OINP – Skilled Trades Stream

Ontario Skilled Trades is one of the Human Capital streams of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) operated by the province of Ontario. Ontario Skilled Trades issues provincial nominations to skilled tradespeople with active Express Entry profiles who are already living in Ontario and have Ontario work experience in a skilled trade. Successful nominations virtually guarantee they will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in the next Express Entry draw.

Suitable candidates must have, among other requirements, at least one year of cumulative paid full-time work experience (or the part-time equivalent) in Ontario in a skilled trade. Candidates must be living in Ontario at the time of their application and must be in possession of a valid work permit.

Skilled trades must be from one of the following categories to be considered for this program:

Minor Group 633 or Major Groups 72, 73 or 82 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)

  • Butchers and bakers
  • Industrial, electrical and construction trades
  • Maintenance and equipment operation trades
  • Supervisors and technical occupations in natural resources, agriculture and related production

 

Program Highlights

Advantages:

  • No minimum level of education is required for this program
  • All candidates in the Express Entry pool are automatically considered for the program when they submit their Express Entry profile
  • Job offer not required in order to qualify under this stream
  • After accepting the provincial nomination, the applicant’s CRS score will increase by 600 points, virtually guaranteeing they will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw

Disadvantages:

  • The program is by invitation only and foreign nationals cannot apply to the program directly
  • Due to high demand in Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream, not all candidates who meet the criteria will receive a Notification of Interest (NOI)
  • Must already be living and working in Ontario to be applicable for this program
  • Only select few trades qualify

 

Eligibility

 

Requirements Details
Express Entry Profile All candidates must have an Express Entry profile in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program and meet all minimum requirements
Language Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in French or English
Work Experience All candidates must have obtained work experience in Ontario in an eligible skilled trade. A minimum of 12 months of full-time (or the equivalent in part-time) work experience in Ontario within two years from the date on which the NOI from Ontario was issued. Work experience must be in a skilled trade occupation listed above. Full-time work means a job with at least 30 hours of paid work a week for a total of 1,560 hours in one year
Trade Certificate (if applicable) Candidates must obtain a trade license or certification from the Ontario College of Trades if working/have worked in an occupation in Ontario that requires a license or certification
Funds All candidates for the Ontario Skilled Trades stream must meet the settlement funds requirement as determined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). However, no initial investment is required
Connection to Ontario Candidates for Ontario Skilled Trades must be residing in Ontario at the time of their application. As well, candidates must be in possession of a valid work permit at the time the application is submitted
Job Offer A job offer is not required
Education No minimum level of education is required

 

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