Ontario PNP Hits 2024 Nomination Target
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, on December 23, 2024, announced that it had exhausted all the 21,500 available nominations allocated for the year by the Federal Government. With this, a total of successive years have enjoyed success wherein the program plays a primary role in laying a settlement path for permanent residents.
Even though the 2024 quota is complete, new applications and those already submitted will now be reviewed under the program’s 2025 allocation. This ensures candidates can still participate in the program without needing to reapply.
How does the OINP work?
There are 2 steps for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, which are:
Step 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)
Applicants apply through an Expression of Interest via one of five streams administered under the OINP. Profiles are then scored based on labour market needs and individual qualities, such as work experience, education, and language abilities. The ITAs are issued to those individuals whose score in a particular draw equals or surpasses the cut-off.
Step 2: Integration with Express Entry
For some streams, the OINP also uses Canada’s Express Entry system to invite candidates. These invitations, called Notifications of Interest (NOIs), go to candidates with specific CRS scores. This allows Ontario to select skilled workers who meet the province’s labour market needs.
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Overview of Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program activity in 2024
The following is a summary of OINP activity in 2024:
Invitations to Apply (ITAs)
The OINP issued the highest number of ITAs under the Employer Job Offer: International Student stream, followed by the Foreign Worker and Master’s Graduate streams. These streams cater to individuals with job offers in Ontario, recent graduates, and those with specific skills.
| OINP Stream | ITAs Sent | Minimum Score Range |
|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker | 6,695 | 50+ (General Draw) |
| Employer Job Offer: International Student | 8,363 | 72+ (General Draw) |
| Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills | 914 | 34+ (General Draw) |
| Master’s Graduate | 5,519 | 50+ |
| PhD Graduate | 533 | 42+ |
Notifications of Interest (NOIs)
OINP also issued NOIs under three key Express Entry streams, selecting candidates based on CRS scores to meet specific labour market needs.
| OINP Stream | NOIs Sent | CRS Score Range |
|---|---|---|
| Human Capital Priorities | 12,731 | 352–528 |
| Skilled Trades | 9,006 | 350–435 |
| French-Speaking Skilled Worker | 1,525 | 290–469 |
Processing Times by Stream
Processing times for OINP applications vary depending on the stream and complexity of the application. Here’s an overview:
- French-speaking Skilled Worker Stream: Applications are processed within 90 to 120 days.
- Human Capital Priorities Stream: Processing typically takes 60 to 90 days.
- Skilled Trades Stream: Applicants can expect a longer processing time of 120 to 150 days.
- Master’s Graduate Stream: This is one of the quickest streams, with processing times between 30 and 60 days.
- PhD Graduate Stream: Similar to the Master’s Graduate Stream, applications take 30 to 60 days to process.
- Employer Job Offer:
- Foreign Worker Stream: These applications take 120 to 150 days to process.
- International Student Stream: Processing time ranges from 90 to 120 days.
- In-Demand Skills Stream: These applications are processed in 120 to 150 days.
- Entrepreneur Stream: For Expression of Interest (EOI) assessments, processing takes less than 30 days, while application processing times vary depending on complexity.
Applicants should keep these timelines in mind when planning their application process.
What’s Coming in 2025?
The Federal Government has announced that Canada’s overall Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) quota will be reduced from 110,000 in 2024 to 55,000 in 2025, a 54% cut. This means fewer spots will be available for OINP and other provincial programs.
Ontario is expected to receive approximately 10,747 nominations in 2025, a significant decrease from 2024’s 21,500. With fewer invitations, competition will increase, and cutoff scores are likely to rise.
Comparison between the years 2022 and 2024
The expected quota for 2025 will be similar to 2022 when Ontario received just 9,750 nominations. The table below highlights the difference in invitations issued in 2022 and 2024:
| Stream | ITAs in 2022 | ITAs in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker | 1,534 | 6,695 |
| Employer Job Offer: International Student | 1,812 | 8,363 |
| Master’s Graduate | 3,890 | 5,519 |
| PhD Graduate | 445 | 533 |
Fewer nominations in 2025 will make it more difficult for candidates to receive an invitation.
What should applicants do?
With fewer spots available in 2025, it’s more important than ever to strengthen your application. Here are some tips:
- Improve Your Score: Focus on factors like education, work experience, and language test results to boost your EOI or CRS score.
- Keep Informed: Keep yourself abreast of news regarding OINP and updates on the requirements of the program.
- Let Us Help: Immigration experts will help ensure your chances for an invitation are at their maximum.
While other immigration pathways have shut their doors, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has been one of the ways through which skilled workers, students, and other eligible candidates have been settling in Canada. But with the 2024 quota already complete and an expected reduced allocation for 2025, competition will be significantly higher.
The applicants are supposed to make strong profiles and meet the eligibility for success. As fewer invitations will be issued, early preparation with a strategic approach will be the key to outstanding applications.
