OINP – French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

The French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream welcomes French-speaking skilled workers with strong language proficiency in English intended to settle in Ontario permanently

The French-Speaking Skilled Worker 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 French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream target the foreign skilled workers who can speak french and have strong English language abilities intend to live and work in Ontario permanently. Candidate must have a valid profile in the IRCC Express Entry system where the candidate must meet the requirements of one of these federal economic immigration programs – Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

If the candidate is living in Canada, he/she must have a legal status like study permit, visitor record or work permit, at the time of application submitted and must be maintained till the application processed. The OINP also accepts applications from the applicants who are on an Implied Status while applying.

Eligibility Requirement

Express Entry Profile

OINP French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream is aligned with the Express Entry system in which candidates must have an active profile and eligible in one of the two federal economic programs which are Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Before creating an IRCC Express Entry profile candidate must take a language test from an approved test center, get an ECA if the education is completed outside Canada, and determine the NOC code of the past work experience.

Language Proficiency

To be eligible for the OINP French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream, the candidate must demonstrate the language proficiency in both the English and French 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 to understand the French language with the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 7 or higher through the following valid French test:

• Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF)
• Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada).

The candidate must also able to demonstrate the ability to understand the English language ability with the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 6 or higher through the following valid English test:

• International English Language Testing (IELTS) – General Training test only
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – General test only

Level of Education

To be eligible for this stream, the candidate must have completed a Canadian bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree or its equivalent education from another country. The equivalent education must be proved through the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report which shows that the candidate education is equivalent to the Canadian degree. The ECA must be obtained through designated organization by the IRCC.

Work Experience

To be eligible for the OINP French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream, the candidate must decide under which program would like to be assed from – Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Both programs have different work experience requirements.

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)

Under the Federal Skilled Worker program, the candidate must have at least one year of full-time, continuous paid work experience or the equivalent to the part-time work obtained in the last five years prior to the submission of the application to OINP in the same primary occupation mentioned in the applicant’s Express Entry profile. The work experience must be in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B.

The continuous work experience means that there is no break in employment over a one year period. It may be consists of same job with same or different employer(s) but it must be at least one year in the same NOC occupation as mentioned primary NOC in the applicant’s Express Entry profile.

Under the FSW, the candidates also claim a work experience obtained while self-employed but it must have been paid, full-time or the equivalent part-time and in the NOC Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B. This can be demonstrated through the documentation which includes:

• the confirmation of business ownership,
• reference letters from the clients mentioning the services provided and the payment details,
• proof of ongoing payments for the services provided through the invoices or other related documents
• employment documents independently verifiable through 3rd parties.
• Independent documents include the reference letter from third parties indicating the applicant’s duties and periods of work, document indicating the payments to the applicant, services provided by the applicant.

Whereas the reference letter from the applicant, business partner, or family member will not be acceptable.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Under the Canadian Experience Class program, 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 three years prior to the submission of the application to OINP in the one or more occupations that are in the applicant’s Express Entry profile. It must be obtained in Canada while maintaining legal status. The work experience must be in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B.

The continuous 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.

Under both the programs, 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 Master Graduate 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 start 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 have 45 calendar day 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.

Notification of Interest (NOIs) – Recent Draws