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OINP Skilled Trade Stream Suspended: What It Means for Applicants Still Waiting After 18 Months

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has long been a preferred pathway for workers in Canada’s skilled trade occupations. Thousands of applicants rely on this stream each year to transition from temporary status to permanent residency. However, the recent cancellation and suspension of the OINP Skilled Trade Stream has created uncertainty—especially for applicants who received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and have now been waiting over 18 months for their nomination.

This blog breaks down what happened, why the program was paused, and what options skilled trade applicants can consider moving forward.

What Happened: Sudden Suspension of the Skilled Trade Stream

In 2024–2025, Ontario paused the intake and processing of the Skilled Trade Stream due to:

  1. Program quota limitations

  2. Backlogs created by high demand

  3. Ongoing policy reviews

  4. Alignment with federal Express Entry category-based draws

While the government has not provided a clear timeline for reopening, the lack of communication has created significant stress for candidates stuck in the system—especially those who already received an OINP ITA and submitted their applications with full expectations of timely processing.

For many skilled trade workers, this stream was the most reliable pathway to PR. The sudden halt has left thousands wondering what comes next.

Impact on Skilled Trade Applicants Waiting Over 18 Months

The most affected group is the category of candidates who:

  1. Received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) under the Skilled Trade Stream

  2. Paid the application fee

  3. Submitted required documents

  4. Have been waiting 12–18+ months for a decision

  5. Still have no nomination or communication about the future of their file

This is not a small group. Several applicants report:

  1. Expired work permits

  2. Delayed Express Entry profiles

  3. Declining CRS scores

  4. Difficulty renewing employer-specific work permits

  5. Uncertainty around maintaining legal status

Many have established their lives in Ontario, contributed to essential sectors, and expected the program to support their long-term settlement. Instead, they are stuck in limbo.

Why Ontario Paused Skilled Trade Stream Processing

Although the province has not officially released a detailed explanation, immigration experts widely believe the suspension is linked to:

1. IRCC’s New Category-Based Express Entry System

IRCC now prioritizes specific sectors, including transport, construction, and manufacturing, which heavily overlap with Ontario’s Skilled Trade Stream.

Ontario may be aligning its provincial strategy with federal direction.

2. Annual Nomination Caps

Ontario has one of the highest immigration quotas in Canada, but still receives far more applications than it can process in a single year.
This causes:

  1. Quota backlogs

  2. Delays in ITA-to-nomination timelines

  3. Need for program restructuring

3. Fraud Prevention and Program Integrity

The increasing number of fraudulent job offers and misrepresentation cases in the trades sector has likely pushed Ontario to introduce stronger screening measures before reopening.

4. Possible Policy Restructuring

Ontario may reintroduce the Skilled Trade Stream with new eligibility rules, such as:

  1. Mandatory job offers

  2. Stricter proof of work experience

  3. Employer verification

  4. Updated TEER requirements

Until this is finalized, processing may remain paused.

What Does This Mean for Skilled Trade Applicants?

If you are one of the applicants caught in this suspension, here’s what it means:

1. Your Application and Fees Would Be Returned If the Stream Is Officially Cancelled

OINP has not issued mass refusals, but if the Skilled Trade Stream is formally cancelled rather than paused, the province would likely return your entire application package along with your fees.
At this stage, applications appear to be on hold, not processed — but they are not being refused, and no nominations are being issued until further notice.

The OINP has not issued mass refusals or cancellations. Applications appear to be on hold, not rejected.

2. You May Not Hear Anything for Several Months

Based on past OINP pauses, major delays are normal. The stream may resume once:

  1. The provincial budget resets

  2. IRCC finalizes 2026–2028 levels

  3. New rules are announced

3. You Must Maintain Your Legal Status Independently

The OINP nomination delay does not protect your status.
You must ensure:

  1. Your work permit is valid

  2. Your Express Entry profile is active

  3. You maintain a job if required

4. There Could Be Policy Changes Before Processing Resumes

This may include:

  1. Additional documentation

  2. Employer compliance verification

  3. Revised timelines

What Options Do Skilled Trade Workers Have Now?

Even in this uncertainty, skilled trade workers still have pathways available.

1. Try Express Entry Through the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST)

If you have:

  1. Valid work experience in a skilled trade

  2. CLB 5 for speaking/listening

  3. CLB 4 for reading/writing

  4. A valid job offer (or certificate of qualification)

You may qualify for FST-specific draws or category-based trades draws, which IRCC continues to hold.

2. Recalculate Your CRS for Category-Based Trades Draws

You may score higher if:

  1. You improve language scores

  2. You obtain a provincial certificate of qualification

  3. You add Canadian education

  4. You gain additional work experience

Category-based draws for trades often have lower CRS cutoffs, making PR more accessible.

3. Explore Other OINP Streams

Some workers may qualify for:

  1. Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream

  2. Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills

  3. Human Capital Priorities Stream (if CRS is competitive)

Your eligibility may shift depending on your job duties, employer, or work experience.

4. Apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) — If Eligible

Normally, BOWPs require a nomination or an AOR from IRCC.
If the OINP delay is preventing you from receiving your nomination, consider exploring:

  1. Employer-specific LMIA-based permits

  2. Job Mobility Pathway

  3. International Mobility Program permits

5. Maintain Strong Proof of Ongoing Eligibility

When processing resumes, OINP may ask for updated:

  1. Work reference letters

  2. Pay stubs

  3. T4s

  4. Employer confirmation letters

  5. Work permits

Start organizing these now.

What the Future Could Look Like for the Skilled Trade Stream

Although timelines are uncertain, multiple indicators suggest the Skilled Trade Stream could reopen with strengthened criteria, not permanent cancellation.

Immigration experts expect:

  1. More employer-focused requirements

  2. Increased verification

  3. Smoother alignment with federal trades categories

  4. Faster processing once updated rules are in place

Skilled trade workers remain essential to Ontario’s economy, and the stream has historically been one of the province’s most active.

How Eiffel Immigration Can Help

At Eiffel Immigration, we understand the frustration and anxiety applicants are experiencing—especially those who have been waiting over 18 months for an update. Our team can:

  1. Review your current Skilled Trade Stream application

  2. Evaluate alternative pathways

  3. Assess your Express Entry CRS improvements

  4. Prepare you for category-based trades draws

  5. Help you maintain legal status during delays

  6. Communicate with OINP when appropriate

You do not need to navigate this uncertainty alone. Skilled trade applicants have options, and we can help you find the most reliable path forward.

Final Thoughts

The temporary suspension of the OINP Skilled Trade Stream has left many applicants in limbo, but it does not mean the end of your permanent residency journey. Ontario is restructuring its immigration pathways, and skilled trade workers will continue to be in high demand.

Stay informed. Stay prepared. And consider exploring additional strategies to protect your status and immigration future.

For personalized guidance, reach out to Eiffel Immigration—your trusted partner through every step of your PR journey.

Skilled Trade

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