Maple News reports that on May 4, Ontario extended 102 Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to French-speaking candidates under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). This latest immigration draw is part of the province’s French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream, aligned with Canada’s federal Express Entry system.
To qualify for this draw, candidates needed to have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score between 458 and 467. Additionally, eligible candidates must have created their Express Entry profile between May 4, 2020, and May 4, 2021.
This is the third invitation round by Ontario targeting francophone skilled workers in 2021, bringing the total number of NOIs issued through this stream to 374 so far this year. Similar draws were held earlier on January 13 and March 3.
Those who received an NOI now have 45 days to submit a full application for provincial nomination through the OINP. However, receiving an NOI does not guarantee a nomination. Applicants must still meet the eligibility requirements of the stream under which they are invited.
To be eligible for nomination, candidates typically need to qualify under either the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Requirements include obtaining at least a level 7 in French and level 6 in English according to the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). Candidates must also prove they have enough funds to support their settlement in Ontario.
A provincial nomination provides a significant advantage in the Express Entry system by adding 600 points to a candidate’s CRS score, virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada.
Ontario continues to attract bilingual and French-speaking professionals as part of a broader strategy to support its labor market needs and strengthen francophone communities outside of Quebec.
Maple News will continue to monitor and report on future OINP draws and immigration updates across Canada.