to setup the proposed operations and support the ongoing business in order to be eligible for nomination.

Investment Requirements

Under the OINP Corporate Stream, investments must meet the following criteria to be eligible:

• The corporation must make a minimum investment of $5 million CAD to expand into Ontario or purchase an existing business in the province;
• The investment funds must have been obtained from legal sources;
• The proposed investment activity must be of significant economic benefit to Ontario, as determined by an assessment of the corporation's business plan;
• If the business to be established in Ontario is a land development or a leasehold company, the following additional requirements apply:
  • The investment must be a minimum of $10 million CAD;
  • The proposed investment amount must cover more than the purchase price of the land and construction costs;

Proposed Business Requirements

In addition to the above, the proposed business in Ontario must:

• Have a clear structural linkage to the Parent Corporation (e.g. a subsidiary, branch or affiliate of the corporation);
• Intend to make a profit through the sale of goods and/or services;
• Derive its primary income sources from active (earned) income, not passive (unearned) income;
• Comply with Canadian legal requirements and all regulatory industry and licensing requirements which govern its legitimate operation;
• Comply with all provincial labour laws, including but not limited to employment standards, health and safety, and labour relations legislation;
• Be considered a permanent business in Ontario; and
• Submit a business plan. A Business Plan is a written document that describes the proposed business in detail, including:
  • Purpose and objectives of the proposed business, including products, target markets, and operational strategies;
  • Operational and financial goals;
  • Challenges that lie between the execution of the business plan and the achievement of its purpose, objectives, and goals; and 
  • Strategies for overcoming challenges.

Key Staff and Position Requirements

Applicant corporations may request up to five key staff members who will establish the business in Ontario and who are seeking nomination to permanently relocate to the province. To apply with the corporation under the OINP Corporate Stream, these key staff must:

• Be essential to the establishment and operation of the proposed business;
• Be in a senior, executive, management or specialized knowledge capacity (National Occupation Classification 0 or A) in the applicant corporation's existing business;
  • Only one key staff in a NOC A position can be proposed. 
• Have at least 36 months of experience in the last 60 months in the intended occupation (the position they will hold in the proposed business in Ontario) with the applicant corporation;
• Be continuously working for the applicant corporation in that position in the immediate 12 months prior to the submission of the application;
• Not have an immediate family relationship with any member of the corporation’s Executive Board or Board of Directors or shareholders with more than 10 percent equity in the applicant corporation;
  • Immediate family members include spouses, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents and spouse’s immediate family members.
• Not hold equity in the company, except in the case where that equity has been obtained as part of the remuneration package as part of the employee contract, in which case the equity held by the key staff must be less than 10 percent of the corporate applicant’s business; and
• Be taking on permanent full-time positions in the proposed business in Ontario that meet the prevailing wage levels.

Additionally, in order to be nominated for permanent resident status, key staff must: 

• Be in the position for which they were approved by the OINP and must be carrying out the approved job duties;
• Physically reside in Ontario for at least 75 percent of each year (nine months out of the year) that they are in Ontario under a temporary work permit to support the business; and
• Have a language proficiency equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in English and/or French.
  • Language proficiency must be demonstrated through the following International English Language Testing (IELTS) General Test Scores and Test d'Évaluation de Français scores in each language proficiency:
    • Listening: IELTS 5 or TEF 181-216
    • Reading: IELTS 4 or TEF 151-180
    • Writing: IELTS 5 or TEF 226-270
    • Speaking: IELTS 5 or TEF 226-270

Ineligible Businesses

Ontario will not process applications where there is a risk of little to no long-term economic benefit to the province. Consequently, the proposed business cannot be included in the list of ineligible businesses.

Ineligible Businesses in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA):

• Existing Franchises in Ontario (new foreign franchises expanding into Ontario are permitted)
• Gas Stations
• Tire Recycling
• Scrap Metal Recycling
• Pawnbrokers
• Bed and Breakfasts
• Holding Companies
• Laundromats
• Automated Car Wash Operations
• Payday loan and related businesses
• Businesses which have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees

Ineligible Businesses outside the GTA:

• Tire Recycling
• Scrap Metal Recycling
• Pawnbrokers
• Holding Companies
• Laundromats
• Automated Car Wash Operations
• Payday loan and related businesses
• Businesses which have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees

Interview

The principal applicant (the company signing officer) and all proposed key staff may be required to attend an in-person interview at the OINP offices in Ontario shortly after submitting the application. This interview serves to get a better understanding of the proposed business plan and the key staff members’ levels of experience. The applicant corporation is responsible for all transportation arrangements and costs incurred associated with the interview. 

Performance Agreement

If the application is approved, the corporation will be required to sign a Performance Agreement with the OINP, which outlines the commitments that the corporation must achieve for the key staff to be eligible for nomination for permanent resident status. This document will include, but may not be limited to:

• A description of the business (including industry and its location);
• The investment amounts and timelines;
• The number and type of positions to be created for Canadian citizens or permanent residents;
• Mandatory business milestones and achievements (depending on the specific business); and
• Timeframes for any commitments.

Performance Agreements are unique to each corporation and are based on the information provided in the corporate application, the business plan, and the interview, if applicable. If the OINP is not satisfied that the business has successfully met the commitments outlined in the Performance Agreement, the key staff members will not be eligible to be nominated for permanent resident status.

Temporary Work Permit

Once the corporation has signed the Performance Agreement, the OINP will issue a Letter of Confirmation, which enables the key staff to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a temporary work permit. The temporary work permit will allow key staff and their families to move to Ontario on a temporary basis.

NOTE: Temporary work permits are not issued by the OINP; the key staff must apply through IRCC. A temporary work permit is the official document issued by the government of Canada that allows a foreign national to legally work on a temporary basis in Canada. 

Nomination

Investors Stream

As of October 29, 2015, the OINP Investors Stream has been discontinued and is, therefore, no longer accepting applications.

In order to be eligible, the investment made by a company or individual must meet the following requirements:

• An investment must be made for a minimum of $3,000,000.
• The Ontario ministry at the Deputy Minister level must give an official endorsement to both the investment and the number of key positions requested to be filled by nominees from abroad..
• The investment must also create at least five net permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Ontario. If employee nominees are requested for approval in addition to the investor, the number of Canadian jobs that must be created increases.
• The investment itself must comply with Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

In order to comply with Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, individual investors must meet the following additional eligibility criteria:

• The investor must be actively involved on an ongoing basis in the management of the business.
• The investor must also control, or will control, at least 33.334% of the business’ equity or make a minimum personal investment of $1 million in the business.
• The investor must not have the option of redeeming their investment until after a set period of time determined by the province.
• The investment in the business must be for reasons other than deriving interest, dividends or capital gains.

In addition to the investor themselves, individual workers may be nominated by the investing company if their work is integral to ensuring the company’s success in Canada. In addition, 5the positions held by those workers must meet the following criteria:

• Each position must meet the definition of a skilled occupation (defined as NOC 0, A, or B level by the government).
• Each position must also be permanent and full-time .
• The wage for each position must meet prevailing wage levels for that occupation in Ontario.
• No position may affect the settlement of any labour dispute, or affect the employment of any person involved in such a dispute, nor may any position adversely affect employment or taining opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Ontario.