The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has officially reached its nomination quota for 2024, as announced on December 23. This milestone reflects the program’s robust contributions to Canada’s immigration strategy, with a total of 21,500 nominations allocated by the federal government this year.
Ontario PNP 2024: A Comprehensive Overview
Allocation Details
For 2024, the federal government assigned 21,500 permanent residency nominations to the OINP across various streams. These nominations have been fully distributed, highlighting the program’s significant role in attracting skilled immigrants to Ontario.
New applications and those previously submitted will now be processed under the 2025 nomination allocation, as stated in the latest OINP update. Candidates can continue to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for consideration across the program’s five primary streams, with profiles ranked based on a scoring system. Invitations to Apply (ITAs) are issued following periodic draws, while Express Entry candidates receive Notifications of Interest (NOIs) based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores.
Highlights of 2024 OINP Draws
Invitations to Apply (ITAs)
The highest number of ITAs were issued under the Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream, followed by the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream and the Masters Graduate Stream.
| OINP Stream | Number of ITAs | Minimum Cutoff Score Range (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker | 6,695 | 50+ (General Draw); other categories: 33–40+ |
| Employer Job Offer: International Student | 8,363 | 60–72+ (varies by category) |
| Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills | 914 | 34+ |
| Masters Graduate | 5,519 | 50+ |
| PhD Graduate | 533 | 42+ |
Notifications of Interest (NOIs)
The Human Capital Priorities Stream led the way with 12,731 NOIs, followed by the Skilled Trades Stream with 9,006.
| OINP Stream | Number of NOIs | CRS Score Range |
| Human Capital Priorities | 12,731 | 352–528 |
| Skilled Trades | 9,006 | 350–435 |
| French-Speaking Skilled Worker | 1,525 | 290–469 |
Stream-Wise Processing Times
Processing times for OINP applications vary based on the stream. On average:
| OINP Stream | Processing Time |
| French-Speaking Skilled Worker | 90–120 days |
| Human Capital Priorities | 60–90 days |
| Skilled Trades | 120–150 days |
| Masters Graduate | 30–60 days |
| PhD Graduate | 30–60 days |
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker | 120–150 days |
| Employer Job Offer: International Student | 90–120 days |
| Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills | 120–150 days |
| Entrepreneur | Less than 30 days (EOI assessment) |
Looking Ahead: What to Expect in 2025
Federal Immigration Targets
In 2025, a significant reduction in the federal immigration levels plan is expected. The total Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) quota is projected to drop from 110,000 in 2024 to 55,000—a 50% decrease.
Impact on OINP
Ontario’s share of the PNP quota in 2024 was 19.54%, translating to 21,500 nominations. If this percentage remains consistent, Ontario’s allocation for 2025 could drop to approximately 10,747 nominations—a level comparable to 2022, when the province issued just 9,750 nominations. This reduction is likely to:
- Lower the number of invitations issued
- Increase cutoff scores
Historical Context: OINP in 2022
To provide context, here is a summary of OINP’s 2022 activity:
Invitations to Apply
- Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream: 1,534
- Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream: 1,812
- Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream: 523
- Masters Graduate Stream: 3,890
- PhD Graduate Stream: 445
- Entrepreneur Stream: 99
Notifications of Interest
- Human Capital Priorities Stream: 4,012
- French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream: 1,539
- Skilled Trades Stream: 7,506
The OINP has demonstrated remarkable success in facilitating immigration to Ontario, but candidates must prepare for significant changes in 2025. Reduced quotas and higher cutoff scores may intensify competition, making it vital to optimize EOI profiles and stay updated on program developments.
