OINP applicants, employers and representatives must provide information that is accurate, correct and not misleading under Ontario’s immigration legislation.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program says inaccurate or misleading information may lead to an application being denied, an approval being cancelled, prosecution or an administrative order. Administrative orders may impose a monetary penalty, a ban or both, where the director finds that a person or body contravened the Act or its regulations.
The program’s guidance was updated on November 10, 2026, and explains how people can report suspected fraud or other inaccurate information to Ontario officials.
Table of Contents
What the OINP guidance covers
The OINP operates under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 and its regulations.
Foreign nationals apply for a certificate of nomination, while employers apply for approval of an employment position in job-offer streams.
Both applications must be approved before a foreign national in a job-offer stream can be nominated for permanent residence in Canada.
The program says applicants must ensure that information submitted in an application is accurate, correct and not misleading.
Applicants must promptly notify the OINP if material information changes after an application is submitted.
Representatives, including immigration consultants and lawyers, must make reasonable efforts to ensure that information in an application is accurate, correct and not misleading.
How to report suspected OINP fraud
The OINP asks people who suspect fraud or inaccurate information to email its Program Integrity Team at programintegrityteam@ontario.ca.
Reports may concern an applicant, an employer or a representative.
The program asks for as much information as possible, including names, locations and the reasons the reporter believes the information is fraudulent, inaccurate, incorrect or misleading.
The OINP also directs people to the Government of Canada for information about reporting immigration or citizenship fraud that falls within federal jurisdiction.
Submitting a report does not itself establish that a contravention occurred, and the OINP’s guidance does not state that every report will result in enforcement action.
Possible consequences for inaccurate information
According to the OINP, inaccurate, incorrect or misleading information may result in several types of consequences:
- Denial of one or more applications.
- Cancellation of a related approval.
- Prosecution under the Provincial Offences Act.
- An administrative order imposing a monetary penalty, a ban or both.
The exact consequence depends on the facts of the case and the applicable provisions of the Act or regulations.
The OINP publishes a list of individuals and businesses subject to administrative monetary penalties or banning orders for specified contraventions.
The published information can include the name of the person or business, their role as an applicant, employer or representative, a representative’s licence identification number where applicable, the order date and the enforcement action.
OINP banning orders
The consequences of a banning order depend partly on when the alleged contravention occurred.
For contraventions before December 19, 2024, a foreign national applicant, employer or representative could be banned from participating in the OINP for up to five years.
For contraventions on or after December 19, 2024, representatives may be banned for a minimum of three years and a maximum of 10 years.
A representative may be banned permanently if, while acting as a representative, they were convicted of an offence under the Ontario Immigration Act, the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act, the Criminal Code or the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
During a ban, foreign national applicants and employers cannot apply to the OINP for the length of the ban.
A banned representative cannot advise or assist anyone in relation to an OINP application during the ban period.
These are potential administrative consequences and should not be treated as automatic results of an allegation or report.
Administrative monetary penalties can reach $150,000
The OINP says an administrative monetary penalty must be paid to Ontario’s Minister of Finance within 60 days after the order is served.
The penalty cannot exceed $150,000 for each contravention in the order.
The calculation method depends on whether the contravention occurred before or after July 1, 2024.
| Contravention date | Calculation described by Ontario |
|---|---|
| Before July 1, 2024 | ($2,000 × A × B) + C |
| On or after July 1, 2024 | (A × B × C) + D |
For contraventions before July 1, 2024, A represents the number of administrative penalties imposed against the person or body in the previous 10 years, or one if there were none.
Under that earlier formula, B represents the number of applicants involved when multiple applicants are part of the contravention, or one otherwise.
C represents the money received at any time in connection with the contravention.
For contraventions on or after July 1, 2024, A is $10,000 when the person or body is an employer, representative or recruiter, or acquired a financial benefit from the contravention.
For other cases under the newer formula, A is $2,000.
B represents the number of administrative penalties imposed against the person or body in the previous 10 years, with one used where there were none.
C represents the number of applicants involved when multiple applicants are part of the contravention, or one otherwise.
D represents the amount received at any time in connection with the contravention.
Examples of contraventions listed by Ontario
The OINP says enforcement orders have been issued for a range of alleged contraventions under the Act and its regulations.
- Providing information that was not accurate, correct or free from misleading content.
- Failing to make reasonable efforts as a representative to ensure application information was accurate and correct.
- Failing to provide information requested under section 15 of the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015.
- Failing to comply with conditions or restrictions attached to an approval.
- Acting as a representative or offering to do so without the required authorization.
The published list also distinguishes between contraventions involving applicants, employers, representatives and other individuals.
The OINP’s guidance does not say that a representative is liable merely because an application contains an error.
For administrative penalties involving a representative, Ontario’s regulation provides that the director must not make an order if satisfied that the representative acted reasonably and honestly in the circumstances.
What applicants and representatives should do
Applicants should review all information before submitting an OINP application and keep supporting documents that show how key claims were established.
Applicants should promptly tell the OINP about material changes that affect information submitted in an application.
Employers should ensure that job, business and employment information is accurate and can be supported if Ontario requests additional disclosure.
Representatives should review client information carefully and take reasonable steps to identify inconsistencies before submitting an application.
Applicants should also confirm that a paid representative is authorized to provide immigration services.
Ontario’s legislation restricts individuals from knowingly acting as representatives, or offering to do so, unless they fall within an authorized category such as a lawyer authorized under Ontario law or a licensed and in-good-standing immigration consultant.
OINP contact information
The OINP lists the Program Integrity Team email as programintegrityteam@ontario.ca.
It also lists 416-327-0374 and 1-866-214-6820 as telephone contacts, with the toll-free number available within North America.
The published contact hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Applicants with a specific file should use the communication channel identified by the OINP for that matter and retain copies of documents and correspondence.
Why the update matters
The OINP’s updated guidance gives applicants, employers and representatives a clearer outline of the compliance risks connected with inaccurate information.
It also confirms that Ontario continues to publish enforcement information involving administrative monetary penalties and banning orders.
Because the potential consequences include refusal, cancellation, prosecution, monetary penalties and bans, anyone preparing an OINP application should treat accuracy and prompt disclosure as core compliance responsibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I report suspected OINP fraud?
Email the OINP Program Integrity Team at programintegrityteam@ontario.ca and provide names, locations and details explaining why you believe information is fraudulent, inaccurate, incorrect or misleading.
What penalties can apply to misleading OINP information?
The OINP says possible consequences include application denial, cancellation of an approval, prosecution under the Provincial Offences Act and administrative orders imposing monetary penalties or bans.
How high can an OINP administrative monetary penalty be?
The OINP says an administrative monetary penalty cannot exceed $150,000 for each contravention in the order.
How long can an OINP representative be banned?
For contraventions on or after December 19, 2024, representatives may be banned for three to 10 years, or permanently in specified conviction-related circumstances.
Do applicants have to report changes after submitting an OINP application?
Yes. Ontario says applicants must promptly inform the OINP when information changes after an application is submitted, particularly where the change is material to the application.
Fact-Checked: This article was checked against the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program guidance updated November 10, 2026, the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 and Ontario Regulation 422/17.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal advice or a determination of eligibility for the OINP.
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