Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream

Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream

The Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) allows skilled trades workers with work experience in an eligible trade to settle permanently in Ontario through the federal Express Entry immigration system.

Because this stream is aligned with Express Entry, successful candidates obtain 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points and an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for permanent residence at a subsequent draw from the pool.

 

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

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

  1. Have a valid profile in the federal Express Entry pool;
  2. Be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC);
  3. Indicate an interest in immigrating to either Ontario or “All Provinces and Territories”, as designated in the Express Entry profile; and
  4. Have received a Notification of Interest from Ontario through the IRCC Express Entry online account.

Candidates must also meet the following provincial criteria:

  1. Work Experience: At least 12 months of 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.
  2. Trade Certification (if required): A trade license or certification from the Ontario College of Trades, if the candidate is working, or has worked, in an occupation in Ontario that requires a license or certification.
  3. Current Residence in Ontario: Currently residing in Ontario and hold a valid work permit at the time of applying.
  4. Language: A minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in English or in French. This must be proved by taking a standardized government-approved language test:
    • International English Language Testing (IELTS) (General Training Test only)
    • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) (General Test only) for English testing, and
    • Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF Canada),
    • Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada) for French testing.
  5. Settlement Funds: A minimum level of settlement funds.
  6. Intent: An intention to reside in Ontario.

 

Application Process

Candidates in the Express Entry pool may not apply directly to the OINP under the Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream. First, candidates must secure a NOI from Ontario through their IRCC online account.

Once a NOI has been received, candidates have 45 calendar days from the date the NOI letter was issued to submit an online application to the OINP. Applications are submitted online through Ontario's unique application management system.

The government of Ontario advises potential applicants to gather all relevant paper work and supporting documentation required for an application. Any document that is not in English or French must be translated and certified, and notarized if required.

The application fee is $1,500.

After an application has been submitted, it will be reviewed by the OINP. If successful, the candidate will receive 600 additional CRS points, and an 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.

 

Eligible Trades Occupations

Expand the slides to view a list of eligible occupations in each major and minor group of the National Occupation Classification (NOC).

 

Minor group 633: Butchers and bakers:
  • 6331 — Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale
  • 6332 — Bakers

 

Major group 72: Industrial, electrical and construction trades:

720 — Contractors and supervisors, industrial, electrical and construction trades and related workers

  • 7201 — Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
  • 7202 — Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
  • 7203 — Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
  • 7204 — Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
  • 7205 — Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers

723 Machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades

  • 7231 — Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
  • 7232 — Tool and die makers
  • 7233 — Sheet metal workers
  • 7234 — Boilermakers
  • 7235 — Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
  • 7236 — Ironworkers
  • 7237 — Welders and related machine operators

724 Electrical trades and electrical power line and telecommunications workers

  • 7241 — Electricians (except industrial and power system)
  • 7242 — Industrial electricians
  • 7243 — Power system electricians
  • 7244 — Electrical power line and cable workers
  • 7245 — Telecommunications line and cable workers
  • 7246 — Telecommunications installation and repair workers
  • 7247 — Cable television service and maintenance technicians

725 Plumbers, pipefitters and gas fitters

  • 7251 — Plumbers
  • 7252 — Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
  • 7253 — Gas fitters

727 Carpenters and cabinetmakers

  • 7271 — Carpenters
  • 7272 — Cabinetmakers

728 Masonry and plastering trades

  • 7281 — Bricklayers
  • 7282 — Concrete finishers
  • 7283 — Tilesetters
  • 7284 — Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers

729 Other construction trades

  • 7291 — Roofers and shinglers
  • 7292 — Glaziers
  • 7293 — Insulators
  • 7294 — Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
  • 7295 — Floor covering installers

 

Major group 73: Maintenance and equipment operation trades:

730 Contractors and supervisors, maintenance trades and heavy equipment and transport operators

  • 7301 — Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
  • 7302 — Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
  • 7303 — Supervisors, printing and related occupations
  • 7304 — Supervisors, railway transport operations
  • 7305 — Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators

731 Machinery and transportation equipment mechanics (except motor vehicle)

  • 7311 — Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
  • 7312 — Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
  • 7313 — Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
  • 7314 — Railway carmen/women
  • 7315 — Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
  • 7316 — Machine fitters
  • 7318 — Elevator constructors and mechanics

732 Automotive service technicians

  • 7321 — Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
  • 7322 — Motor vehicle body repairers

733 Other mechanics and related repairers

  • 7331 — Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics
  • 7332 — Appliance servicers and repairers
  • 7333 — Electrical mechanics
  • 7334 — Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
  • 7335 — Other small engine and small equipment repairers

736 Train crew operating occupations

  • 7361 — Railway and yard locomotive engineers
  • 7362 — Railway conductors and brakemen/women

737 Crane operators, drillers and blasters

  • 7371 — Crane operators
  • 7372 — Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction
  • 7373 — Water well drillers

738 Printing press operators and other trades and related occupations not elsewhere classified

  • 7381 — Printing press operators
  • 7384 — Other trades and related occupations, not elsewhere classified

 

Major group 82: Supervisors and technical occupations in natural resources, agriculture and related production:

821 Supervisors, logging and forestry

  • 8211 — Supervisors, logging and forestry

822 Contractors and supervisors, mining, oil and gas

  • 8221 — Supervisors, mining and quarrying
  • 8222 — Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services

823 Underground miners, oil and gas drillers and related occupations

  • 8231 — Underground production and development miners
  • 8232 — Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers

824 Logging machinery operators

  • 8241 — Logging machinery operators

825 Contractors and supervisors, agriculture, horticulture and related operations and services

  • 8252 — Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
  • 8255 — Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services

826 Fishing vessel masters and fishermen/women

  • 8261 — Fishing masters and officers
  • 8262 — Fishermen/women
Join @AlphaConsultants on Telegram