OINP: Express Entry System Streams

Learn how to apply for a nomination for permanent residence in Ontario if you have the required skilled work experience, education and language abilities.

Overview

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) uses the federal government’s Express Entry System to manage its applications for the following streams:

Before you can apply to these streams, you must have received a notification of interest from the OINP and have an up-to-date profile with your most current work experience, language tests and education in the federal government’s Express Entry system.

You can only apply to these streams if you are invited. Registering a profile in the Express Entry System is not the same as applying to the OINP or applying for permanent residency.

Before you apply

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, which you need before you can apply to one of Ontario’s Express Entry streams.

First answer a questionnaire designed by IRCC to determine what immigration program(s) you can apply for.

Before you can create your profile in IRCC’s Express Entry System, you must:

take a language test
get an Educational Credential Assessment if you completed your education outside Canada
determine the National Occupational Classification code for your past work experience

When you create a profile in the Express Entry System, you must indicate your interest in immigration to Ontario by selecting Ontario or All Provinces and Territories.

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in your Express Entry profile is inaccurate or not truthful, your OINP application could be refused or your nomination withdrawn. IRCC could also find you inadmissible and/or bar you from applying to immigrate to Canada for five years.

To qualify for one of Ontario’s Express Entry streams, you must also meet the requirements of one of these federal immigration programs:

When you submit your application to the OINP, you will need to select which federal program you would like to be assessed against: Federal Skilled Worker Program or Canadian Experience Class.

Please note that if you are applying under the Skilled Trades stream, you must meet the requirements of the Canadian Experience Class.

Notifications of interest and how to apply

What we do

We search IRCC’s Express Entry pool to find candidates who may meet the criteria of one of Ontario’s Express Entry streams.

If we identify you as a candidate, we will send you a notification of interest through your IRCC online account inviting you to submit an online application to the OINP.

After you create an Express Entry profile

If you are invited to apply, you will receive a notification in your IRCC online account. It is important to note that:

an Express Entry profile does not guarantee that you will be invited to apply to the OINP
a notification of interest does not guarantee you will receive a certificate of nomination

You must demonstrate that you meet all stream requirements at the time of your application, including that you had the qualifications that you claimed in your Express Entry profile.

If it is determined that any information provided in your Express Entry profile is not accurate, is incorrect, or misleading, your application may be denied, and you may be subject to penalties or prosecution.

Please consult the OINP Express Entry notifications of interest page for more information about Express Entry draw results.

If you receive a notification of interest

If you receive a notification of interest, your application must be submitted within 45 calendar days from the date you receive the notification.

Please consult the Applying to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) page for instructions on how to apply after you receive a notification of interest.

Using a representative to apply

Authorizing a paid 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 need be.

After you apply

After you submit your application, you will get an email to confirm that we have received it.

You can check the status of your application through your account in the OINP e-Filing Portal at any time.

For regular updates on processing times, read OINP Application processing times and nominations issued.

If you are nominated, your next step is to apply to the federal government through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. IRCC makes the final decision on who becomes a permanent resident.

Withdrawing your application

To withdraw your application, click on the “Withdraw” button next to your file number on your main page of the OINP e-Filing Portal.

Please note: We will only refund the application fee if you withdraw your application before we start processing it.

Changes in personal information

You must notify us if there are any changes to the information provided in your application, including (but not limited to) changes in:

contact information
immigration status (expiration or change in work permit)
family composition due to:
- marriage or common-law relationship
- birth of a child
- change of custody of a child
- divorce/separation
- death

You can make changes to your telephone number, email address and country of residence by logging into the OINP e-Filing Portal and clicking on “My Profile” on your main page. After the change has been made, click “Save”.

For all other changes, or to correct a data entry error (for example if you misspelled your name):

complete and save a Change of Personal Information form
send the completed form by email as an attachment to ontarionominee@ontario.ca
use the subject line “Application Change Notice – [File number]”
if you are requesting a correction to your name or date of birth, please also include a copy of the personal details page of your passport to validate your request

Please note: We will not accept requests to completely change a name or date of birth.

If you do not notify us of changes to your personal information it could impact the outcome of your application.

Maintain a valid Express Entry profile

You must have a valid profile in the Express Entry system from when you apply until you are nominated. If your profile expires during the processing of your application, you must notify us as soon as possible by email at ontarionominee@ontario.ca and include the following documentation:

A copy of the letter you received from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) acknowledging the new profile with Express Entry number and job seeker validation code; and
A copy of the letter received from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada explaining why your old profile became ineligible

Failure to notify the program of your new Express Entry profile will result in your application being returned as incomplete and your application fee refunded.

If you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence from IRCC while your application is being processed by the OINP, your profile is no longer available for us to nominate you.

You must decide to:

reject the ITA issued by IRCC, or
withdraw your application to the OINP

If you reject the ITA you must send us a request to continue processing your application as soon as possible by email to ontarionominee@ontario.ca and include a screenshot showing that you have rejected the ITA from IRCC.

If you are nominated

If your application is successful, you will receive a nomination approval letter and a nomination certificate by email.

We will enter the details of your nomination into the IRCC Express Entry System. You will then receive a notification of your nomination through your IRCC online account.

You have 30 calendar days to accept or refuse the nomination in the Express Entry System.

If you accept, you will receive an additional 600 points for being nominated, which means you will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence from IRCC in the next round of invitations.

You then have 60 calendar days to submit your application to IRCC for permanent residence.

You may request a transfer of your nomination to a new Express Entry profile if your original Express Entry profile has become ineligible.

You can request a transfer to your new Express Entry profile by emailing the OINP at ontarionominee@ontario.ca with both of the following:

a copy of the letter you received from IRCC acknowledging the new profile with Express Entry number and job seeker validation code
a copy of the letter received from IRCC explaining why your old profile became ineligible

You may request an extension of your nomination certificate if you applied to IRCC but your application for permanent residence was returned due to being incomplete, or you were delayed in gathering supporting documents (for example, police criminal record check) for your application for permanent residence.

Only requests that comply with the above requirements will be granted.

You can request an extension by emailing the OINP at ontarionominee@ontario.ca with both of the following:

a letter of explanation describing the reason to extend your nomination certificate
a copy of the incomplete letter from IRCC (if applicable)

Approval of the nomination

Your nomination is subject to the following condition until you receive permanent residence:

you must continue to demonstrate on a reasonable basis an intention to reside in Ontario

If you are not nominated

If your application is unsuccessful, we will let you know by email.

If you think we made an error in our decision that led to your application being refused, you may ask for an internal review.

To request an internal review:

Download and complete the Notice of Request for Internal Review form. Ensure that you carefully read the instructions on the form.
In a separate document, clearly identify an error or errors in the director’s decision or order that, if not made, would have resulted in the decision or order being decided differently (see subsection 10(1)(a) of Ontario Regulation 421/17 (General))
Send the completed Notice of Request for Internal Review form and all supporting documents by email to internalreview-revisioninterne@ontario.ca. You must email us within 30 calendar days of receiving your notice of refusal.

Do not include any new information that you did not include in your original application, unless that information was not reasonably available to you at the time the decision or order was made.

New information that you did not include in your application because of an oversight will not be considered.

Internal review requests must be sent by email. We will not accept requests by mail, fax or in person.