The Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) Expression of Interest system is now open and accepting registrations for nominations.

Key Points:

  • Registration is now open to the Foreign Worker and International Student streams.
  • The system will remain open throughout the year, giving individuals the opportunity to register an expression of interest (EOI) at any time.
  • The new program will now be based on several scoring factors.
  • A registration does not guarantee an individual the ability to apply for OINP. An EOI registration is valid for 12 months or until an applicant receives an invitation to apply for OINP.

Additional Information: The OINP expects to open streams in the near future for in-demand skills and individuals holding a master’s or doctorate degree. The OINP will continue to accept applications under the French-Speaking Skilled Worker, Human Capital Priorities and Skilled Trades stream for individuals who have a profile under the federal government’s Express Entry system and receive a notification of interest from the province of Ontario. The Entrepreneur stream also remains open. Program material and website pages have been updated to reflect current regulatory amendments. Individuals must carefully review the relevant website pages to ensure they meet all stream criteria before registering an expression of interest. To learn more about expression of interest requirements, please visit the OINP website.

Analysis & Comments: The EOI program has been implemented to improve the first come, first served system of the previous registration process. Under the previous system, registration would remain open until the quota was reached for the specific program, which meant that spots were usually filled in a matter of hours and many eligible applicants were left out due to technical difficulties in registering for the program quickly. The EOI system will be open throughout the year and is expected to avoid the uncertainty of previous models and implement a selection program based on merit.

This alert was prepared by de Lint LLP, an independent immigration law firm, allied with Deloitte LLP in Canada.