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OINP - Ontario PNP - International Student (IS) Stream
One of the 3 PNP streams of Ontario under the Employer Job Offer category
Home > Permanent Residence > Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) > Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) > OINP - International Student (IS) Stream
The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of Ontario's Provincial Nominee Program (OINP), the International Student (IS) stream. The guide will go through an overview of the stream, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.
Overview of the International Student (IS) stream
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The International Student (IS) stream is one of Ontario's PNP streams that requires the candidate to hold a job offer from an employer in Ontario to be eligible.
When receiving a nomination under the IS stream, candidates can then apply for Permanent Residence to the federal government of Canada. |
This stream is not aligned with Express Entry, which means that candidates cannot take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of Express Entry. Processing times of Provincial Nominee Programs (not aligned with Express Entry) are usually longer and take at least 1 year.
The IS stream does require a valid job offer as its main eligibility requirement, and candidates do not need to have previous work experience or to provide proof of funds. There are other requirements that must be fulfilled regarding the candidate, the employer, and the job offer.
The IS stream is quite similar to the Foreign Worker (FW) stream, except that candidates under the IS stream:
The IS stream does require a valid job offer as its main eligibility requirement, and candidates do not need to have previous work experience or to provide proof of funds. There are other requirements that must be fulfilled regarding the candidate, the employer, and the job offer.
The IS stream is quite similar to the Foreign Worker (FW) stream, except that candidates under the IS stream:
- need to have a degree from a Canadian university or college, which is not required under the FW stream,
- do not need to have previous work experience to be eligible, which is required under the FW stream, and
- need to have a job offer with a salary level at or above low wage levels (see eligibility requirements for more details), and the FW stream job offer needs a salary level at or above the median wage levels.
Eligibility Requirements
There are 3 main categories of eligibility requirements that we will summarize below. You can apply to the International Student (IS) stream if you, your employer, and your job offer satisfy to all the requirements below. Again, there is no settlement funds required for this stream.
1. Job offer requirements
To be eligible to the IS stream, the job offer must:
You, and members of your family (combined), cannot hold more than 10% of the equity of the employer, and cannot hold any equity of the employer except if obtained as part of the remuneration package as an employee.
2. Applicant requirements
To be eligible to the IS stream, you, the applicant, must have obtained from an eligible Canadian institution (see below for full list):
1. Job offer requirements
To be eligible to the IS stream, the job offer must:
- be full-time (min. 30h/week and 1,560h/year) and permanent (no end date in the contract),
- be in an NOC TEER Category 0, 1, 2 or 3. You can learn more about NOC codes here,
- have a salary level at or above the low wage level for that occupation in the region where you will be working (if you have a collective agreement, i.e. a written contract between the employer and a union, in your workplace that determines your wages, the wage level requirements do not apply),
- align with your employer’s existing business activities and the position must be needed to maintain or grow ongoing business activity, i.e. the position must be necessary to the employer's business, and
- be for a position primarily based in Ontario.
You, and members of your family (combined), cannot hold more than 10% of the equity of the employer, and cannot hold any equity of the employer except if obtained as part of the remuneration package as an employee.
2. Applicant requirements
To be eligible to the IS stream, you, the applicant, must have obtained from an eligible Canadian institution (see below for full list):
- a degree or diploma requiring at least 2 years of full-time studies, or
- a degree, diploma, or certificate requiring at least 1 year of full-time studies AND requiring a completed degree as part of its admission requirements.
Eligible universities and colleges in Canada
Ontario
- Colleges
- Algonquin College
- Cambrian College
- Canadore College
- Centennial College
- Collège Boréal
- Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
- Confederation College
- Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Fleming College (Peterborough)
- George Brown College
- Georgian College
- Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
- La Cité
- Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Michener Institute of Education at UHN
- Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Niagara College Canada
- Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Sault College
- Seneca College
- Sheridan College
- St. Clair College
- St. Lawrence College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Universities
- Algoma University
- Brescia University College (Affiliated with the University of Western Ontario)
- Brock University
- Carleton University
- Dominican University College
- Huron University College (Affiliated with the University of Western Ontario)
- King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario
- Lakehead University
- Laurentian University
- McMaster University
- Nipissing University
- Ontario College of Art and Design University
- Queen’s University
- Royal Military College of Canada
- Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)
- Saint Paul University (Federated with the University of Ottawa)
- St. Jerome’s University (Federated with the University of Waterloo)
- Trent University
- University of Guelph
- University of Hearst
- University of Ontario Institute of Technology
- University of Ottawa
- University of St. Michael’s College (Federated with the University of Toronto)
- University of Sudbury
- University of Toronto
- University of Trinity College (Federated with the University of Toronto)
- University of Waterloo
- University of Windsor
- Victoria University (Federated with the University of Toronto)
- Western University
- Wilfrid Laurier University
- York University
- Colleges
- Alberta College of Art and Design
- Banff Centre
- Bow Valley College
- Grande Prairie Regional College
- Keyano College
- Lakeland College
- Lethbridge College
- Medicine Hat College
- NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology)
- NorQuest College
- Northern Lakes College
- Olds College
- Portage College
- Red Deer College
- SAIT - Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
- Universities
- Athabasca University
- MacEwen University
- Mount Royal University
- University of Alberta
- University of Calgary
- University of Lethbridge
- Colleges
- British Columbia Institute of Technology
- Camosun College
- College of New Caledonia
- College of the Rockies
- Douglas College
- Justice Institute of British Columbia
- Langara College
- Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
- North Island College
- Northern Lights College
- Northwest Community College
- Okanagan College
- Selkirk College - Castelgar Campus
- Vancouver Community College
- Universities
- Capilano University
- Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design
- Kwantlen University College
- Royal Roads University
- Simon Fraser University
- Thompson Rivers University
- University of British Columbia
- University of Northern British Columbia
- University of the Fraser Valley
- University of Victoria
- Vancouver Island University
- Colleges
- Assiniboine Community College
- École technique et professionnelle
- Red River College of Applied Arts, Science and Technology
- Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology
- Universities
- Brandon University
- University of Winnipeg
- Université de Saint-Boniface
- University College of the North
- University of Manitoba
- Colleges
- Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick
- Maritime College of Forest Technology
- New Brunswick College of Craft and Design
- New Brunswick Community College
- Universities
- Mount Allison University
- St. Thomas University
- Université de Moncton
- University of New Brunswick
- Colleges
- Centre for Nursing Studies
- College of the North Atlantic
- Western Regional School of Nursing
- Universities
- Memorial University of Newfoundland
- Colleges
- Aurora College
- Colleges
- Nova Scotia Community College
- Universities
- Acadia University
- Atlantic School of Theology
- Cape Breton University
- Dalhousie University
- Mount Saint Vincent University
- Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD University)
- Saint Mary’s University
- St. Francis Xavier University
- Université Sainte-Anne
- University of King’s College (Associated with Dalhousie University)
- Colleges
- Nunavut Arctic College
- Colleges
- Collège de l'île
- Holland College
- Universities
- University of Prince Edward Island
- Colleges
- Cégep André-Laurendeau
- Cégep Beauce-Appalaches
- Cégep d'Ahuntsic
- Cégep de Baie-Comeau
- Cégep de Bois-de-Boulogne
- Cégep de Chicoutimi
- Cégep de Drummondville
- Cégep de Granby Haute-Yamaska
- Cégep de Jonquière
- Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue
- Cégep de l’Outaouais
- Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles
- Cégep de la Pocatière
- Cégep de Lévis-Lauzon
- Cégep de Maisonneuve
- Cégep de Matane
- Cégep de Rimouski
- Cégep de Rivière-du-Loup
- Cégep de Rosemont
- Cégep de Saint-Félicien
- Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe
- Cégep de Saint-Jérôme
- Cégep de Saint-Laurent
- Cégep de Sainte-Foy
- Cégep de Sept-Îles
- Cégep de Sherbrooke
- Cégep de Sorel-Tracy
- Cégep de Thetford
- Cégep de Trois-Rivières
- Cégep de Valleyfield
- Cégep de Victoriaville
- Cégep du Vieux Montréal
- Cégep Eduoard Montpetit
- Cégep Francois-Xavier Garneau
- Cégep Gérald-Godin
- Cégep John Abbott
- Cégep Lionel-Groulx
- Cégep Marie-Victorin
- Cégep Montmorency
- Cégep Limoilou
- Cégep régional de Lanaudière
- Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
- Cégep Vanier
- Cégep@distance
- Collège Ahuntsic
- Collège d'Alma
- Collège Dawson
- Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne
- Collège de Maisonneuve
- Collège de Matane
- Collège de Rosemont
- Collège de Valleyfield
- Collège François-Xavier-Garneau
- Collège Gérald-Godin
- Collège Héritage
- Collège John Abbott
- Collège Lionel-Groulx
- Collège Montmorency
- Collège régional Champlain
- Collège Shawinigan
- Collège Vanier
- École nationale d’aérotechnique
- Service régional de l’admission des cégeps du Saguenay-Lac St-Jean
- Sources Adult and Career Centre
- Universities
- Bishop’s University
- Concordia University
- École de technologie supérieure (Université du Québec)
- École nationale d’administration publique (Université du Québec)
- École Polytechnique de Montréal (affiliated with Université du Montréal)
- HEC Montréal (affiliated with Université du Montréal)
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique (Université du Québec)
- McGill University
- Télé-Université (TÉLUQ)
- Université de Montréal
- Université de Sherbrooke
- Université du Québec
- Université Laval
- Colleges
- Carlton Trail Regional College
- Cumberland Regional College
- Great Plains College
- Lakehead College
- North West Regional College
- Northlands College
- Parkland College
- Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies
- Saskatchewan Polytechnic
- Southeast College
- Universities
- Campion College (Federated with the University of Regina)
- First Nations University of Canada
- Luther College (Federated with the University of Regina)
- St. Thomas More College (Federated with the University of Saskatchewan)
- University of Regina
- University of Saskatchewan
- Colleges
- Yukon College
You can apply to the IS stream within 2 years after the date on your degree. For example, if the date on the degree is May 6th, 2019, you cannot apply after May 6th 2021.
If you need a licence or authorization to practice the position in the job offer, you have to hold a valid one when applying.
You must also intend to live in Ontario. OINP will assess this through a series of factors, such as past studies, work, or tourism in the province, having family members or personal relationships residing in Ontario, etc. You can find more information on this in the Required Documents section of this guide.
When applying from inside Canada, you need to have the appropriate legal documentation to prove you are in the country legally, either a Work Permit, a Study Permit, etc. You should keep your status until you are nominated.
3. Employer requirements
To be eligible to the IS stream, the employer must:
- have been in active business in the least 3 years,
- have a location in Ontario where you are expected to perform your duties, and
- have no outstanding orders made against them under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 or the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
For the most recent fiscal year, the employer must also satisfy the following requirements:
- If you will work or report to work inside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the employer must have at least (i) 1,000,000 CAD in annual gross revenues, and (ii) 5 full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
- If you will work or report to work outside the GTA, the employer must have at least (i) 500,000 CAD in annual gross revenues, and (ii) 3 full-time employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
4. Receive an invitation to apply
In order to be considered for this IS stream, you must register an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the OINP e-Filing Portal. Based on your profile, the OINP will assign you a score under the IS stream.
The OINP will invite the highest ranking candidates to apply either on a general basis (rank all candidates who registered an expression of interest) or on a targeted basis (rank only those candidates who have one or more targeted labour market or human capital attributes).
The following are the scoring factors used in this IS stream:
Job offer - NOC skill level (NOC codes here)
- NOC TEER Category 0 or 1 – 10 points
- NOC TEER Category 2 or 3 – 8 points
- NOC TEER Category 4 – 0 points
- NOC TEER Category 5 – 0 points
- Broad occupational Category 0, 2 or 3 – 10 points
- Broad occupational Category 7 – 7 points
- Broad occupational Category 1 or 9 – 5 points
- Broad occupational Category 4 or 8 – 4 points
- Broad occupational Category 5 or 6 – 3 points
- CAD 40 per hour or more – 10 points
- CAD 35 to CAD 39.99 per hour or more – 8 points
- CAD 30 to CAD 34.99 per hour or more – 7 points
- CAD 25 to CAD 29.99 per hour or more – 6 points
- CAD 20 to CAD 24.99 per hour – 5 points
- Less than CAD 20 per hour – 0 points
- With valid work or study permit – 10 points
- Without valid work or study permit – 0 points
- 6 months or more working in job offer position – 3 points
- Less than 6 months working in job offer position or not currently working in position – 0 points
- CAD 40,000 or more in a year – 3 points
- Less than CAD 40,000 in a year – 0 points
- PhD – 10 points
- Masters – 8 points
- Bachelors or equivalent – 6 points
- College diploma or trade certificate – 5 points
- Less than college or trade certificate – 0 points
- STEM/Health (Engineering, Health, Math, Computer Science) and Trades (agriculture and natural resources operations and management, mechanics and repair, architecture, construction and precision production) - 12 points
- Business and administration, social, legal, education, behavioral science, personal, security and transport services, social work and related programs - 6 points
- Arts and humanities, BHASE programs, and others not included above - 0 points
- More than one Canadian credential – 10 points
- One Canadian credential – 5 points
- CLB9 or higher – 10 points
- CLB8 – 6 points
- CLB7 – 4 points
- CLB6 or lower – 0 points
- 2 Official Languages – 10 points
- 1 Official Language – 5 points
- Northern Ontario – 10 points
- Other areas outside GTA (except Northern Ontario) – 8 points
- Inside GTA (except Toronto) – 3 points
- Toronto – 0 points
- Northern Ontario – 10 points
- Other areas outside GTA (except Northern Ontario) – 8 points
- Inside GTA (except Toronto) – 3 points
- Toronto – 0 points
- Credential was completed without physically attending (in-person) classes – 0 points
- As determined by OINP – 10 points
- One of the OINP Strategic priorities is the Regional Immigration Pilot. To obtain the 10 points, the job offer must be from an employer located in one of the following pilot communities :
Application Process Summary
For a better understanding of the process, below is a list of the steps involved in obtaining Permanent Residence through the International Student (IS) stream. Candidates must:
- Create a profile in the OINP e-Filing Portal.
- Register an expression of interest for the IS stream.
- After receiving an invitation to apply, apply to the IS stream within 14 days by submitting their application through the OINP e-Filing Portal (filling in forms and uploading required documents).
- Apply for permanent residence to the federal government (IRCC) within 6 months of receiving the nomination (after OINP processes their application). Candidates need to apply on paper to IRCC, and include the Nomination Approval Letter and the Certificate of Nomination received from OINP.
Required Supporting Documents
All required documents must be uploaded online, and you will need to create a profile on the OINP e-Filing Portal to do so. Specific requirements for documents are explained in detail here.
For the intent to reside in Ontario, you need to list all ties that you have to the province, including family, friends, prior studies, prior or current work experience, prior visit, etc. Remember to add any document that could support the claims you are making.
If you do not have any of the ties listed above, we recommend talking about the following topics in your letter:
For the intent to reside in Ontario, you need to list all ties that you have to the province, including family, friends, prior studies, prior or current work experience, prior visit, etc. Remember to add any document that could support the claims you are making.
If you do not have any of the ties listed above, we recommend talking about the following topics in your letter:
- Talk about your current job offer and the industry in which you work, and then add information about the prospects of your line of work in Ontario.
- Talk about Ontario in general, what you like about it (weather, festivals, etc.), and how you can settle without any problem there.
Application Fees
The fee for this stream is quite expensive, the most expensive in all other Provincial Nominee Programs. It is set at 1,500 CAD. It can only be paid by a credit or debit card (Visa or MasterCard).
Application fees can only be refunded if the processing of the application has not started, either (i) if the applicant withdraws his/her application before processing starts, or (ii) if the application is refused as being incomplete by the OINP.
Application fees can only be refunded if the processing of the application has not started, either (i) if the applicant withdraws his/her application before processing starts, or (ii) if the application is refused as being incomplete by the OINP.
Processing Times
As of June 28, 2022, the processing times for an International Student stream application are estimated to be between 90 to 120 days. However, some applications may need more time to be processed if more complex or necessitate more documents and/or information.
Stream Opening History
The International Student stream is usually always open. You can check out our awesome Live PNP Monitor to see if the stream is currently open and its latest news, as well as for all the other PNP streams.
Do I have to stay in the Province?
This is a tricky question and there are multiple situations that can happen. You can learn more about this subject on our dedicated article: Can I move to another province?
Does the Stream have In-Demand Jobs?
Some streams target specific NOC codes, meaning that if you have experience in those in-demand jobs, you either (i) have more chances to be invited or (ii) that you can be eligible to the stream. In the case of the International Student stream, there is no in-demand list. You can find out about the other provinces' in-demand jobs in our in-demand NOC codes article.
