Overview

Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream is an immigration stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

It gives foreign nationals with Ontario work experience in eligible skilled trades the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario.

You must have a valid profile in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) Express Entry system and receive a Notification of Interest from Ontario before you can apply online to be nominated by the Ontario government for permanent residence.

If you are nominated, your next step will be to apply to the federal government through IRCC. They make the final decision on who becomes a permanent resident.

Before you apply

1. Create a profile in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system

You must have a profile in IRCC’s Express Entry system before we can send you a Notification of Interest (NOI), which you need before you can apply to Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream.

To qualify for IRCC’s Express Entry system, you should first answer a questionnaire designed by IRCC to determine what immigration program(s) you can apply for. The questionnaire is hosted on IRCC’s webpage: Do you want to come to Canada as a skilled immigrant?

Based on your responses, the Express Entry system will indicate whether you qualify for the federal Express Entry program. If you qualify, you will be provided with a reference number, which can be used to create an online profile in the Express Entry system.

Once you create your profile, you will receive an Express Entry profile number and a Job Seeker Validation Code. You will need these numbers if you receive a NOI from Ontario and wish to apply to Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream.

You will also be assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Your CRS score is calculated based on the information provided in your profile, including your age, education, language proficiency, skills, work experience, etcetera.

You must provide accurate and truthful information in your Express Entry profile. If the information in your Express Entry profile is inaccurate or not truthful, your OINP application could be refused or your nomination withdrawn. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC could also find you inadmissible and/or bar you from applying to immigrate to Canada for five years.

2. Make sure you meet the mandatory requirements

This stream has a number of mandatory requirements you must meet before you can apply.

3. Understand the application process

Please note:

  • from the date you receive an NOI issued by Ontario for Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, you have 45 calendar days to apply to this stream
  • you have to apply online through the OINP e-Filing Portal
  • it takes about three hours to complete the application
  • you do not have to complete the application in one session, you can save your work and return to it later
  • you can complete the application yourself or have a representative complete it on your behalf 
  • you have to pay $1,500 to apply
  • you have to pay by credit card, we only accept Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard and Mastercard Debit

4. Have your supporting documents ready

You also need to make sure you have all your supporting documents, in English or French, scanned and ready to upload when you apply. If you do not, your application will be returned as incomplete and your application fee will be refunded.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Express Entry system

Express Entry is an online system Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to manage applications for permanent residence in Canada. We can search the system to find candidates who may meet the criteria of one of Ontario’s Express Entry streams.

What you need to do

Before you can create your profile on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system, you must:

Once you are ready, you can create your Express Entry profile.

If you meet the Express Entry criteria, you will be accepted into the Express Entry pool of candidates. You will receive an Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code. You will need to submit these with your application to the OINP.

To qualify for Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, you must also meet the requirements of the federal government’s Canadian Experience Class.

What we do

We search IRCC’s Express Entry pool to find candidates who may meet the criteria of Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream.

If we identify you as a candidate, we will send you a Notification of Interest (NOI) through your IRCC online account inviting you to submit an online application to the OINP

Please note: Before you apply, you will need to make sure you meet the mandatory requirements for this stream. An NOI does not guarantee that you meet stream criteria or that your application will be approved.

You have 45 calendar days after you receive a NOI through your IRCC online account to complete and submit an application to the OINP.

Due to demand for Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream, not all Express Entry candidates who meet Ontario’s stream criteria will receive an NOI. To be responsive to Ontario’s labour market needs, parameters are set for each search conducted in the Express Entry pool. Notification of Interest (NOI) may be issued to candidates who not only appear to meet stream criteria but who also appear to meet other requirements, such as having work experience in targeted occupations or sectors. You can review the details of each search conducted in the Express Entry pool.

Mandatory requirements

To qualify under Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, you must meet all the criteria in the seven categories below. You do not need a job offer to apply.

Please refer to section 12 of Ontario Regulation 422/17 for more details on each requirement.

1. Work experience

You must have:

  • at least one year of cumulative paid full-time work experience (or the equivalent in paid part-time work) in Ontario  in a skilled trade that is listed in Minor Group 633 or Major Groups 72, 73 or 82 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)

Your work experience must have been:

  • obtained within the last two years from the date of submitting your application to the OINP
  • in one or more of the occupations that you identified in your Express Entry profile
  • in Ontario while maintaining legal status in Canada

Cumulative means:

  • the work you’ve done must add up to one year, but it does not have to be one year of continuous work

Full-time work experience means:

  • working in a job with at least 30 hours of paid work in a week that amounts to at least 1,560 hours of paid work in one year

Part-time equivalent work experience means:

  • working in one job for at least 15 hours per week for two years that amounts to at least 1,560 hours in that two-year period, or
  • working in more than one job for at least 30 hours per week for one year that amounts to at least 1,560 hours of paid work in that one-year period

Please note:

  • your work experience must have been obtained over a period of at least one year
  • work experience totaling 1,560 hours obtained in less than one year period does not qualify
  • if you worked in a compulsory trade, only work experience acquired after becoming qualified to practice that occupation in Ontario will qualify
  • paid work experience gained while studying full time at a post-secondary institution (for example, on a co-op work term) and self-employment are not eligible
  • volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count as work experience

2. Valid certificate or licence (if applicable)

If you are claiming work experience in a compulsory trade, even if you are no longer working in the trade, you must have a valid certificate or licence in Ontario at the time you apply and you must have held a valid certificate or licence that covers the period of work experience that is being used to meet the minimum one year of work experience in an eligible skilled trades occupation.

Find out if your job is in a compulsory trade that requires a licence.

3. Current residence in Ontario and legal status in Canada

You must be living in Ontario and hold a valid work permit at the time you apply.

If your work permit expired, you may still apply to the OINP if you have submitted an application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to renew/extend your work permit before its expiry date. In these cases, you are considered to be in implied status. You can remain in Canada and continue to work under the same conditions as your existing work permit until a decision is made on the pending application.

You are not required to have a job at the time you apply.

4. Language

You must be able to understand, read, write and speak either English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 or higher.

To prove that you have the mandatory language skills, you must take an approved English or French language test before you submit your application to this stream.

The test must not have been taken more than two years from the time you submit your application.

For English tests, we accept:

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

For French tests, we accept:

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

Learn more about the English and French language tests.

5. Settlement funds

You must have enough money to support yourself and your dependent family members when you settle in Canada.

Note that a family member includes your spouse, common law partner and children under the age of 22, including their children.

You can meet this requirement through one or a combination of any of the following:

  • funds as demonstrated by the balance listed in bank statements, or statements of accounts showing other investments such as non-locked in, fixed term deposits, mutual funds, etcetera
  • annual earnings from ongoing employment in Ontario
  • a job offer in Ontario

Learn more about the amount of money you must have available to apply (see ‘How much money you'll need’).

Example: You have checked how much money you must have available and, based on your family size, you must have $29,000 (CAD). You have a job offer in Ontario with an annual wage of $25,000 and you have a balance of $5,000 in your savings account for a total of $30,000. By using a combination of your job offer and bank statement, you would meet the settlements fund requirement.

Note: if you provide bank statements that include a one-time large deposit, we may ask you to provide additional documentation to support that your funds are free of debt or liability.

6. Intention to live in Ontario

You must intend to live in Ontario after you’re granted permanent residence. We determine this by examining your ties to Ontario, which can include things like:

  • working or have worked in Ontario
  • getting job offers or applying/ interviewing for jobs
  • studying
  • volunteering
  • leasing or owning property
  • visiting
  • having professional networks and affiliations, family ties and personal relationships

Supporting documents

You must provide supporting documents to validate the information in your application and to prove you meet the eligibility criteria.

All supporting documents must be scanned and uploaded in your online application. Refer to the document checklist for Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream for a list of mandatory documents.

If a supporting document is not in English or French, you must provide a copy of the original document and a notarized translation of the document. Please read Document translation and notarization for more information.

Remember if you do not upload all the required documents, your application will be returned.

Cost to apply

The application fee is $1,500 and covers the cost of processing your application.

We only accept Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard and Mastercard Debit.

Refunds

We will only refund the fee if we find that your application is incomplete or you withdraw your application before we start processing it.

We will not refund the fee if your application is unsuccessful.

You can check the status of your application through your account in the OINP e-Filing Portal.

Use a representative to apply

Authorizing a paid representative to assist you can be helpful but is not necessary. If you choose to use a representative, please follow the steps on how to appoint one. This will ensure you retain access to, and control of, your online application and allow you to change or end your authorization if need be.

Submit an application

Before you start, make sure you:

  1. Meet all the necessary requirements under Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream
  2. Have your credit card ready (we only accept Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard and Mastercard Debit)
  3. Have your supporting documents (in English or French) scanned and ready to upload
  4. Read the application instructions (important)

Application instructions

Once you click “Submit an application”:

  1. Choose whether you are a returning user or a new applicant
  2. Choose Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream
  3. If you are a new applicant you must pre-register with your name and date of birth (not required if you are already registered)
  4. Log into your ONe-key account. If you do not have one, click “Sign up now!”
  5. Once you’ve logged into your ONe-key account, you will be sent back to the OINP e-Filing Portal
  6. Create a profile in the OINP e-Filing Portal
  7. Once you’ve completed your profile, click “Finish” and you will be sent to your main page in the e-Filing Portal
  8. Click on the file number beside the Skilled Trades Stream to begin your application

Please note: It takes about three hours to complete your application. You don’t have to do it all at once, but you must submit your application within 45 calendar days of receiving your NOI from Ontario.

Submit an application

After you apply

After you (or your representative) submit your application, you will get an email to confirm that we have received it.

You can check the status of your application through your account in the OINP e-Filing Portal.

For regular updates on processing times, read Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Application processing times and nominations issued.

Withdrawing your application

To withdraw your application, click on the “Withdraw” button next to your file number on your main page of the OINP e-Filing Portal.

Please note: We will only refund the application fee if you withdraw your application before we start processing it.

Changes in personal information

You must notify us if there are any changes to the information provided in your application, including (but not limited to) changes in:

  • contact information
  • immigration status (expiration or change in work permit)
  • family composition due to:
    • marriage or common-law relationship
    • birth of a child
    • change of custody of a child
    • divorce/separation
    • death

You can make changes to your telephone number, email address and country of residence by logging into the OINP e-Filing Portal and clicking on “My Profile” on your main page. After the change has been made, click “Save”.

For all other changes, or to correct a data entry error (for example, if you misspelled your name):

  • complete and save a Change of Personal Information form
  • send the completed form by email as an attachment to ontarionominee@ontario.ca
  • use the subject line “Application Change Notice – [File number]”
  • if you are requesting a correction to your name or date of birth, please also include a copy of the personal details page of your passport to validate your request

Maintain a valid Express Entry profile

You must have a valid profile in the Express Entry system from when you apply until you are nominated.

If you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence from IRCC while your application is being processed by the OINP, your profile is no longer available for us to nominate you.

You must decide to:

If you reject the ITA you must send us a request to continue processing your application as soon as possible by email to ontarionominee@ontario.ca and include a screenshot showing that you have rejected the ITA from IRCC.

If you are nominated

If your application is successful, you will receive a nomination approval letter and a nomination certificate by email.

We will enter the details of your nomination into the IRCC Express Entry system. You will then receive a notification of your nomination through your IRCC online account.

You have 30 calendar days to accept or refuse the nomination in the Express Entry system.

If you accept, you will receive an additional 600 points for being nominated, which means you will receive an ITA for permanent residence from IRCC in the next round of invitations, which are usually done every two weeks. You then have 60 calendar days to submit your application to IRCC for permanent residence. You will need to include your nomination approval letter and nomination certificate.

Note: A nomination does not guarantee approval of your application for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

You may request a transfer of your nomination to a new Express Entry profile if your original Express Entry profile has become ineligible.

You can request a transfer to your new Express Entry profile by emailing the OINP at ontarionominee@ontario.ca with the following information:

  • A copy of the letter you received from IRCC acknowledging the new profile with Express Entry number and job seeker validation code; and
  • A copy of the letter received from IRCC explaining why your old profile became ineligible

You may request an extension of your nomination certificate if you applied to IRCC but your application for permanent residence was returned due to being incomplete, or you were delayed in gathering supporting documents (for example, police criminal record check) for your application for permanent residence.

Only requests that comply with the above requirements will be granted.

You can request an extension by emailing the OINP at ontarionominee@ontario.ca with the following information:

  • A letter of explanation describing the reason to extend your nomination certificate; and
  • A copy of the incomplete letter from IRCC (if applicable)

Approval of the nomination

Your nomination is subject to the following condition until you receive permanent residence:

  • You must continue to demonstrate on a reasonable basis an intention to reside in Ontario.

If you are not nominated

If your application is unsuccessful, we will let you know by email.

If you think we made an error in our decision that led to your application being refused, you may ask for an internal review.

To request an internal review:

  1. Download and complete the Notice of Request for Internal Review form. Ensure that you carefully read the instructions on the form.
  2. In a separate document, clearly identify an error or errors in the director’s decision or order that, if not made, would have resulted in the decision or order being decided differently (see subsection 10(1)(a) of Ontario Regulation 421/17 (General))
  3. Send the completed Notice of Request for Internal Review form and all supporting documents by email to internalreview-revisioninterne@ontario.ca. You must email us within 30 calendar days of receiving your notice of refusal.

Do not include any new information that you did not include in your original application, unless that information was not reasonably available to you at the time you submitted your application.

New information that you did not include in your application because of an oversight will not be considered.

Internal review requests must be sent by email. We will not accept requests by mail, fax or in person.

Contact us

Ask us a question by email at ontarionominee@ontario.ca or by phone from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at:

Technical problems

If you are experiencing technical issues with applying online, send us an email at ontarionominee@ontario.ca and include:

  • your file number
  • description of the problem
  • screenshot (if applicable)
  • your full name and contact information

We will review your email and respond to you as soon as possible.

Updated: August 26, 2021
Published: January 14, 2019