The OINP nominates foreign workers, entrepreneurs and international students to the Government of Canada for permanent residence in Ontario.

About the OINP

Ontario’s economic immigration program works in partnership with the Canadian government’s immigration pathways.

Processing times and nominations

Up-to-date information on application processing times and number of nominations that have been issued.

Employers seeking foreign talent

If you are interested in recruiting foreign talent, dedicated staff are available to give you information about the many immigration pathways available. We are also a referral partner to the federal Global Skills Strategy.

Regional Immigration Pilot

The pilot aims to attract highly skilled immigrants to rural and small Ontario communities to fill local labour market gaps and help spread the benefits of economic immigration.

Before you arrive

The Government of Canada provides free in-person and online services to help you better prepare and adjust to life in Canada. These services can help you with living and working in Canada, getting your education, work experience and professional licenses/certificates recognized, and connecting with employers and with free support services when you arrive.

Learn more about pre-arrival services.

Do a free online test to get an idea of your English or French skills and find out if you need language training.

Find a settlement agency

Settlement agencies help newcomers and refugees find the services they need to settle in Ontario.

They can help you:

• get settled in your community
• find housing, a job or childcare
• register your children in school
• access programs (such as English or French classes, employment services, skills training and foreign credential assessment)
• get information about healthcare and social services
• find an interpreter or translator

These services are free and are available in multiple languages in communities across Ontario. Many agencies also deliver programs for newcomer and refugee youth.

After you arrive

Find housing

You can choose to rent, buy a home or find temporary housing until you can find a more permanent place to live.

Renting

There are many places to look for rental housing in Ontario. You can:

• search on the internet and classified sections of rental housing publications
• speak with a real estate agent
• look at bulletin boards in grocery stores, libraries, laundromats, health clinics, thrift stores, community centres, service clubs or real estate offices
• talk to relatives or coworkers

If you choose to rent, you must:

1. Fill out a rental application form and submit it to the landlord
2. Sign a lease agreement (a legal agreement between you and your landlord that includes how much your rent will be and your rights and responsibilities
3. Give a deposit, usually in the form of a cheque or money order, which covers the cost of the first and last month’s rent
4. Pay your monthly rent on time to the landlord (usually in the form of a cheque)

Rent deposits

Your landlord can collect a rent deposit only if they ask for it on or before the day that you enter into a lease agreement. It cannot be more than one month’s rent or the rent for one rental period, whichever is less.

For example, if rent payments are made weekly, the deposit cannot be more than one week’s rent; if rent payments are made monthly, the deposit cannot be more than one month’s rent.

The rent deposit must be used for the rent for the last month before the tenancy ends. It cannot be used for anything else, such as to pay for damages.

Buying

In Canada, homebuying is controlled by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

If you choose to buy a home, you must either:

• pay the full cost of the home, including all fees and taxes
• get a loan from the bank to pay for the home and have enough money to cover:
  • the down payment on the home
  • all fees and taxes