OINP: Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream

Overview

Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream is an immigration stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

It gives foreign nationals with Ontario work experience in eligible skilled trades the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario.

You must have a valid profile in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) Express Entry system and receive a Notification of Interest from Ontario before you can apply online to be nominated by the Ontario government for permanent residence.

If you are nominated, your next step will be to apply to the federal government through IRCC. They make the final decision on who becomes a permanent resident.

Before you apply

1. Create a profile in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system

You must have a profile in IRCC’s Express Entry system before we can send you a Notification of Interest (NOI), which you need before you can apply to Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream.

To qualify for IRCC’s Express Entry system, you should first answer a questionnaire designed by IRCC to determine what immigration program(s) you can apply for. The questionnaire is hosted on IRCC’s webpage: Do you want to come to Canada as a skilled immigrant?

Based on your responses, the Express Entry system will indicate whether you qualify for the federal Express Entry program. If you qualify, you will be provided with a reference number, which can be used to create an online profile in the Express Entry system.

Once you create your profile, you will receive an Express Entry profile number and a Job Seeker Validation Code. You will need these numbers if you receive a NOI from Ontario and wish to apply to Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream.

You will also be assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Your CRS score is calculated based on the information provided in your profile, including your age, education, language proficiency, skills, work experience, etcetera.

You must provide accurate and truthful information in your Express Entry profile. If the information in your Express Entry profile is inaccurate or not truthful, your OINP application could be refused or your nomination withdrawn. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC could also find you inadmissible and/or bar you from applying to immigrate to Canada for five years.

2. Make sure you meet the mandatory requirements

This stream has a number of mandatory requirements you must meet before you can apply.

3. Understand the application process

Please note:

• from the date you receive an NOI issued by Ontario for Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, you have 45 calendar days to apply to this stream
• you have to apply online through the OINP e-Filing Portal
• it takes about three hours to complete the application
• you do not have to complete the application in one session, you can save your work and return to it later
• you can complete the application yourself or have a representative complete it on your behalf 
• you have to pay $1,500 to apply
• you have to pay by credit card, we only accept Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard and Mastercard Debit

4. Have your supporting documents ready

You also need to make sure you have all your supporting documents, in English or French, scanned and ready to upload when you apply. If you do not, your application will be returned as incomplete and your application fee will be refunded.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Express Entry system

Express Entry is an online system Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to manage applications for permanent residence in Canada. We can search the system to find candidates who may meet the criteria of one of Ontario’s Express Entry streams.

What you need to do

Before you can create your profile on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system, you must:

• take a language test
• get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if you completed your education outside Canada, and
• determine the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code for your past work experience

Once you are ready, you can create your Express Entry profile.

If you meet the Express Entry criteria, you will be accepted into the Express Entry pool of candidates. You will receive an Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code. You will need to submit these with your application to the OINP.

To qualify for Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, you must also meet the requirements of the federal government’s Canadian Experience Class.

What we do

We search IRCC’s Express Entry pool to find candidates who may meet the criteria of Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream.