Ontario rebuilt its provincial nominee program in 2026. All eight previous streams were closed and replaced by a single stream, the Ontario Workforce Priority. This page explains who qualifies, how the score is calculated, what an employer must provide, and how long each step takes.
What is the OINP?
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program lets the province nominate people it wants to keep for economic reasons. A nomination is not permanent residence. It is a provincial endorsement that you then take to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which makes the final decision.
The 2026 redesign
On 25 June 2026, under O. Reg. 204/26, Ontario closed all eight of its previous streams: Foreign Worker, International Student, In-Demand Skills, Masters Graduate, PhD Graduate, Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker and Skilled Trades. The Skilled Trades stream had already been suspended on 14 November 2025 because of systematic fraud and misrepresentation.
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| 25 June 2026 | All eight former streams closed |
| 20 July 2026 | Ontario Workforce Priority requirements and points table published |
| 4 August 2026 | EOI portal opened for the new stream |
| 5 October 2026 | The $80,000-and-above income band (10 points) was added |
Applications submitted before 30 May 2026 are assessed under the former rules, through transitional provisions. Expressions of interest and job offers that had not been invited were withdrawn automatically, and employers must register a new job offer.
This is phase one of two. Ontario has said further streams — in areas such as health, entrepreneurship and exceptional talent — will follow, but they have not been published.
Ontario’s 2026 allocation
| Year | Nominations available to Ontario |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 21,500 (fully used; about 3,200 in health care) |
| 2025 | 10,750 — a 50% cut to federal PNP allocations; exhausted on 17 December 2025 |
| 2026 | 14,119 (confirmed 6 February 2026) |
The Ontario Workforce Priority stream: three paths
| Job in TEER 0–3 | Job in TEER 4–5 | Self-employed physician | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job offer | Required | Required | Not required |
| Experience | One of: 6 continuous months full time in the same occupation in Ontario within the last 12 months; 3 months for a recent Ontario graduate; 2 years (3,120 hours) in the same NOC within the last 5 years; or the professional licence required for the occupation (except truck drivers, NOC 73300 and 73301) | 9 months full time in the same occupation in Ontario within the last 2 years | — |
| Education | A post-secondary credential of at least one year, or a foreign equivalent with an ECA less than five years old. Listed trades: a high-school diploma | High-school diploma or equivalent | — |
| Language | CLB 6; listed trades CLB 5; recent Ontario graduates exempt | CLB 4 | No minimum — points only |
| Express Entry | Yes (+600 CRS) | No | Yes |
Accepted language tests: IELTS General, CELPIP-G, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Results must be valid at the time you apply.
A recent Ontario graduate means someone who graduated within the last three years from an eligible Ontario institution, with a credential of at least two years, or a master’s, doctorate or Ontario College Graduate Certificate.
Physicians must hold an OHIP billing number and a certificate of registration from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).
You must intend to live in Ontario. If you are in Canada, you need lawful temporary status — maintained status is accepted. Ontario may ask you to attend an in-person interview.
What the employer must meet
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Years in business | At least 3 years |
| Revenue — GTA (Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, York) | At least $1,000,000 in the last fiscal year |
| Revenue — 14 listed regions (Ottawa, Waterloo, Hamilton, Simcoe, Middlesex, Niagara, Essex, Wellington, Greater Sudbury, Frontenac, Brant, Peterborough, Hastings, Thunder Bay) | At least $500,000 |
| Revenue — rest of Ontario | At least $250,000 |
| Full-time employees who are citizens or permanent residents at the same work location | GTA: 5 · outside the GTA: 3 |
| The position | Full time — at least 30 paid hours a week and at least 1,560 hours a year — permanent, and essential to the operation and genuine needs of the business. Seasonal and contract positions are not accepted |
| Wage | At least the median wage on Job Bank for that occupation and region. For a recent Ontario graduate in TEER 0–3 the low wage is accepted. Bonuses, commission and vacation pay do not count |
| Recruitment | Where required: at least two methods for at least four weeks. An advertisement placed by an immigration representative is not accepted |
| Compliance | No outstanding orders under the Employment Standards Act or Occupational Health and Safety Act; the position must not affect a strike or labour dispute |
| Not eligible | Ontario Public Service bodies; self-employed professionals other than physicians |
| Ownership | The applicant and family must hold less than 10%, and only where the share formed part of the salary |
| Truck drivers (73300/73301) | A CVOR certificate with an Excellent or Satisfactory safety rating |
When recruitment evidence is not needed: if the applicant already holds a valid work permit to work in Ontario, or the employer holds a positive LMIA for the same position and NOC code, the employer may not need to provide proof of recruitment.
How the EOI score is calculated
Once the employer registers the job offer, the applicant submits a free expression of interest (EOI) within 30 calendar days. An EOI is valid for 12 months and is scored on the table below.
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| TEER level of the job | 0 or 1: 9 · 2 or 3: 6 · 4 or 5: 0 |
| Occupational group (first digit of the NOC) | 3 (health): 10 · 7 (trades and transport): 8 · 2 (sciences and engineering): 6 · 0, 1, 4, 8, 9: 4 · 5, 6: 2 |
| Hourly wage | $40+: 15 · $35–39.99: 12 · $30–34.99: 10 · $25–29.99: 8 · $20–24.99: 5 · under $20: 0 |
| Ontario experience in the same occupation | More than 24 months: 18 · 13–24: 15 · 6–12: 12 · under 6: 0 |
| Other Ontario experience (if under 6 months in the same occupation) | More than 24 months: 12 · 13–24: 9 · 6–12: 6 |
| Income earned in Canada | $80,000+: 10 · $70,000–79,999: 8 · $50,000–69,999: 6 · $30,000–49,999: 4 · under $30,000: 0 |
| Immigration status | Work permit: 10 · study permit: 5 · none: 0 |
| Highest level of education | Doctorate, or medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry: 10 · master’s: 8 · bachelor’s or above: 6 · college, trade or sub-degree certificate: 5 · lower: 0 |
| Number of Canadian credentials | More than one: 10 · one: 5 · none: 0 |
| Language (lowest ability) | CLB 9+: 15 · CLB 8: 12 · CLB 7: 8 · CLB 6: 4 · CLB 5 or lower: 0 |
| Knowledge of both official languages | Both at CLB 6+: 10 · one language: 5 |
| Region of work | Northern Ontario: 15 · East, Central (outside the GTA) and Southwest: 10 · GTA excluding Toronto: 5 · Toronto: 0 |
Proving Canadian income. To claim points for income earned in Canada you must provide a Notice of Assessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency. The income must have been earned in a single qualifying tax year. Combining income from several years is not accepted, and T4 slips on their own are not sufficient.
The OINP route step by step
- The employer registers. The employer signs up to the Employer Portal and registers the job offer. The applicant receives a Job Offer ID. A registered job offer cannot be edited.
- The applicant submits an EOI within 30 calendar days. There is no fee. The EOI is valid for 12 months.
- Invitation to apply. Draws may be general or targeted by occupation, region or French-language ability. Ontario does not announce them in advance.
- The employer has 14 calendar days to submit the position-confirmation request.
- The applicant has 17 calendar days to submit the application and pay the fee — and can only do so after the employer has submitted. Both deadlines run from the date the invitation is issued. If a deadline is missed, the EOI is deleted.
- Assessment. Ontario has not published a processing time for the new stream. An incomplete application is returned and the fee refunded.
- Nomination. You receive an approval letter, a nomination certificate valid for 6 months, and — on the job-offer paths — a work-permit support letter.
- Express Entry path: accept the nomination in your IRCC account within 30 calendar days to receive 600 CRS points, then 60 calendar days to submit the complete permanent-residence application after the federal invitation. IRCC processing is about 7 months.
- Regular path: apply through the PR Portal within 6 months. IRCC processing is about 13 months (IRCC data, 9 October 2026).
- After nomination the approved position cannot be changed. If the employment ends, a new EOI is required. A post-nomination review unit may revoke a nomination.
Until the final permanent-residence decision: if your nomination was issued on the basis of a job offer, you must continue to meet the conditions of your employment and of the nomination until IRCC makes its final decision on permanent residence.
If IRCC issues you an Express Entry invitation while your OINP application is in progress, you must either decline it or withdraw the OINP application. For a provincial nomination, Express Entry profiles use NOC 93888. A representative must be a lawyer or a CICC member and must be registered with the OINP.
Documents
From the applicant
- Signed consent form
- Photograph and passport, including every page carrying a Canadian visa
- IRCC and CBSA status documents
- Education documents or an ECA
- Complete language test results, valid at the time of application
- Professional licence
- Two recent pay slips, if you already work in the same position
- Reference letters for work experience — dated, on letterhead, signed by a supervisor, showing dates, job title, duties, salary and hours — plus proof that the salary was paid
- T4 slips and Notices of Assessment
- Curriculum vitae
- Evidence of ties to Ontario, or a statement of intent to reside
- Evidence for the points claimed, including one Notice of Assessment showing income of $30,000 or more. T4 slips alone are not accepted
- Each file may be at most 10 MB
From the employer, within 14 calendar days
- Signed job offer on company letterhead
- Consent form signed in ink
- Recruitment evidence or the LMIA, and where applicable a collective agreement and CVOR certificate
- On request: CRA Schedule 125 and 141 or three years of financial statements, the deed or lease, an employee chart, and T4 summaries
Translations
A translation prepared by the applicant, their representative, a friend or a family member is not accepted. Inside Ontario, use an ATIO-certified translator. Outside Ontario — including from Iran — any translator may be used, but the translation must be notarised. An improper translation makes the application incomplete.
Fees
| Fee | Canadian dollars |
|---|---|
| EOI submission | 0 |
| OINP application, job outside the GTA | 1,500 |
| OINP application, job inside the GTA | 2,000 |
| IRCC — principal applicant / spouse | 1,590 / 1,590 |
| IRCC — each dependent child | 270 |
| Biometrics | 85 (family maximum 170) |
The OINP fee is not refunded once assessment has begun. An application that is incomplete, or withdrawn before assessment starts, is refunded.
The 2026 draws
All draws held in 2026 took place under the former streams, between February and April, and invited 13,640 people in total: 3,284 in health care and child care, 1,404 in skilled trades, 1,334 in agriculture and In-Demand Skills, 759 in mining, 241 physicians and 146 French-speaking candidates. No draw has been held since 30 April 2026, and no Ontario Workforce Priority draw has taken place yet.
What we review in a consultation
- Whether your occupation and TEER level fit one of the three paths, and which one gives the stronger position
- Whether your Ontario work experience meets the 6-month, 9-month or 2-year test, and whether the evidence supports it
- Your likely EOI score, and which factors can realistically be improved before you submit
- Whether the employer meets the revenue, headcount and wage requirements, and whether recruitment evidence will be needed
- Whether the Express Entry path is open to you, and what it changes
- The documents that will be hardest to obtain from Iran, and how long they take
Frequently asked questions
Only as a self-employed physician. The other two paths both require a registered job offer from an eligible Ontario employer.
How long is an EOI valid?
Twelve months, or until you receive an invitation.
How much time do I have after an invitation?
The employer has 14 calendar days and the applicant 17 calendar days. The applicant can only submit after the employer has submitted. Both deadlines run from the date the invitation is issued.
Does a nomination mean permanent residence?
No. A nomination is a provincial endorsement. IRCC makes the final decision, and assesses admissibility separately.
Can I change jobs after being nominated?
No. The approved position cannot be changed, and you must keep meeting the conditions of the employment and the nomination until IRCC decides your permanent-residence application.
When is the next Ontario Workforce Priority draw?
Ontario has not announced one. As of now no OWP draw has been held since the stream opened.
Legal disclaimer
The information on this website is provided for general information purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or immigration advice tailored to an individual’s circumstances. Hejazineia Immigration Corporation makes every effort to keep the information published here accurate and current; however, Canadian immigration laws, regulations and policies may change without notice.
No guarantee is given as to the accuracy, completeness or continued validity of the information on this website. Using the material on this website, or contacting the firm, does not by itself create a formal consultant–client relationship. That relationship is established only upon signing a written immigration services agreement.
For guidance specific to your own case, consult a licensed Canadian immigration professional.
Hejazineia Immigration Corporation | Negin Hejazi-Neia, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC-IRB), licence number R712822
