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 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) stream is Express Entry-aligned, candidates who obtain a provincial nomination through the Ontario Skilled Trades Stream receive additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points and an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for permanent residence at a future draw from the Express Entry pool.

For more information on the Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, this page will cover the following topics:

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 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Express Entry online account.

Express Entry candidates must provide documentation to prove the following:

  1. Work Experience: A cumulative period of at least one year, 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.
    • Cumulative means work experience must add up to one year and does not have to be one year of continuous work.
    • Full-time work means at least 30 hours of work over a period of one week in one job and consists of at least 1,560 hours of paid employment in one year.
    • Part- time equivalent experience means:
      • at least 15 hours of work over a period of one week in one job and consists of at least 1,560 hours of paid employment in two years, or
      • at least 30 hours of work over a period of one week in multiple concurrent jobs and consists of at least 1,560 hours of paid employment in one year.
    • Note: Work experience gained as part of an Apprenticeship Program may be eligible if it was paid, and the candidate performed the activities described in the lead statement for the occupation and a substantial number of the main duties as set out in the NOC. Paid work experience gained while studying full-time at a post-secondary institution (for example, on a co-op work term) and self-employment are not eligible under the CEC.
    • Candidate must have held (or currently hold) the appropriate licensure if work experience being claimed is in a compulsory trade in Ontario.
  2. Trade Certification: A valid license or certification from the Ontario College of Trades at the time of application submission whether or not 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 have a valid work permit at the time of application submission. The OINP accepts applications made while on implied status.
  4. Language: A minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in English or in French in all language competencies (listening, reading, writing and speaking). Language ability must be proved with valid language test results from the following government-approved organizations:
  5. Settlement Funds: A minimum level of settlement funds. This requirement can be met by one or a combination of factors listed by the OINP, such as bank statements, annual earnings from ongoing employment in Ontario, and/or a job offer in Ontario.
  6. Intent: An intention to reside in Ontario by providing a list of established ties to Ontario.

Skilled Trades Stream 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 Skilled Trades Stream Occupations

In order to be eligible for the Ontario Express Entry Trades Stream, candidates' one year of work experience in Ontario must be in one of the following occupations:

  • 6331 — Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale 6332 — Bakers
  • 6332 — Bakers
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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