OINP – Skilled Trades Stream

The Skilled Trade Stream target the international students & foreign workers residing in Ontario with work experience in an eligible trade

The OINP Skilled Trade stream of Ontario Express Entry under Human Capital Category is one of several immigration streams of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program(OINP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) operated by the province of Ontario. The Skilled Trade stream welcomes the international students and foreign workers residing in Ontario with work experience in an eligible trade, skills and education and intent to live & work in Ontario permanently.

Candidate must have a valid profile in the IRCC Express Entry system where the candidate must meet the requirements of the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) of federal economic immigration program. The candidates are able to apply for this stream after receiving a Notification of Interest (NOI) in their IRCC Express Entry profile which is made on the basis of OINP.

Eligibility Requirement

Express Entry Profile

OINP Skilled Trade stream is aligned with the Express Entry system in which candidates must have an active profile and must be eligible in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) of the federal economic programs. The minimum requirements of the CEC program are also aligned with the requirements of the Skilled Trade Stream.

Connection To Province

The candidate must be residing in Ontario and holding a valid work permit at the time of application submitted. It is not mandatory to be employed at the time application submission. The OINP also accepts applications from the applicants who are on an Implied Status while applying.

Language Proficiency

To be eligible for the OINP Human Capital Priorities Stream, the candidate must demonstrate the language proficiency level in all four competencies – writing, reading, listening, and speaking through the valid test results obtained within the last two years prior to the applying of application.

The candidate must able to demonstrate the ability of language skills with the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 or higher through the following valid English or French test:

• For English:
  • International English Language Testing (IELTS) – General Training test only
  • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – General test only
• For French:
  • Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF Canada)
  • Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada)

Work Experience

To be eligible for the Skilled Trade Stream, the candidate must have at least one year of full-time, cumulative paid work experience or the equivalent to the part-time work obtained in the last two years prior to the submission of the application to OINP in the eligible skilled trade occupations. It must be obtained in Canada while maintaining legal status. The occupation listed under the Minor Group 633, or Major Group 72,73, or 82 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

The cumulative work experience means the work does need to be continuous for one year. The work you have done will add up to one year of work.

Paid work experience which is gained through self-employment or while studying full time at the post-graduation institution is not eligible under CEC. If the work experience that was obtained in the Ontario of an occupation requiring licencing or any other authorization, the work experience will be counted only after candidates qualify to practise that occupation in the province of Ontario. Also, the unpaid internship and volunteer work are not counted as valid work experience.

Settlement of Funds

To be eligible for Skilled Trades stream, a candidate must demonstrate that they have sufficient settlement funds to economically establish themselves and their family in Ontario through one of the following combinations:

• Annual earning from the current running employment in Ontario,
• Funds that can be readily converted to cash demonstrated through the statements of accounts or bank statements showing other investments such as mutual funds and fixed-term deposits.
• Job offer from an Ontario employer which includes the employment contract/job offer letter mentioning the position, wage and hours of work. If currently working in Ontario, two recent payslips must be provided as proof of funds.

Intention To Reside In Ontario

Candidate must demonstrate the intent to live and work in Ontario which can be demonstrated through the following ties of a candidate to Ontario:

• Any employment in Ontario
• Jobs applied/interviews for or job offer in Ontario
• Education studies in Ontario
• Volunteer work in Ontario
• Lease Agreement or Property ownership for a residence in Ontario
• Professional affiliations and network
• Family ties
• Personal relationships or social connections
• Last visit to Ontario

Application Procedure

The eligible candidate starts with this stream by creating an IRCC Express Entry profile and wait for the Notification of Interest issued by the province of Ontario. The candidate those who receive an NOI will able to submit an application for a provincial nomination to the OINP. After receiving the NOI, the candidate has 45 calendar days to submit a complete application with a fee of $1,500 CAD through the online OINP e-Filing Portal.

If the OINP approved the application, they will send the notification of the provincial nomination to the applicant’s IRCC online account. On accepting the provincial nomination, the applicant’s CRS score will automatically increase by 600 points, on the basis of which the applicant will receive an Invitation to Apply for the Canadian Permanent Residence in the next Express Entry Draw. On receiving an ITA, the applicant will need to prepare and submit a complete application within the designated timeframe for the Canadian Permanent Residence which is generally processed within six months.

Eligible Occupations

Minor Group 633

• 6331 — Meat cutters, butchers,  and fishmongers – retail and wholesale
• 6332 — Bakers

Major Group 72

• 7201 — Contractors and supervisors, metal forming, machining, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
• 7202 — Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
• 7203 — Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
• 7204 — Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
• 7205 — Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers

723 Machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades

• 7231 — Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
• 7232 — Tool and die makers
• 7233 — Sheet metal workers
• 7234 — Boilermakers
• 7235 — Structural metal and plate work fabricators and fitters
• 7236 — Ironworkers
• 7237 — Welders and related machine operators

724 Electrical trades and electrical power line and telecommunications workers

• 7241 — Electricians (except industrial and power system)
• 7242 — Industrial electricians
• 7243 — Power system electricians
• 7244 — Electrical power line and cable workers
• 7245 — Telecommunications line and cable workers
• 7246 — Telecommunications installation and repair workers
• 7247 — Cable television service and maintenance technicians

725 Plumbers, pipefitters and gas fitters

• 7251 — Plumbers
• 7252 — Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
• 7253 — Gas fitters

727 Carpenters and cabinetmakers

• 7271 — Carpenters
• 7272 — Cabinetmakers

728 Masonry and plastering trades

• 7281 — Bricklayers
• 7282 — Concrete finishers
• 7283 — Tilesetters
• 7284 — Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers

729 Other construction trades

• 7291 — Roofers and shinglers
• 7292 — Glaziers
• 7293 — Insulators
• 7294 — Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
• 7295 — Floor covering installers

Major Group 73

• 7301 — Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
• 7302 — Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
• 7303 — Supervisors, printing and related occupations
• 7304 — Supervisors, railway transport operations
• 7305 — Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators

731 Machinery and transportation equipment mechanics (except motor vehicle)

• 7311 — Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
• 7312 — Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
• 7313 — Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
• 7314 — Railway carmen/women
• 7315 — Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
• 7316 — Machine fitters
• 7318 — Elevator constructors and mechanics

732 Automotive service technicians

• 7321 — Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
• 7322 — Motor vehicle body repairers

733 Other mechanics and related repairers

• 7331 — Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics
• 7332 — Appliance servicers and repairers
• 7333 — Electrical mechanics
• 7334 — Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
• 7335 — Other small engine and small equipment repairers

736 Train crew operating occupations

• 7361 — Railway and yard locomotive engineers
• 7362 — Railway conductors and brakemen/women

737 Crane operators, drillers and blasters

• 7371 — Crane operators
• 7372 — Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction
• 7373 — Water well drillers

738 Printing press operators and other trades and related occupations not elsewhere classified

• 7381 — Printing press operators
• 7384 — Other trades and related occupations, not elsewhere classified

Major Group 82

• 8211 — Supervisors, logging and forestry

822 Contractors and supervisors, mining, oil and gas

• 8221 — Supervisors, mining and quarrying
• 8222 — Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services

823 Underground miners, oil and gas drillers and related occupations

• 8231 — Underground production and development miners
• 8232 — Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers

824 Logging machinery operators

• 8241 — Logging machinery operators

825 Contractors and supervisors, agriculture, horticulture and related operations and services

• 8252 — Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
• 8255 — Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services

826 Fishing vessel masters and fishermen/women

• 8261 — Fishing masters and officers
• 8262 — Fishermen/women

Notification of Interest (NOIs) – Recent Draw