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ONTARIO PNP (OINP) FOREIGN WORKER STREAM
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), Foreign Worker Stream stands as a gateway for skilled individuals from around the globe seeking employment opportunities in the diverse and thriving province of Ontario, Canada. This immigration stream is strategically designed to address the specific labor market needs of Ontario by attracting and nominating foreign workers with valuable skills and experiences. This program not only serves as a means for foreign workers to secure nomination for permanent residence but also contributes significantly to Ontario’s economic growth and cultural diversity. The OINP Foreign Worker Stream plays a pivotal role in shaping a vibrant and globally connected labor force within the heart of Canada.
The Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream provides the opportunity for foreign skilled workers with an eligible job offer to settle in Ontario and work in the province. Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and successfully receive a nomination from the province will have the chance to continue their professional life in Ontario and create a pathway toward permanent residency. Beyond the bureaucratic procedures, the program’s significance in fostering economic growth, innovation, and cultural exchange within Ontario becomes evident.
You can also get to know other immigration pathways more suited to each particular situation. All of our fees and packages are also available! Overall, the OINP The Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream is not merely a means to obtain immigration status; rather, it symbolizes a collaborative effort between Ontario and skilled professionals worldwide to shape a workforce that thrives on diversity, skills, and a shared commitment to building a prosperous future. You can also get acquainted with other OINP programs.
Book a consultation today to discuss your eligibility with an expert immigration advisor and take your first step toward living and working in Ontario. Let our immigration firm guide you through the Foreign Worker stream and make your Canadian dream a reality.
Recent draws
DRAW DATE
Jan 24, 2024
PROGRAM(S)
Foreign Worker Stream
INVITATIONS ISSUED
12
LOWEST SCORE
N/A
Latest Updates
On January 24, 2024, only 12 targeted invitations were issued to candidates who were eligible for the Federal Economic Pathways Project under this stream. Read more
- On January 19, 2024 professionals in general occupations were invited under the Foreign Worker stream and the candidates received invitations if their score was 50 or more. Read more
On January 9, 2024 professionals who practice skilled trades, health, and tech received invitations under this stream and they had a score of 33 and above. Read more
On December 5, 2023 professionals who practice skilled trades, health, and tech received invitations under this stream and they had a score of 34 and above. Read more
SKILLED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS (NOC TEERS)
WAGE REQUIREMENTS
IMPORTANT NOTES
SKILLED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS (NOC TEERS)
One of the key requirements for this stream is having an eligible job offer. This job offer needs to be in one of the TEER categories of skilled occupations 0,1,2 or 3 of the National Occupation Classification (NOC). Alongside that, it must be a full-time and permanent position. An occupation is considered full-time when it provides at least 30 hours of paid work per week, or 1560 hours a year. A permanent position assumes that there is no end date to the employment contract, and the job does not depend on seasonal changes. If the employment is in the midst of a labor dispute, it will not qualify.
WAGE REQUIREMENTS
The offered job’s salary must either meet or exceed the median wage level for the respective occupation in the specific region of Ontario where your employment is situated. If the wage information for the applicant’s work region or reporting location is not present in the wage report, the Ontario wage should be utilized. In the case of existing employment, the job offer’s wage must match or surpass the current wage the employer pays for the same position. Additionally, this wage standard is exempt if there exists a collective agreement (a written contract between the employer and a union) in your workplace that dictates your payment.
If you are paid an annual salary, there is a way to convert it into the format of hourly wages. The calculation for your hourly wage involves deducting any bonuses or discretionary benefits from the annual salary. After deducting these, divide the remaining amount by the total number of weeks worked in a year (typically 52 weeks). Then, further, divide this result by the number of hours worked per week. The resulting value represents your hourly wage. An employee is considered a full-time hire when they work for at least 30 hours per week.
IMPORTANT NOTES
The job your employer is offering must be crucial and urgently needed for their business. This implies that the position must align with what your employer is already doing, and it must be essential for maintaining or expanding their ongoing business operations. The main business operations must also be conducted in Ontario.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
REVENUE REQUIREMENTS
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for the stream, the employer must meet certain criteria other than providing an eligible job offer. Some of the requirements include:
- Have a minimum of three years of active business operation before submitting your application.
- Maintain business facilities in Ontario where your work activities will take place.
- Do not have any unresolved orders issued against them under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000, or the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
- Show sufficient proof that the employer tried hiring a Canadian citizen or PR unsuccessfully, hence why the job offer was extended to the applicant. This option is only applicable if the candidate currently resides outside of Canada or works outside of Ontario.
The efforts to hire a Canadian citizen or PR must be shown unless:
- The candidate already has a valid work permit
or
- The employer has a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for the position
REVENUE REQUIREMENTS
The employer must also meet certain revenue requirements for the most recent tax year. The minimum threshold depends on the location in Ontario
- If the employer is inside the Greater Toronto Area, a gross minimum of $1,000,000 annual revenue will be required
- If the employer is outside the Greater Toronto Area, a gross minimum of $500,000 annual revenue will be required
What does “Report to Work” mean? There are cases when an applicant will have to work in more than one location. In such scenarios, the applicant must report their place of work as either:
- the primary location of their manager or supervisor
- the primary location of the office from which the applicant will receive assignments
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
The Employer Form is one of the crucial forms that the employer signs as proof of the applicant’s lawful employment and position within the company. Once the form is completed and signed by the employer, the applicant must scan and upload it with their application.
What does “Report to Work” mean? There are cases when an applicant will have to work in more than one location. In such scenarios, the applicant must report their place of work as either:
- the primary location of their manager or supervisor
- the primary location of the office from which the applicant will receive assignments
WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
APPLICANT TIES TO ONTARIO
APPLICATION PERIOD
WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Depending on the occupation and the job offer, either criterion must be met:
- If your job offer is in an occupation that mandates a license or authorization in Ontario, you must possess a valid license or authorization from the relevant regulatory body in Ontario when submitting your application.
- If your job offer does not pertain to an occupation that necessitates a compulsory license or authorization in Ontario, you are required to showcase work experience in the same occupation as indicated by the NOC code of your job offer.
To fulfill the work experience criterion, you need a minimum of two years of combined full-time paid work experience (or the equivalent in part-time work) in the identical occupation, as indicated by the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code of your job offer.
This work experience should have been accumulated within the five years preceding the date of your application submission, not the date of receiving the invitation to apply. If the work experience was acquired in Canada, you must have been residing and working in the country legally.
Accumulative denotes that the total duration of your work must sum up to two years; it doesn’t have to be continuous employment. Full-time work experience entails engagement in a job with a minimum of 30 hours of paid work weekly, equivalent to at least 3,120 hours of paid work over two years.
Equivalent part-time work experience involves:
- Working in a single job for a minimum of 15 hours of paid work per week, accumulating to at least 3,120 hours of paid work over four years.
- Working in multiple jobs for at least 30 hours of paid work per week, spanning two years, resulting in at least 3,120 hours of paid work during that two-year timeframe.
Vacation periods, normal sick leave, and other standard paid leave entitlements outlined in collective agreements, workplace legislation, and/or individual employer policies are not regarded as disruptions to full-time employment. Extended leaves are considered interruptions to full-time employment and should not be factored into the calculation of work experience.
If your job offer pertains to an occupation requiring a mandatory license or authorization in Ontario, you must possess a valid license or authorization from the relevant regulatory body in Ontario at the time of your application.
APPLICANT TIES TO ONTARIO
The candidate must show appropriate ties in Ontario in support of living and working in the province after gaining permanent residence. This can be shown by certain factors influencing the strength of the candidate’s application, including:
- Work experience in Ontario
- Applying for jobs in Ontario
- Studying/volunteering in Ontario
- Leasing/owning property in Ontario
- Having professional ties or personal relationships in the province.
If you are submitting your application from within Canada, it is necessary to have legal status (such as a visitor record, study permit, or work permit) at the time of application, and you must maintain that status until the point of nomination.
Applicants are eligible to apply if they are in ‘implied status’ during the submission of their OINP application. ‘Implied status’ refers to the situation where an application has been filed with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to renew or extend a temporary status document (such as a visitor record, work permit, or study permit) before its expiration. During the pending decision on the IRCC application, individuals can stay in Canada and continue their work or study activities under the same conditions as specified in their existing permit.
APPLICATION PERIOD
Once you receive an invitation to apply, you can submit your application to the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream. To get your application approved, you need to meet all the requirements outlined in the following categories.
Expression of Interest and Invitation to Apply
- You need to have received an invitation to apply and submitted your application within the specified deadline.
- You are required to show that you possessed the qualifications you declared in the expression of interest submitted to the OINP, as well as attested to.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
PROCESSING TIME
PROCESSING FEES
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
When the applicant receives the NOI, there are 14 calendar days in which the application must be submitted. For this stage, there is a specific checklist and certain documents that must be gathered for the submission. These documents include:
- attestation
- identity documents
- status documents in Canada
- employer documents
- job offer documents
- documents to support your work history
- resumé
- expression of interest selection factors
- other optional documents (if applicable)
(Submission of unnecessary documents may result in later processing times)
PROCESSING TIME
The average processing time for the OINP International Student Stream is around 120-150 days. An applicant can check the status of the application on the OINP e-Filing portal.
PROCESSING FEES
While there are no government fees when submitting the application to the Express Entry pool or creating an e-Filing portal, once the applicant receives the notification of interest, a sum of $1500 will need to be paid for the processing of the application if the job offer is outside the Greater Toronto Area, and $2000 if the job offer is inside the Greater Toronto Area. (Refunds are possible in case of incomplete applications or withdrawal before the start of the processing). If you decide to retain us as your representative, some professional fees will be applicable.
Program Timeline
Once your application has been approved, you will receive the following via email:
- A nomination approval letter
- A nomination certificate
- A work permit support letter (if applicable)
Once the applicant has the appropriate documents, the following stage is applying for Permanent Residency through the OINP International Student Stream. To do so, there are certain conditions that an applicant has to meet and maintain throughout the whole process. Those include:
- The applicant must either be already employed at the approved company and employer or pursue a work permit within six months and start working within 10 months if the applicant has not started the job yet. If this condition is not met, the OINP program must be notified immediately.
- The nature of the employment, alongside the employer, position, wage, and location must remain consistent throughout the whole process. Upon any changes in employment, the OINP program must be notified of those changes.
Create a profile
Creating a profile on the OINP e-Filing Portal.
Register an expression of interest
Registering an expression of interest for the international student stream.
Fill in forms and upload documents
Filling in forms and uploading required documentations within 14 days of receiving invitation to apply.
Applying for permanent residency (PR)
Applying for permanent residency (PR) to the IRCC within 6 months of receiving the nomination.
Our Professional Fees
Can I apply to the Foreign Worker Stream if I am already working in Ontario on a temporary work permit?
Yes, individuals with a valid work permit working in Ontario may be eligible for the stream, provided they meet the specific criteria outlined by the OINP.
Do I need to have a job offer in a specific region of Ontario for the Foreign Worker Stream?
While the location will affect the eligibility criteria for the employer and how many Canadian citizens or PRs will need to be employed in the company, there is no requirement for the location as long as the office is in Ontario (either in or outside the Greater Toronto Area)
Can I include my family members in the application?
Yes, family members may be included in the application as long as they are direct family members and dependents of the applicant such as spouses and children.
Can my occupation circumstances change after submission?
If an applicant’s circumstances have changed after they have submitted their application, it is crucial to notify OINP of this change. This is important to avoid any delay in processing or any further complications.
Is there a requirement for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for the Foreign Worker Stream?
While there isn’t a strict requirement for an LMIA from the employer, they can avoid the need to prove the attempt at hiring a Canadian citizen or a PR if they do have one. So, while it is not a requirement, it is a helpful asset to have.
