Ontario held a targeted draw on March 24 under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw issued targeted Notification of Interest (NOI) to 471 candidates who qualified for the Express Entry Skilled Trades stream.
Skilled Trades stream is for candidates with a cumulative work experience in Ontario. Candidates who qualify the required criteria and wish to live in the province permanently can apply for a provincial nomination through this stream.
The selected applicants had a valid Express Entry profile and a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score between 350 and 600. Candidates eligible under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) were invited through this draw.
The selected skilled workers now have 45 calendar days to submit their application for provincial nomination.
Skilled Trades Stream
The Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream is an immigration program among the three Express Entry sub-streams of the Provincial Nominee Program of Ontario – OINP. It allows foreign workers having work experience in eligible skilled trades in Ontario to apply to live and work permanently in the province.
Before they can apply online to be nominated for permanent residence by the Ontario government, they must have a valid profile in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Express Entry system and obtain a Notification of Interest (NOI) from Ontario. Eligible candidates are invited to apply for a provincial nomination through the OINP.
Nominated candidates have to submit an application to the federal government through IRCC. They make the final decision on who is allowed to stay permanently in Canada.
Eligibility
Candidates must reside in Ontario and have a valid work permit to be considered. They must also have completed at least one year of a full-time job or the equivalent of part-time work. They must have completed this work experience in a skilled trade classified in Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) list in Minor Group 633 or Major Group 72, 73, or 82.
Candidates must have at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in English or French and show settlement funds through bank statements, annual earnings from ongoing employment in Ontario, and/or a job offer in Ontario.
There is no necessity for a job offer to apply for the Skilled Trades Stream, but candidates must meet all federal and provincial requirements to be eligible under this stream.
Application process
The Express Entry Skilled Trades stream does not allow candidates in the Express Entry pool to apply directly to the OINP, and candidates must first get an NOI from Ontario’s provincial nominee program through their IRCC online account.
Candidates have 45 calendar days from the day the NOI letter is issued to submit an online application to the OINP after receiving an NOI. Online applications are accepted through Ontario’s unique application management system.
The Ontario government advises potential applicants to gather all essential paperwork and supporting documents before applying. Any document not written in English or French must be translated, authenticated, and, if necessary, notarized.
The OINP reviews an application after it is submitted. If the candidate is selected, they receive 600 additional CRS points in their Express Entry profile score, and the accumulated high score enables them to receive an ITA in the next Express Entry pool draw.
Express Entry system
Express Entry is a method that allows persons to apply for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada directly (IRCC). It is not an immigration program in and of itself, but it oversees the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Worker Program applications.
Candidates eligible for one or more of these programs have to create an Express Entry profile. After uploading all documents, they receive a score based on work experience, education, age, language proficiency, etc.
Candidates with the best scores are given Invitation to Apply (ITA), which allows them to apply for permanent residency. After an application for permanent residency is received, IRCC aims to complete the application processing within six months.
Canadian Visa News offers a free assessment form that enables aspirants to check their eligibility for different immigration programs to Ontario and Canada.
