Ontario Halts Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream In A Big Move

Ontario ended its Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream without warning. The province blamed the decision on “widespread misrepresentation and/or fraud.” Officials said the issue threatened the program’s integrity and created uncertainty around applicant eligibility.

Applications Come to a Full Stop

Ontario stopped all new applications at once. Officials will return every pending file. They will also issue full refunds. Current applicants cannot continue through this pathway. The province offered no timeline for a possible return of the stream.

Review Finds Major Problems

The province held an internal review of the Skilled Trades Stream. Officials said they could not confirm if many applicants actually met the required criteria. The review linked this uncertainty to major levels of misrepresentation. Officials said the problem weakened their ability to nominate workers who can fill urgent labour needs.

Ontario also faces a lower nomination quota for 2025. Officials said they need to use each spot carefully. They said the Skilled Trades Stream no longer offered a reliable way to choose workers who match Ontario’s labour demands. The province ended the stream to protect the program’s credibility and to improve how it uses its limited nomination spaces.

Other Ways to Apply for Permanent Residence

Former Skilled Trades Stream applicants can explore other immigration routes. Many may find a smoother option in the Express Entry Trade category. Applicants for the now-ended stream already needed a valid Express Entry profile, so many meet the starting requirements.

Trade category draws often require lower scores. The most recent draw for trade occupations required a CRS score of 505. A recent draw under the Canadian Experience Class needed a score of 533.

Candidates also need at least six months of recent experience in an eligible trade. This experience must fall within the last three years. Eligible jobs include bricklayers, carpenters, cabinetmakers, cooks, and many others.

Other OINP Options Still Open

Ontario stressed that applicants can apply to other provincial streams if they meet the requirements. Some streams connect with Express Entry. Others belong to the OINP’s Expression of Interest system.

Express Entry-linked options include:

• Human Capital Priorities
  
• French-Speaking Skilled Worker
  

Base streams include:

• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker
  
• Employer Job Offer: International Student
  
• Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills
  
• Master’s Graduate
  
• PhD Graduate

Applicants need to match the criteria for each stream before submitting their profiles.

A Shift in Provincial Priorities

The province said the choice to shut the Skilled Trades Stream reflects a need for greater oversight. Officials want to direct nominations to candidates who fit Ontario’s workforce goals. The review showed the Skilled Trades Stream could not support this aim in its current form. Ontario chose to close the stream to protect the reliability of its immigration system and ensure stronger results in future selections.