Ontario Skilled Trades Stream (OINP)
The Ontario Skilled Trades Stream nominates tradespeople with Ontario work experience in an eligible trade, an Express Entry-aligned route that adds 600 CRS points. Ontario is redesigning the OINP in 2026, so the stream's criteria are changing.
Key takeaways
The Ontario Skilled Trades Stream is an enhanced, Express Entry-aligned stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) for tradespeople with recent Ontario experience in an eligible trade. You need a federal Express Entry profile, and Ontario selects you from the pool through a Notification of Interest. A resulting nomination adds 600 CRS points toward permanent residence, well above recent federal cut-offs, though IRCC still issues the Invitation to Apply at the next draw.
- The Ontario Skilled Trades Stream is an enhanced OINP stream for tradespeople with recent Ontario work experience in an eligible trade.
- You must already have an Express Entry profile in the Federal Skilled Trades Program or Canadian Experience Class.
- A nomination adds +600 CRS points, well above recent Express Entry cut-offs.
- Ontario selects candidates from the pool by issuing a Notification of Interest (NOI), eligibility alone does not guarantee one.
- Ontario announced a 2026 OINP redesign: Skilled Trades criteria are changing, so confirm current rules on ontario.ca.
The OINP is being redesigned in 2026
What is the Ontario Skilled Trades Stream?
The Ontario Skilled Trades Stream is an Express Entry-aligned stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)built for tradespeople who already have a federal Express Entry profile and have been working in Ontario in an eligible skilled trade. It sits in the OINP's Human Capital category alongside the Human Capital Priorities and French-Speaking Skilled Worker streams.
Ontario runs the country's largest provincial program, with a 2026 nomination allocation of roughly 14,119 across all streams, the biggest of any PNP (source: ontario.ca / IRCC, May 2026). Because the Skilled Trades Stream is enhanced, a nomination is tied directly to your Express Entry profile rather than leading to a separate paper application.
Built for trades workers already in Ontario
What are the Ontario Skilled Trades Stream eligibility requirements?
OINP skilled trades eligibility rests on a connected set of requirements you must satisfy at the time Ontario reviews your profile and when you apply. Miss any one of them and the application can be refused: the wrong NOC code, experience gained outside the qualifying window, or a language ability one band short.
Depending on your occupation, trade certification in Ontario (for example a Certificate of Qualification) may also be expected as evidence of your skill level. The table below summarises the core requirements; the official, controlling list lives on ontario.ca and is changing under the 2026 redesign.
| Requirement | What the stream asks for |
|---|---|
| Express Entry profile | An active profile in the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC) at the time you receive a Notification of Interest |
| Ontario work experience | At least 1 year of cumulative, paid, full-time (or equivalent part-time) Ontario experience in an eligible trade, gained in the 24 months before applying |
| Eligible trade (NOC) | Your experience must be in an eligible skilled-trade occupation, typically NOC major groups 72, 73, 82, 92 and 632/633 (verify your code on ontario.ca) |
| Language | Meet the federal minimum for your Express Entry program, generally CLB 5 (speaking/listening) and CLB 4 (reading/writing), approved test valid 2 years |
| Legal status | If applying from inside Canada, you must have legal status (e.g. a valid work permit); applicants from abroad must satisfy the program's residency rules |
| Intent to reside | You must intend to live and work in Ontario after becoming a permanent resident |
| Settlement funds | Sufficient funds (or eligible Ontario employment income) to support yourself and any family, unless exempt |
Language is measured on your weakest relevant ability
Which trades are eligible for the OINP Skilled Trades Stream?
The stream covers a broad set of Express Entry trades in Ontario, drawn from the skilled-trade NOC major groups. Construction and industrial trades feature heavily, electricians, welders, plumbers, carpenters and heavy-equipment technicians, alongside chefs, cooks, butchers and bakers, and certain agricultural and processing supervisory roles.
Many of these are in-demand trades across Canada, and several line up with Red Seal trade designations, so an Ontario construction trades PR path through this stream often suits workers whose occupation also appears in federal Express Entry trades draws. The grid below shows the NOC major groups that have historically qualified; the exact eligible trade NOC list for Ontario is set by the province and changes, so confirm your specific code on ontario.ca.
| NOC major group | Covers (examples) |
|---|---|
| 72, Technical trades & transport officers | Electricians, plumbers, welders, machinists, heavy-equipment and automotive technicians |
| 73, General trades | Carpenters, bricklayers, construction trades helpers, painters, roofers |
| 82, Supervisors & technical jobs (natural resources, agriculture) | Agricultural service contractors, supervisors in landscaping, logging and mining support |
| 92, Processing & manufacturing supervisors / central control | Supervisors in food and beverage processing, plastics and chemical processing operators |
| 632 / 633, Chefs, cooks & specialised butchers/bakers | Chefs, cooks, butchers and bakers |
How do Notifications of Interest (NOIs) work?
The Skilled Trades Stream does not run a standalone application queue, it selects candidates from the federal Express Entry pool by issuing a Notification of Interest (NOI). Ontario reviews profiles and sends an NOI to candidates who appear to meet the stream's criteria, often in targeted rounds aimed at specific trade occupations or score ranges. An NOI is an invitation to apply to the OINP, it is not a nomination, and it is not permanent residence. Once you receive one, you have a limited window (historically 14 days) to submit a complete online application to the OINP.
Two rules that trip people up
How does the +600 CRS Express Entry boost work?
This is the single biggest advantage of an enhanced stream. Because the Ontario Skilled Trades Stream is aligned with federal Express Entry, once Ontario nominates you and you accept the nomination in your profile, IRCC adds 600 pointsto your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. That boost lifts most candidates well above the cut-off. In recent rounds it has been more than enough to earn an Invitation to Apply at the next Express Entry draw, though IRCC still issues it. The table below shows the practical difference between Ontario's enhanced and base routes.
| Feature | Skilled Trades (enhanced) | A base OINP stream |
|---|---|---|
| Express Entry profile | Required (FST or CEC) | Not required |
| Effect of nomination | Adds 600 CRS points | Leads to a separate IRCC paper application |
| Selection trigger | Notification of Interest from the EE pool | Direct application or EOI within the stream |
| Federal processing | ~6 months (Express Entry PR) | Generally longer (paper-based) |
| Effect of +600 CRS | Well above recent draw cut-offs | No CRS points added |
Not sure where your federal score sits today? Our free CRS calculator estimates your Express Entry score before the OINP boost, so you can see how close you are to a competitive position in the pool.
How to apply for the Ontario Skilled Trades Stream
How to apply for the Ontario Skilled Trades Stream follows the standard enhanced-OINP sequence: you keep an active Express Entry profile, wait for a Notification of Interest, then submit a complete OINP application before applying to IRCC for permanent residence. The redesign may adjust individual steps, so confirm the current process on ontario.ca first.
- 01
Create your Express Entry profile
Enter the federal pool under the Federal Skilled Trades Program or Canadian Experience Class, with your language test and trade work experience documented.
- 02
Confirm your trade & Ontario experience
Check that your NOC is on the eligible list and that you have at least one year of recent, paid Ontario experience in that trade.
- 03
Receive a Notification of Interest
Ontario issues an NOI from the pool to candidates matching its priorities. Eligibility alone does not guarantee an NOI.
- 04
Submit your OINP application
Within the deadline (historically 14 days), file a complete online application with your trade, experience and language evidence.
- 05
Get nominated & accept it
On approval, Ontario nominates you. Accept the nomination in your Express Entry profile to add 600 CRS points.
- 06
Apply to IRCC for permanent residence
With the +600 boost, expect an Invitation to Apply at the next draw, then submit your federal PR application. IRCC makes the final decision.
How Wild Mountain helps with your Skilled Trades application
Trades files turn on detail: the right NOC code, experience that actually falls inside the qualifying window, and a language result that clears the federal minimum on every ability. Working under a licensed RCIC (CICC #R706497), Wild Mountain Immigration confirms your Express Entry eligibility, checks your trade and Ontario work experience against the current rules, and manages your NOI response and nomination application so it stands up to scrutiny. We catch the avoidable mistakes, a misclassified occupation, experience gained on the wrong status, a missed deadline, that cause refusals.
Start on the contact page for an honest assessment, and see our fees for how our professional fee works alongside the provincial and IRCC charges. With the OINP being redesigned in 2026, our team keeps your Ontario Skilled Trades Stream strategy aligned to the rules actually in force when you apply, and always confirms the live ontario.ca page before advising. For the wider picture, see the Ontario OINP overview, or the Human Capital Priorities and Employer Job Offer streams.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ontario Skilled Trades Stream?
The Ontario Skilled Trades Stream is an Express Entry-aligned (enhanced) stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). It lets Ontario nominate tradespeople who already have a federal Express Entry profile and recent Ontario work experience in an eligible trade. Because it is enhanced, a nomination adds 600 CRS points to your Express Entry score, well above recent federal cut-offs, though IRCC still issues the Invitation to Apply at the next draw. The OINP is being redesigned in 2026, so confirm the current rules on ontario.ca before applying.
What are the eligibility requirements for the Ontario Skilled Trades Stream?
You need an active Express Entry profile in either the Federal Skilled Trades Program or the Canadian Experience Class, with at least one year of cumulative, paid, full-time (or equivalent part-time) Ontario work experience in an eligible skilled-trade occupation gained in the 24 months before you apply. You must meet the federal minimum language requirement (generally CLB 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing), intend to live in Ontario, and have legal status in Canada if you are applying from within the country. The controlling list lives on ontario.ca and is changing under the 2026 redesign.
Which trades are eligible for the OINP Skilled Trades Stream?
The stream has historically covered skilled-trade occupations in NOC major groups such as 72 (technical trades and transportation), 73 (general trades), 82 (supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources and agriculture), 92 (processing and manufacturing supervisors and central control operators) and 632/633 (chefs, cooks, butchers and bakers). Construction and industrial trades, electricians, welders, plumbers, carpenters, heavy-equipment technicians, feature heavily. The exact eligible-NOC list is set by Ontario and changes, so verify your specific occupation against the current ontario.ca list before relying on it.
How does a Notification of Interest (NOI) work?
The Skilled Trades Stream draws candidates from the federal Express Entry pool. Ontario reviews profiles and issues a Notification of Interest (NOI) to candidates who appear to meet the stream's criteria, often in targeted, occupation-specific rounds. Receiving an NOI is an invitation to apply to the OINP; it is not a nomination and not permanent residence. You then have a limited window (historically 14 days) to submit a complete online application. A profile sitting in the pool does not guarantee an NOI, Ontario selects based on its priorities at the time.
Does the Skilled Trades Stream really add 600 CRS points?
Yes. The Ontario Skilled Trades Stream is enhanced, meaning it is aligned with federal Express Entry. Once Ontario nominates you and you accept the nomination in your Express Entry profile, IRCC adds 600 points to your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. That boost lifts most candidates well above the cut-off, and in recent draws it has been more than enough to earn an Invitation to Apply at the next Express Entry draw, though IRCC still issues it. The nomination itself is still not permanent residence, IRCC makes the final PR decision on a separate application.
Is the Ontario Skilled Trades Stream changing in 2026?
Yes. Ontario announced an OINP redesign, and effective late May 2026 several legacy streams, including Skilled Trades, lost their previous regulatory basis while replacement rules were still being finalised. Applications already submitted, and complete files that received an invitation before the change, are generally assessed under the prior rules, but new criteria for the redesigned streams may differ. Treat any 2026 stream details as transitioning and verify the current position on the official OINP page at ontario.ca before you act.
Does Wild Mountain Immigration handle Ontario Skilled Trades applications?
Yes. Wild Mountain Immigration is based in Canmore, Alberta but represents clients across Canada and abroad, including tradespeople targeting Ontario through the OINP. Working under a licensed RCIC, our team confirms your Express Entry eligibility, checks your trade NOC and Ontario work experience against the current rules, and manages the NOI response and nomination application. With the 2026 redesign underway, we keep your strategy aligned to the rules actually in force when you apply.
Ready to apply through the Skilled Trades Stream?
Get started with a licensed RCIC for an honest read on your Express Entry profile, your trade NOC and how the 2026 OINP redesign affects your plan.