Last Updated 15 September 2026

Why Ontario Provincial Nominee Program?

Ontario's provincial nomination program now runs through a single pathway — the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream — open to qualifying job offers across nearly all occupation levels, plus a no-job-offer route for self-employed physicians. Candidates are ranked on a 130-point Expression of Interest score, not a fixed CRS minimum. The province's current annual allocation is 14,119 nominations.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is Ontario's provincial immigration program for nominating eligible foreign nationals for permanent residence who can contribute to the province's economy and labour market.

Key highlights of the current OINP include:

• 2026 nomination allocation: 14,119 nominations
• Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWPS) is the current redesigned pathway.
• The new stream provides pathways for eligible job offers across all NOC TEER categories (TEER 0–5).
• Eligible self-employed physicians may qualify without a job offer.
• Candidates under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream can be ranked through an Expression of Interest (EOI) system with a maximum of 130 points.
• Ontario's selection system considers factors such as work location, occupation, wage, Ontario work experience, education, language proficiency, Canadian earnings history and immigration status.
• Ontario gives additional consideration to regional labour-market needs, including opportunities outside the Greater Toronto Area.
• A provincial nomination does not automatically grant permanent residence. After nomination, the applicant must apply to the federal government, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes the final decision on permanent residence.

Important: There is no universal CRS 400 minimum requirement under the current Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. The Ontario EOI score and the federal Express Entry CRS are different scoring systems.

About Ontario

Ontario is Canada's most populous province and one of the country's major economic and employment centres. The province has a highly diversified economy encompassing financial services, technology, manufacturing, healthcare, education, construction, professional services, natural resources, transportation and other industries.

Toronto is the capital of Ontario, while Ottawa is the capital of Canada and is located in Ontario.

Other major Ontario communities include:

• Toronto
• Ottawa
• Mississauga
• Brampton
• Hamilton
• London
• Windsor
• Kitchener-Waterloo
• Markham
• Vaughan

Ontario also includes communities and regions outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), including Northern, Eastern, Central and Southwestern Ontario. The current OINP framework places greater emphasis on regional labour-market needs and provides additional EOI points for qualifying employment locations outside Toronto.

OINP Immigration Levels Plan

Ontario received a 2026 nomination allocation of 14,119 nominations from the federal government.

This allocation represents the number of provincial nominations Ontario has been allocated for the 2026 immigration year. It should not be confused with the number of invitations issued in individual OINP draws or the number of permanent residents ultimately admitted to Canada.

For comparison, Ontario reported that it nominated 10,750 candidates in 2025 to address critical labour-market needs.

Important: The annual nomination allocation can change from year to year and should be verified against the latest Ontario government announcement. 

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program – 2026 Redesign

Ontario substantially redesigned the OINP in June 2026.

The previous OINP structure included eight streams:

• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker
• Employer Job Offer: International Student
• Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills
• Masters Graduate
• PhD Graduate
• Express Entry Human Capital Priorities
• Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker
• Express Entry Skilled Trades

These former streams are now closed to new applicants under the redesigned program.

Ontario introduced the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWPS) as the current pathway, with three principal categories:

1. Ontario Workforce Priority – TEER 0–3

2. Ontario Workforce Priority – TEER 4–5

3. Ontario Workforce Priority – Self-Employed Physician

Applications submitted under the former program framework continue to be assessed according to the requirements that applied when those applications were submitted. 

Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWPS)

The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream provides a pathway to permanent residence for eligible foreign workers with qualifying employment in Ontario and for eligible self-employed physicians.

The stream is designed to help Ontario address labour-market needs, retain workers with proven experience and support employers facing workforce shortages.

Current pathways

Ontario Workforce Priority – TEER 0–3 Pathway

This pathway is available to eligible foreign workers with a full-time and permanent job offer in Ontario in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation.

General minimum requirements include:

• A qualifying full-time and permanent job offer in Ontario.
• The employment position must be approved by the OINP.
• The applicant must receive an invitation to apply.
• Work experience must generally meet one of the applicable options, including:
  • at least 6 consecutive months in the last 12 months in the job-offer position with the job-offer employer; or
  • for eligible recent Ontario graduates, at least 3 consecutive months in the last 12 months in the job-offer position with the job-offer employer; or
  • 2 years of cumulative work experience in the NOC occupation during the last 5 years; or
  • an applicable licensing exemption may apply.
• Language proficiency of generally CLB 6 or higher, with CLB 5 applicable to certain occupations.
• A minimum post-secondary degree or diploma, subject to applicable exceptions and occupation-specific requirements.

Applicants must also satisfy the general OINP requirements and provide documentary evidence supporting their EOI and application.

Ontario Workforce Priority – TEER 4–5 Pathway

This pathway is available to eligible workers with a full-time and permanent job offer in Ontario in a NOC TEER 4 or 5 occupation.

General minimum requirements include:

• A qualifying full-time and permanent job offer in Ontario.
• The position must be approved by the OINP.
• The applicant must receive an invitation to apply.
• At least 9 months of cumulative paid work experience during the last 2 years in the job-offer position with the job-offer employer.
• CLB 4 or higher in English or French.
• A Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent credential, subject to applicable requirements.
• The applicant must meet all other applicable OINP requirements.

Certain occupations may have additional or alternative requirements.

Self-Employed Physician Pathway

Eligible self-employed physicians may qualify under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream without a job offer.

To qualify, a physician must generally:

• Be a member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).
• Hold a valid certificate of registration in an eligible class, including independent, academic or provisional registration.
• Be eligible to bill through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).
• Meet the other applicable OINP requirements.
• Receive an invitation to apply through the OINP selection process.

Self-employed physicians are assessed under a separate scoring approach for Ontario medical practice experience.

Employer Requirements under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream

For applicants applying with a job offer, the Ontario employer must meet applicable OINP requirements.

The employment position must generally:

• Be full-time and permanent/indeterminate.
• Be urgently necessary to the employer's business.
• Be located in Ontario.
• Meet the applicable wage requirements based on the occupation and location.
• Not adversely affect a labour dispute.
• Meet the applicable requirements for the relevant NOC TEER category.

The employer must also meet OINP business requirements, including requirements concerning:

• Length of business operation.
• Business location in Ontario.
• Gross annual revenue.
• Canadian citizens/permanent resident employees.
• Compliance with applicable employment and occupational health and safety legislation.

Lower gross annual revenue requirements may apply to eligible employers located in rural communities.

Ontario Workforce Priority Stream – 130-Point EOI Scoring System

Ontario has introduced a new 130-point Expression of Interest scoring system for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.

Candidates are ranked according to their EOI attributes, and the highest-ranking candidates may be invited to apply for a provincial nomination.

Important: The EOI score is a ranking mechanism and is not the same as the stream's eligibility requirements. A candidate must satisfy all mandatory eligibility criteria even if they have a high EOI score.

EOI Scoring Factors

Self-Employed Physician Work Experience

Self-employed physician candidates use an alternative work-experience scoring factor:

Self-employed physicians are not scored on the job-offer hourly wage factor.

Is a CRS Score of 400 Required for OINP?

No.

The previous statement that a CRS score of 400 or higher is required for OINP is not applicable to the current Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.

The Ontario EOI scoring system is separate from the federal Express Entry CRS system.

For eligible OWPS applicants applying through Express Entry, a valid Express Entry profile may be required depending on the pathway. Under the current program, applicants with a qualifying TEER 0–3 job offer or eligible self-employed physicians may have the option of receiving an Express Entry-linked provincial nomination, subject to the federal requirements.

A provincial nomination through an Express Entry-linked pathway can provide 600 additional CRS points, but the provincial nomination and federal permanent residence application remain separate stages.

Language Requirements and Accepted Tests

The OINP currently accepts the following language tests for applicable Ontario Workforce Priority Stream applications:

English

• IELTS – General Training only
• CELPIP – General only
• PTE Core – PTE Core only; PTE Academic is not accepted

French

• TEF Canada
• TCF Canada

Language test results must generally have been obtained within two years before the application is submitted.

The required CLB level depends on the applicable OWPS pathway and occupation.

Current minimum language levels

Current OINP EOI Status – 2026

The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream Expression of Interest (EOI) portal is open. Candidates with a qualifying job offer can register an EOI once their employer has submitted the job offer through the OINP Employer Portal. An EOI stays active in the selection pool for 12 months. Check ontario.ca for the current intake status before starting your application, as Ontario can pause or adjust intake without notice.

Candidates who want to pursue the new OWPS should monitor the official OINP updates and prepare their documents and eligibility information in advance of the EOI system reopening.

How to Apply for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream

Step 1: Determine your pathway

Identify whether you may qualify under:

• TEER 0–3 pathway
• TEER 4–5 pathway
• Self-employed physician pathway

Step 2: Secure a qualifying job offer, where required

For job-offer pathways, the employer must first initiate the process through the OINP Employer Portal.

Step 3: Employer submits the job offer

• The employer provides the required position and employment information through the Employer Portal.
• The candidate receives a job offer ID that is required when registering the EOI.

Step 4: Register an Expression of Interest

• Once the EOI system reopens, the candidate can register an EOI using the applicable pathway and job-offer information.
• For a job-offer pathway, the candidate generally has 30 calendar days from the date the employer submits the job offer to register the EOI.

Step 5: Ontario ranks candidates

OINP may conduct general or targeted selections and invite the highest-ranking candidates based on available nomination spaces and Ontario's labour-market or human-capital priorities.

Step 6: Receive an Invitation to Apply

• Receiving an EOI invitation does not itself mean the candidate has been nominated.
• The candidate must still submit a complete provincial nomination application and demonstrate that all eligibility requirements are satisfied.

Step 7: Employer submits position approval application

For job-offer pathways, the employer must submit the employment-position approval application within the required deadline.

Step 8: Submit the OINP application

• The applicant must submit the nomination application and applicable fee within 17 calendar days of receiving the invitation.
• The applicant cannot submit the application until the employer has submitted the employment-position approval application.

Step 9: Receive an Ontario nomination

If approved, Ontario issues a nomination certificate.

Step 10: Apply for Canadian permanent residence

• After receiving an Ontario nomination, the applicant must apply for permanent residence to IRCC.
• IRCC makes the final decision on the permanent residence application. 

OINP Processing Times

The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is new, so there isn't yet a long published track record of OINP processing times specific to it. Once your employer submits your job offer, you have 30 calendar days to register your EOI. If invited, your employer has 14 calendar days to file the position-approval application, and you have 17 calendar days to submit your OINP application and pay the fee. After nomination, the standard route allows 6 months to apply to IRCC for permanent residence. IRCC's own processing time for the PR application then applies on top of this. Processing times vary by application type, completeness, and verification needs.

Ontario Workforce Priority Stream Fees

Registering an Expression of Interest is free. If invited to apply, the OINP application fee is $1,500 CAD for a job offer located outside the Greater Toronto Area, and $2,000 CAD for a job offer inside the Greater Toronto Area. After nomination, you'll also pay the standard IRCC permanent residence processing fee plus the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) — verify current amounts at canada.ca before applying, as IRCC fees are adjusted periodically.

Latest Ontario PNP Draws – 2026

Latest Ontario Workforce Priority Stream Activity

Ontario is now running selection rounds under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. Draw dates, invitation numbers, and category-specific cutoffs change frequently and are published on Ontario's official invitations page. Ontario does not publish a fixed draw calendar — rounds are held based on labour-market needs and the nominations remaining in the province's annual allocation. Check ontario.ca for the latest invitation rounds before planning your application.

Important OINP Updates

OINP redesigned its immigration program

Ontario closed the previous eight streams as part of its 2026 redesign and introduced the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.

Ontario now targets all NOC TEER categories

The redesigned program provides pathways for qualifying job offers across TEER 0–5, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements.

Self-employed physicians have a dedicated pathway

Eligible self-employed physicians may apply without a job offer, subject to Ontario's physician-specific requirements.

Regional employment is rewarded

The new EOI system awards up to 15 points based on the location of employment, with Northern Ontario receiving the highest regional score.

Wage level affects EOI ranking

Candidates can receive up to 15 points based on hourly wage, with higher wages receiving higher scores.

Healthcare and other priority occupations can receive additional EOI points

The scoring system provides additional points to certain occupational categories, including health occupations, trades/transport/equipment operators and natural and applied sciences.

Important Note for Applicants

The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is a competitive provincial nomination pathway. Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee an invitation to apply.

Similarly, a high EOI score does not automatically result in nomination.

OINP may conduct general or targeted selections based on labour-market needs, human-capital attributes and the number of nominations available.

Applicants should ensure that every EOI claim can be supported by documentary evidence because Ontario may require evidence for the factors used to calculate the EOI score.

Ontario PNP – Key Facts at a Glance

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