Ontario’s Express Entry Human French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

Ontario’s French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream is an Express Entry aligned provincial nomination program.

Applicants cannot apply directly to the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream, they have to wait to receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) first. If an applicant has not received a NOI, then they cannot apply for a provincial nomination. If selected, applicants receive a NOI through their Express Entry profile. After receiving a NOI, applicants submit a complete application to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). After their application is assessed, if it is approved, they are issued with a Provincial Nomination from the province of Ontario. This adds 600 points to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in Express entry.  To be considered under Ontario’s French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream, applicants need to meet all the following criteria.

If you want to be considered for Ontario’s French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream, you must have a valid Express Entry Profile and Job Seeker Validation code. Depending on which program you qualify under in Express Entry, the Canadian Experience Class, or the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you need to meet the following criteria:

Federal Skilled Worker

• Meet the 67 point cut-off for the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
• Have at least one year of continuous paid full-time work experience (or the equivalent in paid part-time work) in TEER Category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
• Your work experience must have been:
  • obtained within the last five years from the date of submitting your application to the OINP.
  • in the same primary occupation as you identified in your Express Entry profile.
• If you are in Canada when you apply, you need to be on legal status in Canada.

Canadian Experience Class

• If you are in Canada when you apply, you need to be on legal status in Canada.
• Have at least one year of cumulative paid full-time work experience (or the equivalent in paid part-time work) in Canada in TEER Category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the NOC.
• If you received a notification of interest as part of a targeted draw, you must demonstrate that at least six months of your one year of eligible work experience is in your primary NOC.
• Your work experience must have been:
  • obtained within the last three years from the date of submitting your application to the OINP
  • in one or more of the occupations that you identified in your Express Entry profile
  • in Canada while maintaining legal status in Canada
• Paid work experience gained while studying full-time at a post-secondary institution (for example, on a co-op work term) is not eligible under the Canadian Experience Class. Self-employed work experience is also not eligible under Canadian Experience Class, except for physicians with experience in the following NOCs:
  • NOC 31100 – Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
  • NOC 31101 – Specialists in surgery
  • NOC 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians

French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream work experience requirements

• Your work experience must have been obtained over a period of at least one year – work experience totaling 1,560 hours obtained in less than one year period does not qualify
• Full-time work experience means working in a job with at least 30 hours of paid work in a week that amounts to at least 1,560 hours of paid work in one year
• Part-time equivalent work experience means:
  • working in one job for at least 15 hours per week, for two years that amounts to at least 1,560 hours in that two-year period, or
  • working in more than one job for at least 30 hours per week, for one year, that amounts to at least 1,560 hours of paid work in that one year period
• If your work experience was obtained in Ontario in an occupation that requires a licence or other authorization, only work experience acquired after becoming qualified to practice that occupation in Ontario will qualify
• Volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count as work experience

Vacation periods, regular sick leave and other standard paid leave entitlements as provided for in collective agreements, workplace legislation and/or individual employer policies are not considered interruptions to full-time employment and do not cause a break in employment. Extended periods of leave would be considered a break in full-time employment and are not to be included in the calculation of work experience.

To qualify for the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream applicants need to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree (three-year diplomas will not qualify), master’s degree or, PhD degree. If your degree was not completed in Canada, you will need to obtain an Education Credential Assessment (ECA). Your ECA must show that your degree is the Canadian equivalent of a bachelor’s degree (three-year diplomas will not qualify), master’s degree or, PhD degree.

You must authorize the organization to share the results with the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. You must do this by:

• Comparative Education Service-  submit an online request form
• Medical Council of Canada – request the report. Once it is available, request a file transfer by logging into your physiciansapply.ca account, then click on “Other service requests” in the left panel and follow the steps. Please enter ontarionominee@ontario.ca as the third party’s exact email address.
• World Education Services - order a copy of your Educational Credential Assessment report online and indicate the “Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program” as the recipient of the report
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada – No additional steps are required.
• International Credential Evaluation Service  – No additional steps are required.
• International Qualifications Assessment Service – No additional steps are required.
• Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada  – No additional steps are required.

Applicants must have achieved a minimum score of CLB 7 in listening, reading, writing, and speaking on an approved language test in English AND a CLB 6 in listening, reading, writing, and speaking on an approved language test in French. These requirements are the same regardless of whether they are in Express Entry under the Federal Skilled Worker stream or Canadian Experience Class.

To qualify for the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream applicants need to have a minimum amount of settlement funds required for their family size. Family size would include the main applicant, their spouse or common-law partner, and any dependent children of the main applicant or their spouse/common-law partner who are under the age of 22.

This financial requirement applies to all applicants, including those who chose to be assessed under the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program. This is different than the Federal requirements, where the Canadian Experience Class is exempt from showing proof of funds. The settlement funds requirements are as follows:

Number of family members	Funds required
1	$14,690
2	$18,288
3	$22,483
4	$27,297
5	$30,690
6	$34,917
7	$38,875
If more than 7 people, for each additional family member	$3,958

You can meet this requirement through one or a combination of any of the following:

• funds as demonstrated by the balance listed in bank statements, or statements of accounts showing other investments such as non-locked in, fixed term deposits, mutual funds, etc.
• annual earnings from ongoing employment in Ontario
• a job offer in Ontario

Example: Based on your family size, you must have $38,875 (CAD). You have a job offer in Ontario with an annual wage of $35,000 and you have a balance of $5,000 in your savings account for a total of $40,000. By using a combination of your job offer and bank statement, you would meet the settlement fund requirement.

If the reviewing officer notices that your bank statements show a large one-time deposit, they may ask you to provide additional documentation to support that your funds are free of debt or liability.

When selecting individuals, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) looks at both the applicant’s main NOC code on their Express Entry profile and their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The OINP conducts French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream draws which can be general or they target specific NOC codes.

Please note that if you are invited to submit an application to the OINP, you will need to review the full program guidelines to make sure that you meet all of the OINP’s specific requirements. If you need assistance with this, you can book a consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. 

If you are invited to submit an application under the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream, you will need to submit a complete application to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program within 45 calendar days of receiving your NOI. The application fee for the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream is $1,500.00. When applying, you will require the following documents. All must be scanned and uploaded with your application. Documents not in English or French must be accompanied by a certified or notarized translation.

OINP Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream – Applicant Checklist

Document	Description	Required	Comments
Notification of Interest (NOI)	Copy of the NOI letter received through your IRCC online account, including the date it was sent.	Mandatory	A screenshot of the letter is acceptable.
Applicant Consent Form	Completed and signed consent form.	Mandatory	Must be signed after receiving an invitation to apply and reviewing your application in the e-filing portal. Representatives cannot sign on your behalf.
Identity Documents	Passport pages showing personal details and all Canadian visas and entry stamps.	Mandatory	Include all stamped pages to demonstrate travel history.
Photograph	A recent photograph meeting passport or visa photo specifications.	Mandatory	Must be a clear, high-quality image.
Status Documents in Canada	Copies of current and previous Canadian immigration documents (e.g., work permits, study permits, temporary resident visas).	Mandatory	Demonstrates legal status in Canada.
Education Documents	Degree(s), diploma(s), or certificate(s) and corresponding transcripts. If obtained outside Canada, include an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.	Mandatory	ECA must be from a designated organization.
Language Test Results	Official test results from approved language tests (e.g., IELTS, CELPIP for English; TEF, TCF for French).	Mandatory	Test results must be less than two years old at the time of application.
Employment in Ontario Documents	Job offer letter, employment contracts, and pay stubs from Ontario employer(s), if applicable.	If applicable	Supports claims of current or previous employment in Ontario.
Work History Documents	Reference letters from previous employers detailing job title, duties, duration, and compensation; pay stubs; tax documents (e.g., T4 slips, Notice of Assessment).	Mandatory	Verifies work experience claimed in the application.
Settlement Funds Proof	Bank statements, investment portfolios, or other financial documents demonstrating sufficient funds to support yourself and dependents upon settling in Canada.	Mandatory	Must meet the minimum required settlement funds as per IRCC guidelines.
Résumé (Curriculum Vitae)	Detailed résumé outlining education, work experience, and other relevant information.	Mandatory	Provides a comprehensive overview of your qualifications and experience.
Dependent Family Members’ Passports	Copies of passports for all dependent family members included in the application.	If applicable	Ensures all family members are accounted for in the application.
Spouse/Common-law Partner’s Status Documents	Copies of your spouse or common-law partner’s Canadian status documents (e.g., work or study permits).	If applicable	Demonstrates your partner’s legal status in Canada.
Spouse/Common-law Partner’s Education and Work Documents	Proof of education in Canada, work experience in Canada, and language test results for your spouse or common-law partner.	If applicable	Can provide additional points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Relatives in Canada Documents	Proof of relationship and Canadian status documents of relatives in Canada.	If applicable	Supports claims of having relatives in Canada, which may contribute to eligibility.
Other Optional Documents	Any additional documents that support your application or clarify information provided.	Optional	Include if they provide further evidence or explanation pertinent to your application.