Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Invitations to apply July 16, 2024

On July 16, 2024, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted four separate draws, collectively inviting 1,533 applicants to apply for permanent residency.

• Under the Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream, 839 invitations were extended with a minimum score requirement of 77 points, targeting 104 priority occupations.
• Additionally, 424 invitations were issued in the Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream (Healthcare) draw, requiring a minimum score of 81 points and focusing on 41 healthcare occupations.
• In the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream, 265 invitations were sent out with a minimum score of 35 points, encompassing a broad spectrum of 56 eligible occupations.
• A nominal number of 5 invitations were offered under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream, without a specified minimum score.

This draw for the in-demand skills stream was the first in 2024, following the recent addition of 35 new occupations to its eligibility list. The international student stream draws specifically targeted healthcare and priority occupations, whereas the general in-demand skills stream considered all eligible occupations. A comprehensive list of the 41 healthcare occupations and 104 priority occupations included in these draws can be found on the OINP website.

These draws underscore Ontario’s commitment to attracting skilled workers, international students, and individuals with in-demand skills to address labor market needs within the province.

Record-Breaking Nominee Numbers in 2023

In 2023, the OINP issued a record 16,506 nominations, marking a 40% increase from the 9,750 nominations in 2022. The leading OINP streams in terms of nominations were:

• Masters Graduate Stream: 5,407 nominations.
• Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream: 4,985 nominations.
• Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream: 3,017 nominations.

The OINP has focused on nominating skilled trades workers, healthcare workers, and technology professionals in both 2022 and 2023. Top nominated occupations included software engineers, welders, and database analysts. The primary countries of origin for OINP nominees in 2023 were India, China, and Nigeria, with the top industries being manufacturing, professional/technical services, construction, and healthcare.

Overall, the OINP has been highly active in 2023, issuing a record number of nominations to mitigate labor and skills shortages in Ontario. Candidates with job offers, in-demand skills, and advanced degrees have had the best chances of receiving OINP nominations.

Below is a summary of all draws conducted since the start of year 2024