Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program changes for 2026 are currently operating through the Ontario Workforce Priority stream.
The stream provides pathways for eligible foreign workers with qualifying Ontario job offers and eligible self-employed physicians without job offers.
The first phase of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program redesign took effect on June 25, 2026, after amendments to Ontario Regulation 422/17.
Ontario opened the expression of interest (EOI) portal for the new stream on August 4, 2026.
Ontario says the redesign is being implemented in phases.
Applicants should rely on the current Ontario stream page, regulations and document checklists because Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program details may continue to change.
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What Changed In The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
Before the redesign, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program operated employer job-offer, graduate and Express Entry-linked streams.
Ontario has now closed the following eight former streams to new invitations and applications:
- Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker
- Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills
- Employer Job Offer: International Student
- Master’s Graduate
- PhD Graduate
- Express Entry Human Capital Priorities
- Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker
- Express Entry Skilled Trades
The Ontario Workforce Priority stream is the active stream currently described on Ontario’s main OINP page.
Applications submitted after invitations under a former stream continue to be assessed under the rules that applied when those applications were submitted.
EOIs and job offers under the former streams that had not produced an invitation were to be withdrawn during the transition.
Affected registrants, employers and representatives were to receive direct notice from Ontario.
Who The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream Is For
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s Ontario Workforce Priority stream has two broad routes.
The first route is for foreign workers with a qualifying full-time and permanent job offer in Ontario.
The second route is for eligible self-employed physicians who can apply without a job offer.
Job-offer pathways are available for occupations in all National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories, subject to the requirements for the applicable pathway.
This includes TEER 0 to 3 and TEER 4 to 5 positions.
Being in an eligible TEER category does not by itself guarantee an invitation or nomination.
Applicants must meet the stream requirements and first receive an invitation to apply.
Minimum Requirements For Job-Offer Applicants
Every Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program job-offer applicant must receive an invitation to apply and submit the application within the applicable deadline.
The applicant must prove the qualifications claimed in the EOI that led to the invitation and meet the applicable requirements for work experience or licensing, language, education, legal status in Canada where relevant, and an intention to live and work in Ontario.
The employer must also submit an application for approval of the employment position.
That employer application must be approved before the applicant can receive an Ontario nomination.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee selection from the EOI pool or approval of an application.
TEER 0 To 3 Positions
Applicants with TEER 0 to 3 job offers generally need a post-secondary degree or diploma and a minimum language level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 6.
Certain occupations may use a CLB 5 threshold under the detailed program rules.
The work-experience requirement may be met through one of the following routes:
- Six consecutive months in the job-offer position during the previous 12 months;
- For recent Ontario graduates, three consecutive months in the job-offer position during the previous 12 months;
- Two years of cumulative experience in the relevant NOC occupation during the previous five years; or
- An applicable exemption for licensed applicants.
The exact requirements and any alternate criteria depend on the occupation and the regulation.
TEER 4 To 5 Positions
Applicants with TEER 4 or 5 job offers generally need nine months of cumulative experience in the job-offer position during the previous two years.
The minimum language requirement for this pathway is CLB 4.
The applicant must normally have a Canadian secondary school diploma or an equivalent credential.
The job must be full-time, permanent and located in Ontario.
Self-Employed Physicians
Self-employed physicians may apply without a job offer if they meet the stream’s requirements.
The physician must be a member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, hold a valid certificate of registration in an eligible class such as independent, academic or provisional registration, and be eligible to bill through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.
These requirements establish eligibility criteria but do not guarantee an invitation or nomination.
How The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Application Timeline Works
The process begins differently for job-offer applicants and self-employed physicians.
For a job-offer applicant, the employer must first register its business in the OINP Employer Portal and submit information about the proposed position.
The worker then uses the job-offer identification number to register an EOI.
The worker must register the EOI within 30 calendar days of the employer submitting the job offer.
If the worker receives an invitation to apply, the employer must submit its employment-position approval application within 14 calendar days of the invitation date.
The applicant must submit the nomination application and pay the required fee within 17 calendar days of the invitation date.
The applicant cannot submit the application until the employer has submitted its employment-position approval application.
Self-employed physicians must submit their application and pay within 17 calendar days of the invitation.
If a deadline is missed, the job offer or EOI may be withdrawn and the invitation may no longer be usable.
Employer Rules That Can Affect Eligibility
For a job-offer pathway, the employer must generally:
- Have been actively operating for at least three years before submitting the application;
- Have business premises in Ontario where the applicant will work;
- Have no outstanding orders under Ontario’s employment standards or occupational health and safety legislation;
- Meet the applicable revenue requirements based on the location of the position; and
- Meet the required number of Canadian citizen or permanent resident full-time employees based on the location of the job offer.
Lower gross annual revenue requirements apply to employers located in rural communities.
For the OINP definition, a rural community is located in a census division with a population of fewer than 150,000 people.
The job offer must be full-time, permanent, urgently necessary to the employer’s business and not connected to a labour dispute.
The offered wage must meet the required level for the region and occupation, subject to applicable exceptions.
Express Entry And Non-Express Entry Options
An Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program nomination does not itself grant permanent residence.
Ontario nominates the applicant, but Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes the final permanent residence decision.
Applicants based on TEER 0 to 3 occupations, including eligible self-employed physicians, may request nomination through Express Entry if they meet the federal requirements and maintain a valid Express Entry profile.
After accepting an Express Entry nomination, the candidate receives 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System points.
IRCC may then issue an invitation to apply.
An invited candidate has 60 calendar days to submit the permanent residence application.
Applicants using the non-Express Entry route apply through the federal Provincial Nominee Program process after receiving the Ontario nomination.
IRCC separately assesses the federal permanent residence requirements, including eligibility and admissibility.
What A Nomination Does Not Allow You To Do
An Ontario nomination is not the same as a work permit.
A person who wants to work in Canada while a permanent residence application is processed must qualify for and apply for the appropriate work permit.
Applicants nominated on the basis of an approved employment position must continue meeting the conditions listed in the nomination approval letter.
The approved employer and position form the basis of the nomination, so changes to employment may affect the case.
If the approved employment ends and the employer approval is cancelled, a person who wishes to pursue permanent residence through the Ontario Workforce Priority stream must submit a new EOI and wait for a new invitation.
What Applicants Should Check Before Starting
- Confirm that the employer is willing and able to use the OINP Employer Portal.
- Identify the job’s correct NOC and TEER category.
- Check the required language test, education and work-experience evidence.
- Confirm that the offered wage meets the regional requirement.
- Prepare documents before registering the EOI.
- Track the 30-day, 14-day and 17-day deadlines carefully if invited.
- Decide whether the Express Entry option is available before submitting the provincial application.
Applicants should use the current Ontario stream page, regulation and document checklist when preparing an application.
Program requirements and operational instructions can be updated.
Bottom Line For Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Applicants In 2026
As of September 30, 2026, the active OINP pathway described on Ontario’s main program page is the Ontario Workforce Priority stream.
The eight former OINP streams listed above are closed to new applicants, although applications filed after earlier invitations continue to be assessed under the rules in effect when they were submitted.
The current system gives Ontario employers a central role in starting job-offer cases and requires an EOI before an application can be filed.
Eligible self-employed physicians have a separate no-job-offer route.
Applicants should treat the provincial nomination as one stage of a two-government process, with IRCC retaining final authority over permanent residence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a job-offer applicant submit an Ontario Workforce Priority expression of interest before the employer’s position approval?
Yes, but the employer must first submit the job offer through the OINP Employer Portal. The worker then has 30 calendar days to register an expression of interest, and, if invited, the employer has 14 calendar days to submit the employment-position approval application. The worker cannot submit the nomination application until that employer application has been submitted.
What happens if an applicant misses an Ontario Workforce Priority deadline?
Missing a required deadline can cause the job offer or invitation to expire. An expired invitation generally cannot be used to submit the related nomination application, so the applicant may need to follow the program’s current process again, including registering a new expression of interest if permitted. Applicants should track each deadline from the relevant submission or invitation date.
Can a TEER 4 or 5 applicant use an equivalent credential instead of a Canadian secondary school diploma?
Yes, the TEER 4 or 5 route generally accepts a Canadian secondary school diploma or an equivalent credential. The applicant must provide documentation that establishes the equivalency under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s current requirements. Meeting the education standard does not replace the separate requirements for work experience, CLB 4 language ability, an eligible job offer and other nomination criteria.
Can a self-employed physician apply through the Ontario Workforce Priority stream without a job offer?
Yes, an eligible self-employed physician can apply without a job offer. The physician must meet Ontario registration requirements, remain in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, hold an eligible certificate of registration and be eligible to bill through OHIP. An Express Entry nomination is available only if the physician also meets federal Express Entry requirements and has a valid profile.
Do applicants who already filed under a former Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program stream have to reapply under the 2026 redesign?
No, an application submitted after an invitation under a former stream continues to be assessed under the rules that applied when that application was submitted. The redesign does not automatically move that application into the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. People who have not yet filed a former-stream application must instead review the requirements of the currently available stream.
How does the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program define a rural community for employer requirements?
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program defines a rural community as a location within a census division with fewer than 150,000 people. An employer whose position is located in such a community may qualify for lower gross annual revenue requirements. Rural location does not remove the employer’s other obligations, including operating for at least three years, maintaining Ontario premises and meeting staffing and compliance rules.
Fact-Checked: Fact-checked against current Ontario government OINP pages, the 2026 OINP updates page and current IRCC Provincial Nominee Program guidance reviewed on September 30, 2026. The article distinguishes the June 25, 2026 regulatory redesign from the August 4, 2026 opening of the new expression of interest portal. ([ontario.ca](https://www.ontario.ca/page/2026-ontario-immigrant-nominee-program-updates?utm_source=openai)) Sources: Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, 2026 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Updates, OINP Application Process
Disclaimer: Immigration rules, stream availability and document requirements can change. Applicants should confirm the current Ontario and IRCC instructions before submitting an expression of interest or application.
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