Easy guide to OINP Skilled Trades program

Easy guide to OINP Skilled Trade program

The OINP Skilled trades stream is one of the three pathways that are managed through the Federal Express Entry system- the other two streams are: Human Capital Priorities and the French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream.

Eligibility for OINP Express Entry Skilled Trades stream

1. Express Entry Profile and Notification of Interest

First and foremost, you must have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool. Secondly, you must have received the Notification of Interest (NOI) from the government of Ontario.

2. Mandatory Work Experience

To be eligible for the Skilled Trades stream, you must have one year of collective work experience in Ontario.
You must have gained this work experience within the last two years by applying to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The work experience gained must be in the same NOC codes as mentioned in the Express Entry profile. Additionally, you must gain this work experience while legally staying in Canada.

Your Work Experience must:

  1. Belong to eligible trade occupations
  2. Your experience must be in a full-time job. A full-time job means 30 hours of work in a week or 1560 hours of paid work in a year. If your job experience was in a part-time occupation, then it must amount to at least 1560 hours of paid work in two years. You can also meet the full-time work hours by working in multiple part-time jobs. 
  3. Paid work experience while studying and self-employment will not be qualified
  4. Unpaid internships and volunteer work will not be accepted.

3. Valid License and Certification

To be eligible for the OINP Skilled trades, you must have a valid license in Ontario when you apply to the skilled trade program. Even if you are not working in the trade at the time, you must be in possession of a license if your work experience is in a compulsory trade. 

4. Living in Ontario

Besides having valid work experience in Ontario, you must also be legally staying in the province at the time of applying for the skilled trades stream. You should also have a valid work permit at the time of application. In case your work permit has expired, you can apply to the OINP skilled trades pathway, if you have applied to the IRCC for renewal or extension of your work permit. This is called to be in ‘implied status’. 

5. Language Proficiency

You must score CLB 5 or higher in all 4 areas of writing, reading, listening, and speaking. OINP accepts IELTS and CELPIP-G tests for English language proficiency and TCF, and TEF for French proficiency. Your language test result must not be older than 2 years at the time of application submission.

6. Settlement Funds

The provincial government of Ontario must be convinced that you will be able to financially support yourself and your family (if they are accompanying you). Therefore, you must have mandatory funds to be eligible for applying to the OINP Skilled Trades stream.
If you are applying to OINP as the sole applicant, you must have $13,310. The mandatory settlement funds increase by $3586 with every additional family member accompanying you. 

7. Plans to settle in Ontario

You must have decided to permanently settle in the province of Ontario and economically and socially benefit the province. Your aim to settle in the province can be demonstrated by:

  1. Your working in the province,
  2. Appearing for interviews and applying for job offers
  3. Having a social and professional network in the province
  4. Owing or leasing property in the province, etc.

Ontario PNP skilled trades list

OINP skill trades 2

To be eligible for the OINP Skilled Trades program, you must have work experience in one or more of the following trade occupation NOC codes tabulated below. All the NOC codes belong to either TEER 2 or TEER 3. The TEER level denotes the Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities needed to be eligible for an occupation.

TEER 2

72010

72011

72012

72013

72014

72020

72021

72022

72023

72024

72025

72100

72101

72102

72103

72104

72105

72106

72200

72201

72202

72203

72204

72205

72300

72301

72302

72310

72311

72320

72321

72400

72401

72402

72403

72404

72405

72406

72410

72411

72420

72421

72422

72423

72429

72500

72501

72999

82010

82020

82021

82030

82031

TEER 3

63210

63202

73100

73101

73102

73110

73111

73112

73113

73200

73201

73202

73209

73300

73301

73310

73311

73400

73401

73402

83100

83101

83110

83120

73401

73402

83100

83101

83110

83120

83121

93100

93101

93102

List of Compulsory Trades in Ontario

You need to possess a certification of qualification to be employed in a compulsory trade in Ontario. Following is the list of compulsory trades in Ontario, along with their NOC codes.

Compulsory TradeNOC Code
Hairstylist63210
Residential (Low Rise) Sheet Metal Installer72102
Sheet Metal Worker72102
Electrician — Construction and Maintenance72200
Electrician — Domestic and Rural72200
Plumber72300
Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer72301
Steamfitter72301
Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic72402
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic72402
Alignment and Brakes Technician72410
Automotive Service Technician72410
Fuel and Electrical Systems Technician72410
Motorcycle Technician72410
Transmission Technician 72410
Truck and Coach Technician72410
Truck-Trailer Service Technician72410
Auto Body and Collision Damage Repairer72411
Auto Body Repairer72411
Hoisting Engineer — Mobile Crane Operator 172500
Hoisting Engineer — Mobile Crane Operator 272500
Hoisting Engineer — Tower Crane Operator72500
Automotive Electronic Accessory Technician94200

OINP Skilled Trades: Documents checklist

OINP skill trades 3

Below is the list of documents required to apply for the OINP Skilled Trades stream. 

  1. A scanned copy of the Notification of Interest (NOI) letter that you will receive in your IRCC account. It must include the date of issue.
  2. A scanned copy of your photograph 
  3. Copy of the personal details page of your passport
  4. Copy of work permit, study permit, or any other immigration document
  5. Copy of language test result. It should not be older than 2 years.
  6. Documents to demonstrate your work experience. They must be on the official letterhead and must contain the name of your employer, business address, email, and contact number. It should also include the employment period and the responsibilities you shouldered, along with your salary.
  7. Copies of payslips, cheques, bank statements, etc.
  8. Copy of Canada Revenue Agency T4 Statements of Remuneration Paid for work experience in Ontario.
  9. If your work experience was in a regulated occupation in Ontario that needs a mandatory license, you need to submit a copy of your certification from the Ontario College of Trades.
  10. Scan documents to demonstrate that you have enough settlement funds. You might be required to submit copies of your recent bank statements showing the last three months’ activities.
  11. If you have a job offer in Ontario, you must provide a copy of your job offer letter that mentions your job title, responsibilities, wage, and starting date of your employment.
  12. Copy of your latest Resumé that includes your work experience and education, along with your personal details.

Interesting read: Employer Job Offer: OINP International Student Stream

Ontario Skilled Trades: Processing time and fee

The processing time of the OINP Express Entry Skilled trades stream is approximately 70 to 100 days or 2.5 – 3.5 months.

The Ontario Skilled Trades application fee is $1500.

OINP Skilled Trades draws.

The OINP skilled trades draws are held to issue NOI or Notification of Interest to suitable applicants with an Express Entry profile. In the last 5 years, the OINP has issued 14571 NOIs. The total number of NOIs is represented in the graph below.

OINP skill Trades 4

As we can see, the year 2022 issued the highest number of NOIs. The OINP skilled trades draw in the year 2023 are given below:

DateNOI IssuedCRS ScoreDraw Type

13.01.2023

1252

336-506

Targeted draw for the following occupations:

NOC 72010, 72011, 72012, 72013, 72014, 72020, 72021, 72022, 72024, 72101, 72102, 72103, 72104, 72105, 72106, 72200,72201, 72203, 72204, 72300, 72301, 72310, 72320, 72321, 72400, 72401, 72402, 72403, 72404, 72406, 72410, 72422, 72423, 72500, 73100, 73101, 73102, 73110, 73111, 73112, 82031, 92100

OINP Express Entry Skilled Trades stream- explained step by step

The complete process of the Ontario Express Entry skilled trades stream can be divided into two phases. 

Phase 1: Getting the Provincial Nomination

This phase consists of all the steps involved in getting the provincial nomination by the OINP skilled trades stream. 

Step 1:  Create your Express Entry profile and select Ontario as your choice of province to settle in.

Step 2: Depending on the information submitted while creating your profile, you will be assigned one of the three Express Entry pathways, and your CRS score

Step 3: Receive a Notification of Interest in your IRCC account in the OINP draws

Step 4: Apply for the OINP skilled trades stream within 45 days of receiving your NOI

Step 5: Upload all the mandatory documents and pay $1500.

OINP skilled trade Program
Create Express Entry Profile and select Ontario as the preferred province

Phase 2: After Nomination

Now that you have received the provincial nomination, the following steps are required to get Canada PR through the Express Entry system.

Step 6: Receive the nomination approval letter and a nomination certificate through email

Step 7: Your nomination is updated in your Express Entry profile by OINP

Step 8: Accept the nomination through your IRCC express entry account within 30 days of getting the nomination notification.

Step 9: Get 600 additional points by the Comprehensive Ranking System

Step 10: Receive the Invitation to Apply or ITA in Express Entry draws

Step 11: Upload all documents required, pay $1365 (if you are the sole applicant), and complete the PR application. 

Step 12: Apply to IRCC for Canada PR through Express Entry within 60 days of getting the ITA

Step 13: Get the COPR or Confirmation of Permanent Residence once your PR application is approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Tips to make the process faster

Did you know submitting a complete and updated application drastically reduces the processing time? Talent Connected Worldwide not only helps you gather all the mandatory documents and their acceptable substitutes but also creates an Express Entry profile that gets you the highest CRS score possible.

We are CICC authorized (R527196) and have dominated the immigration industry for over a decade. With Bill C-19 about to get implemented, this is the best time to make your Express Entry profile, enter into the pool, and apply for the OINP skilled trades stream.


Athena Campbell

Athena Campbell

Articles: 71

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