ONIP: Using a Representative

Overview

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) allows foreign nationals with the right skills, experience and education to apply for a nomination for permanent residence in Ontario.

You can submit an application to the OINP on your own or appoint a paid representative to do so on your behalf. By law only certain professionals may act as paid representatives.

You may get free help or advice from any other individual, but this must be disclosed in your online application.

Authorizing a representative to assist you can be helpful but is not necessary.

If you choose to use a representative, please follow the steps on how to appoint one. This will ensure you retain access to, and control of, your online application and allow you to change or end your authorization if you need to.

Who can be a representative

Authorized representatives are regulated under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 and must be:

• a person who is authorized under the Law Society Act, which includes:
  • a lawyer who is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario
  • a lawyer who is a member in good standing of another Canadian provincial or territorial law society and who is authorized to practice law in Ontario
• a member in good standing of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council
• any other individual prescribed by the Minister (none at present)

No one else is legally allowed to charge you or receive any other type of payment to be your representative.

If you have any questions concerning whether or not a lawyer who is a member of another Canadian provincial or territorial law society is authorized to practice law in Ontario, please contact the Law Society of Ontario.

Applicants: How to appoint a representative

Representatives are not allowed to appoint themselves. This means that you must appoint your representative to act on your behalf using your own OINP profile in the e-Filing system. You must create your profile using your personal email address and phone number. Representatives are not to use any other email address for your profile or create one themselves for the purpose of a registration with the OINP.

Registrations in the expression of interest system that were created by self-appointed representatives are invalid and will be withdrawn by the OINP. This means that if it is determined that you did not create your ONe-key account, or, you did not authorize your representative correctly, your registration will be withdrawn.

Applications submitted by self-appointed representatives are invalid and will be withdrawn by the OINP. Your application will be returned as incomplete and your application fee will be refunded.

You must create your own ONe-key account. Your representative is not allowed to create a ONe-key account for you. The OINP does not manage ONe-key accounts and we cannot help you if you lose access to your account. To keep access to and control of your account, never share your ONe-key password with anyone, including your representative.

How to appoint a representative to submit your Express Entry application

Step 1 – Your representative needs to create their own profile in the portal.

Step 2 – To submit an application on your behalf, representatives need your:

• first and last name as it appears on your passport, travel or identity document
• date of birth
• personal telephone number
• personal email address
• country of residence

Representatives are not allowed to use any other email address to submit your application, including their own email or an email they create to register with the OINP. Using your own email means you will receive all registration emails directly and are able to control your profile.

Step 3 – Once you and your representative both have profiles in the portal, you will receive two emails:

1. the first email will include your enrollment number
2. the second email will include your PIN number

Step 4 – Register for a ONe-key account by clicking on the link in the first email and:

1. select Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) from the list of services
2. input your PIN and enrollment numbers

Your representative is not allowed to create your ONe-key account for you.  If you already have a ONe-Key account you may sign in with it.Step 5 – Appoint your representative. Go to the OINP e-Filing Portal and click on the row containing your file number. Once the ‘My Representative’ box appears, click on ‘Appoint’.

Your representative can now log in to their account and submit an application on your behalf.

How to appoint a representative to register your expression of interest

Step 1 – Your representative needs to create their own profile in the portal.