What is the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program and who is it for?

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is Ontario's provincial nominee program. It allows the province of Ontario to nominate skilled workers, international graduates, and certain other immigrants who meet Ontario's economic and labour market needs. Once nominated by Ontario, the applicant applies to IRCC — the federal government — for permanent residence. Immigration itself is a federal responsibility; OINP provides the provincial filter and endorsement.

OINP operates multiple streams organized into two broad categories: Express Entry-linked streams (which connect to the federal Express Entry system) and Employer Job Offer streams (which are employer-driven and mostly paper-based, outside of Express Entry).

Within those categories, OINP has streams targeting specific groups: skilled workers in high-demand occupations, international graduates from Ontario institutions, foreign workers with employer job offers, and workers in the skilled trades. Each stream has its own eligibility requirements, draws, and application procedures.

Ontario is Canada's most populous province, and OINP is highly competitive. Demand consistently exceeds the number of nominations Ontario receives each year from the federal government, so not every qualified applicant will receive an invitation.