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ONTARIO PNP (OINP) French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream is a dedicated immigration channel crafted to draw skilled workers proficient in both English and French to Ontario, Canada. This initiative mirrors Ontario’s dedication to nurturing linguistic diversity and cultural enrichment by extending invitations to individuals capable of contributing their skills and talents while actively encouraging the use of both official languages.
Focused on individuals possessing bilingual skills, this stream acknowledges the significance of linguistic diversity in enriching the economic and social tapestry of the province. Ontario aims to address its labor market needs by carefully choosing candidates who satisfy particular educational and work experience criteria, showcasing a notable proficiency in both languages.
Individuals meeting the eligibility criteria for the OINP French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream have the potential to leverage the Express Entry system. A successful provincial nomination considerably increases their likelihood of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence at the federal level. This strategic initiative serves as a crucial element in the integration of skilled and bilingual professionals into the Ontario workforce, thereby making significant contributions to both economic growth and cultural diversity within the province.
Depending on which program the applicant decides to be assessed for, the requirements will vary accordingly. You can take a look at other OINP programs, and take a look at our professional fees.
Book a consultation today to discuss your eligibility with some of the best immigration consultants and take your first step toward living and working in Canada and ultimately toward Canadian permanent residency.
Recent draws
DRAW DATE
Jan 18, 2024
PROGRAM(S)
French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
INVITATIONS ISSUED
987
LOWEST SCORE
317
Latest Updates
- On January 18, 2024 professionals in general occupations were invited to submit their applications through the French-speaking skilled worker program. The average CRS score ranged from 317-469 and 987 invitations were issued. Read more
On September 21, 2023 professionals in general occupations received their invitations and the applicants’ CRS score ranged between 348-434. In 2023, a total number of 1,490 were issued. Read more
On September 7, 2023 another draw was conducted for general occupations and the average CRS score ranged between 308-434. Read more
- On July 25, 2023 95 invitations were issued to professionals in general occupations and the average CRS score ranged between 321-374. Read more
WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS (NOC TEERS)
SELECTION FACTORS
IMPORTANT NOTES
WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS (NOC TEERS)
Under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the main requirements are
- At least one year of continuous employment that is full-time and skilled. This occupation must also align with the TEER categories 0,1,2 or 3 of the National Occupation Classification (NOC)
- The applicant’s work experience must have been obtained in the previous five years before submission.
- The applicant’s work experience must be in the same occupation as marked on the Express Entry profile.
SELECTION FACTORS
Certain selection factors rank an applicant’s eligibility and they are different from the ones used to rank the Express Entry profile. The overall score that can be assigned to an applicant is 100, while the minimum benchmark an applicant has to meet is 67. If an applicant does not manage to reach that 67 mark, they can improve their application by getting better language test results, acquiring another degree or certificate, or receiving an offer of arranged employment from an employee inside Canada. The maximum points that the applicant may receive for each factor is
- Language ability – 28 points
An applicant must gain at least CLB level 7 in all language areas (reading, writing, listening, speaking) To receive additional points for the second official language maximum 4), the minimum level required is CLB 5 for all language areas.
- Education – 25 points
An applicant must have either a secondary or a post-secondary diploma issued either in Canada or a foreign country. In case this document was obtained in a foreign country, it must pass the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to prove that it is the equivalent of a Canadian secondary/post-secondary credential.
- Work experience – 15 points
An applicant is eligible to receive points for the number of years they have spent working full-time (or an equal amount part-time) in a skilled occupation in one of the 0,1,2 or 3 TEERs of the NOC. The work experience will count if
- It was either in or outside Canada
- The applicant was studying simultaneously
- The applicant was self-employed
- Age – 12 points
The younger the applicant, the more points they are eligible to receive. Applicants aged 18-35 can receive the maximum amount of points, while a point is deducted for each additional year after turning 35.
- Arranged Employment inside Canada – 10 points
An applicant may receive points if they have a job offer for at least 1 year from a Canadian employer and the applicant has to have the offer available before the application to come to Canada as a Federal Skilled Worker. A job offer is valid if it is continuous, full-time, paid, and lasts for at least 1 year. It must also be in 0,1,2 or 3 TEER categories of the NOC.
- Adaptability – 10 points
Both the applicant and the applicant’s spouse or common-law partner are eligible to earn points for adaptability of any of these apply
- Spouse’s language level – 5 points
- Applicant’s past studies in Canada – 5 points
- Spouse’s past studies in Canada – 5 points
- Past work in Canada – 10 points
- Spouse’s past work in Canada – 5 points
- Arranged employment in Canada – 5 points
- Eligible relatives in Canada – 5 points
IMPORTANT NOTES
It is also important to keep in mind that
- Work experience can be gained both from inside and outside Canada.
- Continuous work experience means that there are no gaps in employment throughout the year. Work experience can be obtained by doing back-to-back jobs for the same employer or a different employer, but at least one year of that experience must align with the NOC that is mentioned in the applicant’s Express Entry profile.
- Self-employment may be eligible under this program as long as the applicant brings sufficient proof from third parties indicating a lawful partnership. This can include client reference letters or invoices. Reference letters from family members or the client will not be accepted by the program. It is also important to remember that self-employed work must accumulate to at least 1560 hours over a year of work.
WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
CONDITIONS FOR BOTH PROGRAMS
WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
If the candidate wants to be assessed for the Canadian Experience Class, there are certain criteria that the work experience must meet
- Work experience must be at least one year of paid work obtained cumulatively while working full-time (or an equal amount in part-time paid work).
- It must match one of the 0,1,2 or 3 of the TEER categories of the NOC
- Work experience must have been obtained in the previous three years before submission.
- Experience must match at least one of the occupations marked in the Express Entry profile.
- Experience must have been obtained inside Canada while maintaining a legal status.
- Cumulative work means that work done within the previous three years can add up to one year, there is no need for continuous employment.
It is important to keep in mind that work experience gained while being a full-time student at a post-secondary institution will not count towards experience for the Canadian Experience Class. Volunteer work also does not count toward eligibility.
CONDITIONS FOR BOTH PROGRAMS
- An applicant’s work experience must total 1560 hours, obtained throughout the year. If the applicant has obtained those hours in less than a year, it will not count toward eligibility. The work experience must be for at least a year.
- Full-time work experience is considered at least 30 hours of paid work a week, which equals 1560 hours within a year.
- When engaging in an occupation that requires a license in Ontario, only work experience after becoming qualified to practice it will count.
- Vacations, sick days, or any regular leave off work do not interrupt the continuous nature of work. However, time spent on prolonged leave from responsibilities should not be counted toward work experience.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
SETTLMENT FUNDS
INTENT TO LIVE IN ONTARIO
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Education eligibility can be assessed in four primary ways. Your educational background is eligible if you have obtained:
- an undergraduate degree or diploma that takes at least two years if pursued on a full-time basis from an eligible Canadian institution
- a graduate degree or diploma that takes at least one year if pursued on a full-time basis from an eligible Canadian institution
- a college graduate certificate that takes at least one year to complete if pursued on a full-time basis from an eligible Canadian institution
- a university graduate certificate that takes at least one year to complete if pursued on a full-time basis from an eligible Canadian institution
It is also necessary to make sure that these credentials were obtained while living and studying in Canada for more than half of the duration of the study program.
If an occupation requires a license to keep practicing in the field, it is necessary to possess a legitimate license or authorization issued by the relevant regulatory body in Ontario at the time of application.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
For this specific stream, the candidate must speak both of Canada’s official languages: English and French. The applicant’s English level should be at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 6 while French should be at CLB 7. The test must have been taken within two years before the submission date.
The acceptable English tests are:
- IELTS General
- CELPIP General
The acceptable French tests are:
- TEF Canada
- TCF Canada
SETTLMENT FUNDS
An applicant must show that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their dependant family members when living in Canada. A dependent family member may be a spouse, common-law partner and children under the age of 22, including their children.
Applicants can meet this requirement by one or a combination of any of these options
- Sufficient balance listed on bank statements
- Annual salary from an occupation in Ontario
- A prospective job offer in Ontario
For example, if the candidate is required to show $25564, but their employment only covers $20000, the candidate then can even this up by money available in their balance. Candidates can learn about how much money they will require depending on their family size. (One-time large deposits may require more documentation in support of genuine funds rather than debt or liability)
INTENT TO LIVE IN ONTARIO
The applicant’s ties to Ontario are another determining factor in receiving an invitation to apply. The candidate must show that upon receiving permanent residence, he/she intends to live and work in Ontario. Some of the factors that can serve as proof of ties in the province include:
- Past work experience in Ontario
- Applying for jobs/actively going to job interviews
- Leasing or owning property
- Studying/volunteering
- Having professional ties or personal relationships
If the candidate is submitting their application from inside Canada, they must show that they possess a valid status like a visitor visa or a study permit. If they are in the process of extending their status, they can apply if they have their “maintained status” which essentially grants the applicant the right to remain in Canada while a decision is being made on the extension of their status.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
PROCESSING TIME
PROCESSING FEES
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
When applying for the Human Capital Priorities Stream, the applicant will need to scan and upload a list of documents within 45 days of receiving the invitation:
- notification of interest from Ontario
- identity documents
- status documents in Canada
- education documents
- language test results
- documents to support your employment in Ontario (if applicable) and your work history
- documents to demonstrate that you meet the settlement funds requirement
- resumé
- other optional documents (if applicable)
If you have any dependent family members, you must also scan and upload the following documents:
- passports for all dependent family members
- status documents for your spouse or common-law partner
- if applicable, documents to support your spouse or common-law partner’s
- education in Canada
- work experience in Canada
- language test results
- documents if you or your spouse or common-law partner have relatives in Canada
- other optional documents
All of these documents are necessary to upload unless notified otherwise. The upload of unnecessary documents may result in delays in processing.
PROCESSING TIME
The average processing time for this stream usually takes 60-90 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 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. (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 nominated, candidates need to submit a complete application for permanent residence to the federal immigration authorities within 45 days.
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
What is the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, and how does it affect the HCP stream?
The CRS score is a points-based system used to rank candidates in the Express Entry pool. Candidates who receive an NOI must have a certain CRS score, and a successful nomination adds 600 points to their CRS score, virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Can I apply directly to the HCP stream, or do I need to be nominated by Ontario?
You cannot apply directly to the HCP stream. Eligible candidates are identified through the Express Entry pool, and Ontario issues NOIs to those who meet specific criteria.
How does the HCP stream contribute to my permanent residence application?
A successful nomination through the HCP stream adds 600 points to your CRS score, significantly increasing your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence in the subsequent Express Entry draw.
Do I need to have a job offer for this stream?
No, the Human Capital Priorities stream does not require a job offer. However, a job offer can be used to prove the funds necessary to sustain the applicant and their dependants.
Is the minimum 67 score applicable both for CEC and FSWP?
No, only the FSWP requires a minimum score of 67 to be eligible, there is no such requirement for the CEC program.
My degree was completed in the UK in English, do I still need an ECA?
Yes, an Educational Assessment is required for any education from other countries, including English-speaking countries like the US and the UK. These assessments can be done by one of the recognized organizations.
