Can my Ontario-based company use OINP to bring a foreign employee to Canada permanently?
Yes. If your company has a qualifying foreign worker in a permanent, full-time role in an eligible occupation, OINP's Employer Job Offer streams may allow you to support that worker's permanent residence through a provincial nomination.
The employer side requires: being legally incorporated and registered in Ontario, being in good standing with Ontario's employment, health and safety, and human rights laws, not being a temporary staffing agency, and ensuring the job offer meets OINP's wage and occupation criteria. The employer must also support the LMIA process with ESDC (the federal department responsible for LMIAs), or the worker must already be employed under a valid LMIA-exempt work permit.
OINP streams are employer-driven — the employer plays an active role in the nomination, not just by signing the offer letter but by providing documentation about the company and the role. OINP may contact the employer directly during processing.
Employers should understand that supporting a nomination is not a guarantee of approval. OINP and IRCC conduct independent reviews. Businesses looking to retain skilled foreign employees as permanent residents should begin planning well before any temporary work permits expire, as timelines can be long.
Key takeaways
- Ontario employers can support foreign workers' permanent residence through OINP's EJO streams.
- The employer must be in good standing, registered in Ontario, and not a temp agency.
- Employers play an active documentation role in the OINP application.
- Start planning early — OINP and IRCC processing timelines are separate and can be lengthy.