Easy guide to OINP Skilled Trades 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

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 Trade	NOC Code
Hairstylist	63210
Residential (Low Rise) Sheet Metal Installer	72102
Sheet Metal Worker	72102
Electrician — Construction and Maintenance	72200
Electrician — Domestic and Rural	72200
Plumber	72300
Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer	72301
Steamfitter	72301
Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic	72402
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic	72402
Alignment and Brakes Technician	72410
Automotive Service Technician	72410
Fuel and Electrical Systems Technician	72410
Motorcycle Technician	72410
Transmission Technician	72410
Truck and Coach Technician	72410
Truck-Trailer Service Technician	72410
Auto Body and Collision Damage Repairer	72411
Auto Body Repairer	72411
Hoisting Engineer — Mobile Crane Operator 1	72500
Hoisting Engineer — Mobile Crane Operator 2	72500
Hoisting Engineer — Tower Crane Operator	72500
Automotive Electronic Accessory Technician	94200

OINP Skilled Trades: Documents checklist

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.

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 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.

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

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