Canada: Expanded Eligibility for Certain Students Applying Under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program

• Previous eligibility. Previously, the stream only allowed individuals to apply with a one-year credential from an eligible institution if the program required the completion of a degree as an admission requirement.
• Applicants submitted prior to January 1, 2024. Individuals who submitted applications prior to January 1, 2024 will be adjudicated under the previous, stricter rules.

• Increased eligibility. The change will increase the number of certificate programs which are eligible for an OINP, which result in additional applicants being able to apply under the stream and obtain permanent residence in Ontario.
• Revised Expression of Interest (EOI) scoring factors. The EOI scoring factors have been adjusted to reflect the new rules. Interested applicants who have not been invited to apply for the stream should review the updated scoring factors.

• OINP. The OINP is Ontario’s economic immigration program which nominates foreign nationals for permanent residence who have needed skills and experience for the province’s economy. The federal government of Canada then adjudicates the permanent residence application.
• Increase in selection for OINP. In March 2023, the province of Ontario announced that they were doubling the number of economic immigrants selected under the OINP to help decrease labor shortages.

If the current labor shortage continues, it is likely that we will see further relaxation of immigration requirements so that additional individuals are eligible to apply under the OINP.