Foreign Worker Stream

The Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers skilled foreign workers a pathway to permanent residency in Ontario. This stream is designed to help employers fill high-skilled positions that are difficult to staff locally by allowing them to recruit qualified talent from abroad or within Canada.

To be eligible, applicants must have a full-time, permanent job offer from an Ontario employer in a role classified under the National Occupation Classification (NOC) TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. The job must meet prevailing wage standards and be directly related to the applicant’s experience and education. Candidates must also demonstrate at least two years of full-time work experience in the same occupation, which may have been gained in Canada or abroad.

Employers participating in the program must meet specific criteria, including having an active business in Ontario for a minimum of three years, meeting revenue and staffing thresholds, and proving a genuine need for the position being offered. These conditions are in place to ensure that job offers are legitimate and aligned with Ontario’s labour market needs.

Unlike OINP’s Express Entry-aligned streams, the Foreign Worker Stream  follows a direct nomination process. Applicants submit their application to Ontario through the OINP e-Filing Portal. Once nominated by the province, candidates can then apply for permanent residence through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) using a paper-based application process.

Applicants should prepare a complete set of documents, including a valid job offer letter, employer form, proof of qualifications and experience, and language test results, if applicable. A non-refundable application fee of $1,500 is required upon submission.

This stream is part of OINP’s broader Job Offer category, which also includes the International Student Stream and In-Demand Skills Stream, each tailored to different candidate profiles.

The Foreign Worker Stream presents a valuable opportunity for skilled workers to build a stable future in Ontario while supporting employers in addressing key labour shortages.

Book a consultation with our expert immigration consultants to assess your eligibility for the Foreign Worker Stream and begin your application process with confidence.