If you're in Canada on a closed work permit through an intra-company transfer and considering the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) because your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score isn't high enough for Express Entry alone:
- Know that an intra-company transfer work permit is typically LMIA-exempt, which is a distinct category from an LMIA-supported job offer.
- You generally remain eligible for job-offer-related CRS points once you've worked in that role for a full year, even though the permit itself was LMIA-exempt at issuance.
- Being on this type of work permit does not exclude you from OINP eligibility — you can be considered for relevant OINP streams alongside your Express Entry profile, subject to that stream's specific criteria.
- If your employer can support a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) later, ask them directly, since employer willingness to pursue an LMIA (if needed for a particular stream) can strengthen your options.
OINP stream eligibility criteria change periodically, so verify against the current OINP stream requirements before applying.