Minimum Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible under the OINP Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, candidates must have the following:

• A valid profile in the federal Express Entry pool;
• Indicate an interest in immigrating to either Ontario or “All Provinces and Territories,” as designated in the Express Entry profile; and
• Received a Notification of Interest from Ontario through the IRCC Express Entry online account.
• Work Experience: A cumulative period of at least one year of paid full-time (or the equivalent in part-time) work experience in Ontario within two years from the date of issuance of the Notification of Interest (NOI) from Ontario. Work experience must be in a skilled trade occupation listed in Minor Group 633 or Major Group 72, 73, or 82 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.
• Trade Certification: If you are claiming work experience in a compulsory trade, even if you are no longer working in the trade, you must have a valid certificate or licence in Ontario at the time you apply and you must have held a valid certificate or licence that covers the period of work experience that is being used to meet the minimum one year of work experience in an eligible skilled trades occupation.
• Current Residence in Ontario: Currently residing in Ontario and having a valid work permit at the time of application submission.
• Language Proficiency: A minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in English or French in all language competencies (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
• Settlement Funds: A minimum level of settlement funds.
• Intention to live in Ontario: An intention to reside in Ontario by providing a list of established ties to Ontario.
  
  

Valid certificate or licence (if applicable)

If you are claiming work experience in a compulsory trade, even if you are no longer working in the trade, you must have a valid certificate or licence in Ontario at the time you apply and you must have held a valid certificate or licence that covers the period of work experience that is being used to meet the minimum one year of work experience in an eligible skilled trades occupation.

Currently, there are 23 compulsory trades in Ontario, which are listed below:

1. Alignment and Brakes Technician 310E
2. Auto Body and Collision Damage Repairer 310B
3. Auto Body Repairer 310Q
4. Automotive Electronic Accessory Technician 310K
5. Automotive Service Technician 310S
6. Electrician — Construction and Maintenance 309A
7. Electrician — Domestic and Rural 309C
8. Fuel and Electrical Systems Technician 310C
9. Hairstylist 332A
10. Hoisting Engineer — Mobile Crane Operator 1 339A
11. Hoisting Engineer — Mobile Crane Operator 2 339C
12. Hoisting Engineer — Tower Crane Operator 339B
13. Motorcycle Technician 310G
14. Plumber 306A
15. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic 313A
16. Residential (Low Rise) Sheet Metal Installer 308R
17. Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic 313D
18. Sheet Metal Worker 308A
19. Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer 427A
20. Steamfitter 307A
21. Transmission Technician 310D
22. Truck and Coach Technician 310T
23. Truck-Trailer Service Technician 310J

There are 144 non-compulsory skilled trades, listed here. Out of these, 60 have certificates of qualification to confirm that you have passed the required certifying exam for your trade. The others may require apprenticeship but not an exam. 

Required Documents:

When applying to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) through the Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, it is essential to ensure that all the necessary documents are ready. These documents must be scanned and uploaded with the application. Here is a list of the mandatory documents that you will need to provide:

• Notification of interest from Ontario
• Identity documents
• Status documents in Canada
• Language test results
• Documents to support your work history
• Documents to demonstrate that you meet the settlement funds requirement
• A resume
• Other optional documents (if applicable)
  
  

Application Process:

Here are the steps to apply for the Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream:

• Create an Express Entry profile
• Secure a Notification of Interest (NOI) from Ontario through your IRCC online account. Candidates in the Express Entry pool may not apply directly to the OINP under the Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream.
• Receive a NOI letter from the OINP.

• Once you receive an NOI, you have 45 calendar days from when the NOI letter was issued to submit an online application to the OINP. Applications are submitted online through Ontario’s unique application management system.

• Gather all relevant paperwork and supporting documentation required for an application. Any document not in English or French must be translated, certified, and notarized if required.
• Pay the application fee of $1,500 CAD.
• After submitting your application, it will be reviewed by the OINP. If successful, you will receive 600 additional CRS points and an Invitation to Apply (ITA) at a subsequent draw from the Express Entry pool.

• Once the application for permanent residence has been submitted, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to process the application to completion within six months.

Draw Updates:

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted a draw on August 3, 2023, for the Express Entry Skilled Trades stream. NOI was issued to potential candidates who met the eligibility criteria, including having a comprehensive ranking system (CRS) score between 250 – 516 and work experience in specific national occupational classification (NOC) codes i.e the TEERS below were listed as their main NOC Teer in their express entry profile:

• NOC 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
• NOC 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
• NOC 72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
• NOC 72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
• NOC 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
• NOC 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
• NOC 72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
• NOC 72022 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations
• NOC 72024 – Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
• NOC 72101 – Tool and die makers
• NOC 72102 – Sheet metal workers
• NOC 72103 – Boilermakers
• NOC 72104 – Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
• NOC 72105 – Ironworkers
• NOC 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
• NOC 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
• NOC 72201 – Industrial electricians
• NOC 72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers
• NOC 72204 – Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers
• NOC 72300 – Plumbers
• NOC 72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
• NOC 72310 – Carpenters
• NOC 72320 – Bricklayers
• NOC 72321 – Insulators
• NOC 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
• NOC 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
• NOC 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
• NOC 72403 – Railway carmen/women
• NOC 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
• NOC 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
• NOC 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
• NOC 72422 – Electrical mechanics
• NOC 72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
• NOC 72500 – Crane operators
• NOC 73100 – Concrete finishers
• NOC 73101 – Tilesetters
• NOC 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
• NOC 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
• NOC 73111 – Glaziers
• NOC 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
• NOC 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
• NOC 73201 – General building maintenance workers and building superintendents
• NOC 73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators
• NOC 73209 – Other repairers and servicers
• NOC 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
• NOC 82031 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services

The Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream offers a pathway for skilled trades workers to settle and work in Ontario. Candidates must secure a NOI from Ontario, meet the minimum eligibility requirements, and follow the application process to be considered for permanent residency in Ontario.