Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream
Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream
The Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream is one of the 3 PNP streams of Ontario which aligns with Express Entry that will get you additional 600 points in Express Entry. The Skilled Trades stream represents one of Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) pathways that seamlessly integrates with the Express Entry system. This integration necessitates candidates to possess a valid Express Entry profile to qualify for this stream.
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Through this stream, Ontario selects prospective newcomers to the province based on a set of specific requirements. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) meticulously assesses candidates already present in the Express Entry pool and extends Notifications of Interest (equivalent to invitations to apply) to those whose profiles align most closely with the province’s needs.
While the OINP international student stream skilled trades stream does have minimum eligibility criteria, not every candidate meeting these minimum standards receives a Notification of Interest. Instead, Ontario conducts periodic draws specifically for the skilled trades stream, each with its own set of criteria, such as a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, among others. Additional details regarding these draws can be found in the draw history section of this guide.
Upon nomination through the skilled trades stream, a candidate receives an additional 600 CRS points in their Express Entry profile, essentially guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply for permanent residency.
Eligibility Requirements- OINP Skilled Trade
You need to qualify to the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) federal program to be eligible to the Skilled trades stream. To understand the eligibility criteria of this federal program, click here on CEC.
This point is easily settled as you cannot enter the Express Entry pool and receive a Notification of Interest under the Skilled trades stream without first being eligible to the federal program.
The following are more detailed stream requirements:
To qualify, you need;
At least one year of paid full-time work experience in specific job categories (NOC TEER 2 Or 3 MAJOR
GROUP 72, 73, 82, 83, 93 OR MINOR GROUP 6320 (EXCLUDING COOKS))
GROUP 72, 73, 82, 83, 93 OR MINOR GROUP 6320 (EXCLUDING COOKS))
- In Ontario within the last two years.
- Your work experience must match the occupations you identified in your Express Entry profile and be acquired
while maintaining legal status in Canada. - “Cumulative” means the total work adds up to one year, but it doesn’t have to be continuous.
- Full-time work entails at least 30 hours of work per week, amounting to 1,560 hours in a year.
- Part-time work can also count if you’ve worked at least 15 hours per week for two years, or in more than one job
for at least 30 hours per week for one year.
Please note:
- Your work experience must be gained over at least one year.
- Work experience totaling 1,560 hours in less than a year doesn’t count.
- If you worked in a compulsory trade, only experience gained after getting licensed in Ontario counts.
- Work experience gained while studying full-time or through self-employment doesn’t qualify.
- Volunteer work and unpaid internships are also not considered.
- Vacation and sick leave don’t disrupt full-time employment, but extended leaves do.
If you’re claiming experience in a compulsory trade, you must have a valid certificate or license in Ontario when applying. This applies even if you’re no longer working in the trade. We also provide services to obtain apprenticeships from the province of Ontario if you are working under a licensed skilled tradesman in a compulsory trade.
You must be living in Ontario and hold a valid work permit when you apply. If your permit expires, you can still apply if you’ve submitted a renewal application before it expired.
You need to understand, read, write, and speak English or French at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 or higher. Take an approved language test and submit the results with your application.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CELPIP-G | English | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
IELTS General | English | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
TEF Canada | French | 226 | 181 | 151 | 226 |
TCF Canada | French | 6 | 369 | 375 | 6 |
You must have enough money to support yourself and your family when you settle in Canada. This can be shown through bank statements, job offers, or annual earnings in Ontario.
You must plan to live in Ontario after getting permanent residence. Your ties to Ontario, like work history, job offers, studying, or family ties, will be considered to prove your intention.
To qualify, you need;
At least one year of paid full-time work experience in specific job categories (NOC TEER 2 Or 3 MAJOR
GROUP 72, 73, 82, 83, 93 OR MINOR GROUP 6320 (EXCLUDING COOKS))
GROUP 72, 73, 82, 83, 93 OR MINOR GROUP 6320 (EXCLUDING COOKS))
- In Ontario within the last two years.
- Your work experience must match the occupations you identified in your Express Entry profile and be acquired
while maintaining legal status in Canada. - "Cumulative" means the total work adds up to one year, but it doesn't have to be continuous.
- Full-time work entails at least 30 hours of work per week, amounting to 1,560 hours in a year.
- Part-time work can also count if you've worked at least 15 hours per week for two years, or in more than one job
for at least 30 hours per week for one year.
Please note:
- Your work experience must be gained over at least one year.
- Work experience totaling 1,560 hours in less than a year doesn't count.
- If you worked in a compulsory trade, only experience gained after getting licensed in Ontario counts.
- Work experience gained while studying full-time or through self-employment doesn't qualify.
- Volunteer work and unpaid internships are also not considered.
- Vacation and sick leave don't disrupt full-time employment, but extended leaves do.
If you’re claiming experience in a compulsory trade, you must have a valid certificate or license in Ontario when applying. This applies even if you’re no longer working in the trade. We also provide services to obtain apprenticeships from the province of Ontario if you are working under a licensed skilled tradesman in a compulsory trade.
You must be living in Ontario and hold a valid work permit when you apply. If your permit expires, you can still apply if you’ve submitted a renewal application before it expired.
You need to understand, read, write, and speak English or French at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 or higher. Take an approved language test and submit the results with your application.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CELPIP-G | English | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
IELTS General | English | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
TEF Canada | French | 226 | 181 | 151 | 226 |
TCF Canada | French | 6 | 369 | 375 | 6 |
You must have enough money to support yourself and your family when you settle in Canada. This can be shown through bank statements, job offers, or annual earnings in Ontario.
You must plan to live in Ontario after getting permanent residence. Your ties to Ontario, like work history, job offers, studying, or family ties, will be considered to prove your intention.
Application Process Summary for OINP Skilled Trade
Here’s a simplified overview of the steps involved in applying for Permanent Residence through the Skilled Trades (ST) stream:
01
Meet the eligibility requirements of the federal Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program.
02
Create an Express Entry profile and express interest in Ontario by selecting “Ontario” or “All Provinces and Territories”.
03
Ensure eligibility for the minimum requirements of the ST stream.
04
Receive a Notification of Interest in your Express Entry profile.
05
Apply to the ST stream within 45 days of receiving the Notification of Interest. This involves filling in forms and uploading required documents through the OINP e-Filing Portal.
06
Once your application is processed by the OINP, accept the Ontario provincial nomination within 30 days of receiving it in your Express Entry profile.
07
Upon acceptance, receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points in your Express Entry profile and get an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
08
Finally, apply for permanent residence through your Express Entry profile.
Ontario PNP Skilled Trades
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
72 – Technical trades and transportation officers and controllers
720 – Technical trades contractors and supervisors
- 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
- 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
- 72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
- 72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
- 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
- 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
- 72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
- 72022 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations
- 72024 – Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
721 – Technical industrial trades
- 72100 - Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
- 72101 – Tool and die, makers,
- 72102 – Sheet metal workers
- 72103 – Boilermakers
- 72104 – Structural metal and plate work fabricators and fitters
- 72105 – Ironworkers
- 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
722 – Technical electrical trades
- 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
- 72201 – Industrial electricians
- 72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers
- 72204 – Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers
- 72205 - Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
723 – Technical construction trades
- 72300 – Plumbers
- 72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
- 72310 – Carpenters
- 72320 – Bricklayers
- 72321 – Insulators
724 – Technical maintenance trades
- 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
- 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
- 72403 – Railway carmen/women
- 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
- 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
- 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
- 72422 – Electrical Mechanics
- 72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
725 – Technical equipment operation trades
731 – General construction trades
- 73100 – Concrete finishers
- 73101 – Tilesetters
- 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers, finishers and lathers
- 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
- 73111 – Glaziers
- 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
- 73113 - Floor covering installers
732 – Building maintenance installers, servicers and repairers
- 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
- 73201 – General building maintenance workers and building superintendents
- 73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators
- 73209 – Other repairers and servicers
734 – Operators, drillers and blasters
820 – Contractors and supervisors
You need to possess a certification of qualification or you are a registered apprentice 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 and Trade Code(in Ontario)
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
Hairstylist | 63210 | 332A |
Residential (Low Rise) Sheet Metal Installer | 72102 | 308R |
Sheet Metal Worker | 72102 | 308A |
Electrician — Construction and Maintenance | 72200 | 309A |
Electrician — Domestic and Rural | 72200 | 309C |
Plumber | 72300 | 306A |
Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer | 72301 | 427A |
Steamfitter | 72301 | 307A |
Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic | 72402 | 313A |
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic | 72402 | 313D |
Alignment and Brakes Technician | 72410 | 310E |
Automotive Service Technician | 72410 | 310S |
Fuel and Electrical Systems Technician | 72410 | 310C |
Motorcycle Technician | 72410 | 310G |
Transmission Technician | 72410 | 310D |
Truck and Coach Technician | 72410 | 310T |
Truck-Trailer Service Technician | 72410 | 310J |
Auto Body and Collision Damage Repairer | 72411 | 310B |
Auto Body Repairer | 72411 | 310Q |
Hoisting Engineer — Mobile Crane Operator 1 | 72500 | 339A |
Hoisting Engineer — Mobile Crane Operator 2 | 72500 | 339C |
Hoisting Engineer — Tower Crane Operator | 72500 | 339B |
What Are Documents Required For OINP Skilled Trades Stream?
- 1.Scanned copy of the Notification of Interest (NOI) letter received in your IRCC account. It must display the date of issue.
- 2.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. The test result should not be older than 2 years.
- 6.Documents demonstrating your work experience. These must be on official letterhead and contain your employer's name, business address, email, and contact number. They should also outline the employment period, responsibilities, and 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 requiring a mandatory license, you must submit a copy of your certification from the Ontario College of Trades.
- 10. Scanned documents demonstrating you have sufficient settlement funds. This may include recent bank statements showing the last three months' activities.
- 11.If you have a job offer in Ontario, provide a copy of your job offer letter detailing your job title, responsibilities, wage, and starting date of employment.
- 12.Copy of your latest resume, encompassing your work experience, education, and personal details.
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Express Entry Ontario Skilled Trades Stream Questions
No, a job offer is not required. However, you must gain experience in Ontario to be eligible for this stream.
After accepting the nomination, you receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points in the Express Entry system, which guarantees an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
No, you must be legally residing in Ontario and have a valid work permit at the time of application.
Yes, you can change your employer while the application is being processed.
Yes, NOC 72410 falls under Major Group 72. However, trade certification is compulsory in Ontario for this occupation. So, you must mode a Certificate of Qualification issued by the Skilled Trades Ontario
Yes, NOC 72311 is included in Major Group 72. You can apply if you have at least one year of full-time work experience in Ontario.
| Compulsory Trades | Non-Compulsory Trades |
|---|---|
| In Ontario, some trades are considered compulsory, which means to legally work in these trades, you must have a Certificate of Qualification from Skilled Trades Ontario previously known as Ontario College of Trades. | Whereas Non-compulsory trades do not require a Certificate of Qualification to work in Ontario. |
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