Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) — Ontario's provincial nominee program for skilled workers and graduates
The OINP nominates skilled workers, international graduates, and Express Entry candidates for permanent residence in Ontario. With five EOI-based streams and three Express Entry streams, the right pathway — and the right EOI score — depends entirely on your individual profile.
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Overview
What is the OINP?
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is Ontario's economic immigration program, run jointly by the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada. It nominates skilled workers, international graduates, and Express Entry candidates for Canadian permanent residence based on their ability to contribute to Ontario's economy and fill labour market gaps.
The OINP operates two types of pathways: Expression of Interest (EOI) streams, where you register an EOI and wait to be invited to apply based on your score, and Express Entry-linked streams, where Ontario selects candidates directly from the federal Express Entry pool and issues a Notification of Interest — adding 600 CRS points.
What makes the OINP particularly complex — and where most errors happen — is that scoring factors are different for every stream. Language ability earns 0 points in the In-Demand Skills stream but up to 20 points in the Foreign Worker stream. Education level doesn't score in Foreign Worker but scores heavily in Masters Graduate. Getting your stream and score right before you submit an EOI is critical.
Important: Registering an EOI is NOT the same as applying to the OINP. You can only apply if you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Once invited, you have just 14–17 calendar days to submit a complete application with all supporting documents. Missing this window means starting over.
EOI Streams
The five OINP Expression of Interest streams
These streams use an EOI points-based ranking system. You register an EOI, get scored, and wait for an invitation. Each stream has its own scoring pool — your score is only compared against other applicants in the same stream.
Foreign Worker stream
For skilled foreign workers with a full-time permanent job offer in Ontario in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation. Also includes eligible physicians who may apply without a job offer. Your employer must register in the OINP Employer Portal and submit a job offer before you can register your EOI. You have 30 days from the job offer submission to register.
Key scoring factors: NOC TEER level, broad occupational category, hourly wage, work/study permit status, job tenure, earnings history, language ability, regionalization (location of job offer). No education points in this stream.
International Student stream
For international graduates of an eligible Ontario college or university who have a qualifying job offer in Ontario. Unlike the Foreign Worker stream, this stream also scores your education level, field of study, and where you studied (regionalization of study location). Designed for graduates who studied in Ontario and want to build their career there.
Key scoring factors: All factors apply — job offer TEER, occupational category, wage, permit status, job tenure, earnings history, education level, field of study, Canadian education, language ability, regionalization of job offer AND study location.
In-Demand Skills stream
For workers in specific in-demand occupations — many in manufacturing, transport, and trades — with a qualifying Ontario job offer. This stream is meaningfully different from the other job offer streams: language proficiency earns zero points (CLB 4 is still required for eligibility, but not scored). Many eligible occupations are restricted to outside the GTA. NOC TEER category is also not scored — only the broad occupational category.
Key scoring factors: Broad occupational category, wage, permit status, job tenure, earnings history, regionalization of job offer only. No language, no NOC TEER, no education scored.
Masters Graduate stream
For international graduates with a master's degree from an eligible Ontario university. No job offer required. You must have completed at least one academic year of full-time study in Ontario and meet a minimum CLB 7 language requirement. Historical cut-off scores have typically been 50–54 points — note that there were no draws for this stream in 2025.
Key scoring factors: Permit status, earnings history, education level, field of study, Canadian education experience, language ability, regionalization of study location. No job offer TEER or wage scored.
PhD Graduate stream
For international graduates with a doctoral degree from an eligible Ontario university. Same structure as the Masters Graduate stream — no job offer required, same scoring factors. Must meet CLB 7 minimum. Note: there were no draws for this stream in 2024 or 2025. Applicants with a PhD from Ontario should assess whether the Masters Graduate or Express Entry streams are more active pathways.
Key scoring factors: Identical to Masters Graduate — permit status, earnings history, education level, field of study, Canadian education experience, language ability, regionalization of study. No job offer factors scored.
Not sure which OINP stream matches your profile?
Many applicants qualify for more than one stream — or score very differently across streams. An RCIC will map your profile across all active streams, identify where your score is strongest, and tell you which streams are realistically drawing at cut-offs you can reach.
Book a Consultation →Express Entry linked streams
OINP Express Entry streams — no EOI registration needed
These streams work differently — Ontario selects candidates directly from the federal Express Entry pool and sends them a Notification of Interest (NOI). You don't register an EOI. Instead, Ontario searches the pool for candidates who meet their current priorities and contacts them. An NOI results in a provincial nomination, which adds 600 CRS points — virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply at the next draw.
Express Entry
Human Capital Priorities
Ontario's broadest Express Entry stream. Targets skilled workers in the EE pool with CRS 400+ and at least one year of skilled work experience. Ontario can also invite candidates with lower CRS scores if they have an Ontario job offer or specific skills Ontario is seeking.
Express Entry
Skilled Trades
For tradespeople in the EE pool in specific skilled trade occupations under FSTC. Requires either a valid job offer in Ontario or a certificate of qualification in the trade issued by a province. Minimum CLB 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing.
Express Entry
French-Speaking Skilled Worker
For French speakers in the EE pool. Must have a CLB 7 in French speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Requires at least one year of skilled work experience. No Ontario job offer required, but must intend to live in Ontario.
Important for Express Entry candidates: You cannot "apply" to these streams. Ontario selects you based on your existing Express Entry profile. The best way to improve your chances is to have a complete, accurate EE profile, a strong CRS score, and Canadian/Ontario connections that match what Ontario is targeting. An RCIC can advise on profile optimization before draws.
EOI Scoring System
How OINP EOI scoring works — and why it is different for every stream
The OINP's EOI scoring grid contains 13 factors — but not all factors apply to all streams. The table below shows exactly which factors are scored in each stream. This is what makes the OINP calculator more complex than AAIP or SINP: the same person can score very differently depending on which stream they apply under.
| Scoring factor | Foreign Worker | Intl Student | In-Demand Skills | Masters Grad | PhD Grad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job offer: NOC TEER category (max 10) | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Job offer: broad occupational category (max 10) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| Job offer: hourly wage (max 10) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| Work/study permit status (max 10) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Job tenure (6+ months with employer) (max 3) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| Earnings history ($40k+ NOA in past 5 yrs) (max 3) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Highest level of education (max 10) | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Field of study — STEM vs business vs arts (max 12) | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Canadian education experience (max 10) | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Official language ability (max 10) | ✓ | ✓ | 0 pts* | ✓ | ✓ |
| Knowledge of 2 official languages (max 10) | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Regionalization: location of job offer (max 10) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| Regionalization: location of study (max 10) | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
*In-Demand Skills: CLB 4 is required to be eligible, but language proficiency earns zero points in this stream.
Cut-off scores vary with every draw and are not published in advance. Recent Foreign Worker stream draws have cut off around 35–45 points. Masters Graduate draws (when held) have cut off around 50–54 points. Your score relative to other candidates in the pool matters more than any absolute target — which is why submitting the highest accurate score in the right stream is critical.
Points Estimator
Ontario PNP Score Calculator
Because every OINP stream scores different factors, this calculator changes based on your stream. Select your stream first — the relevant fields will appear and inactive fields will be greyed out so you understand exactly what is and is not scored.
Note: OINP does not publish cut-off scores in advance. Cut-offs vary per draw. Use this to understand your relative score and where to focus improvement — not as a pass/fail number.
Step 1 — Select your stream:
Not sure which stream to register under — or how to classify your field of study?
The OINP scoring factors differ significantly between streams. The same profile can score 15–25 points differently depending on stream selection. A consultation with our RCIC identifies your highest-scoring stream and validates your EOI before you submit.
Book a Consultation →This tool provides an estimate only. OINP does not publish minimum cut-off scores in advance — scores are relative to other candidates in the same pool. Point values are based on published OINP EOI scoring factors. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) for advice specific to your profile. Litmus Immigration Services Inc. — CICC Member | CAPIC Member.
Professional Support
Why OINP applications benefit from RCIC support
The OINP's EOI system is the most complex of Canada's major provincial nominee programs — not because the fields are difficult to fill in, but because the scoring logic differs so much between streams that a small misclassification can cost 10–15 points and determine whether you reach a draw cut-off.
Stream selection strategy
Your score can vary by 15–25 points depending on which stream you apply under
An RCIC scores your profile across all eligible streams simultaneously and identifies which stream gives you the highest EOI score and most realistic chance of reaching a draw cut-off. This single step is often the most impactful thing you can do before submitting.
Field of study classification
Worth 0, 6, or 12 points — and it's based on Statistics Canada coding, not your degree name
Many applicants misclassify their field of study. Whether you score 0 (arts/humanities) or 12 (STEM/health/trades) depends on how IRCC classifies your credential using Statistics Canada's Classification of Instructional Programs — not the faculty or title on your degree. We confirm the correct code before you submit.
Regionalization scoring
Northern Ontario includes specific census divisions that many applicants don't recognise
The difference between 0 points (Toronto), 3 points (inside GTA), 8 points (outside GTA), and 10 points (Northern Ontario) can significantly affect your score. Northern Ontario is defined by specific census divisions — Muskoka Haliburton, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Sudbury, Cochrane, Thunder Bay, and others. We confirm your correct region based on your job offer or study location.
Employer Portal coordination
Your employer must submit first — and you have only 30 days to register your EOI after they do
For all three Employer Job Offer streams, the employer must register in the OINP Employer Portal and submit a job offer before you can register an EOI. If 30 days pass without an EOI registered, the job offer expires and your employer must start again. We manage the timing and coordination between you and your employer throughout the process.
17-day application window
Once invited, you have 17 calendar days to submit a complete application — no extensions
An Invitation to Apply (ITA) triggers a 17-day deadline for the full application including all supporting documents. Missing this deadline means losing your invitation entirely and having to re-register an EOI. We prepare your full application in advance so that the moment an ITA arrives, you're ready to submit immediately.
Register your OINP EOI with professional guidance
Our RCIC will identify your best stream, calculate your maximum accurate EOI score, coordinate with your employer on Employer Portal requirements, and have your complete application package ready before your ITA arrives.
