NEW OINP PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development has made changes to Ontario Regulation 422/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 (OIA). These amendments came into force on June 25, 2026.

The changes include removing the existing 8 streams and introducing the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream. The Ontario Workforce Priority stream Expression of Interest (EOI) system is anticipated to open later in the summer.

This represents the first of a 2-phase program redesign that will:

• streamline pathways to permanent residence for individuals with arranged employment in Ontario
• help employers retain proven talent in hard-to-fill roles
• introduce new program requirements, including elevated language and education benchmarks, to enhance the calibre of nominees supported by the province and strengthen program integrity
• improve access for employers in rural and northern communities by creating more flexible business revenue thresholds

These changes reflect feedback gathered through the Ontario Regulatory Registry and additional consultations.

The Ontario Workforce Priority stream will have pathways for individuals with job offers in all National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEERs), as well as for self-employed physicians. Details can be found below.

Regulatory amendments also introduce changes to how notices for contraventions are issued. This is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen program integrity through enhanced screening, inspections and compliance and enforcement activities against bad actors.

Candidates who have registered an Expression of Interest (EOI) or submitted an application

The Expression of Interest (EOI) system is now closed to new EOIs. No further invitations will be issued under the former program streams. EOIs and job offers registered under the former streams that have not resulted in an invitation to apply will be automatically withdrawn over the coming weeks while the EOI and application platforms are updated. Affected registrants, employers and representatives will receive a notice directly.

Candidates and employers are invited to familiarize themselves with the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream and its requirements. Eligible candidates may register a new EOI under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream once the EOI system reopens. Employers who have previously registered in the employer portal will not need to register again when the EOI system reopens. Once the Employer Portal reopens they will need to submit a new job offer and a new application for an approval of an employment position (re-register a new job offer) to initiate a new EOI for the applicant under the new program stream.

Applications submitted following an invitation under a former stream will continue to be assessed against the eligibility requirements that were in effect when the application was submitted.

Ontario Workforce Priority Stream Overview

TEER 0-3 pathway

This pathway targets skilled internationally trained workers in all TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations with a full-time and permanent job offer in Ontario. Minimum eligibility requirements include:

• work experience: applicants must demonstrate one of the following:
  • 6 months consecutive in the last 12 months in the job offer position with the job offer employer
  • for recent Ontario graduates, 3 months consecutive in the last 12 months in the job offer position with the job offer employer
  • 2 years cumulative in the last 5 years in the NOC occupation
  • licenced applicants are exempt from this requirement.
• language requirement: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 6, CLB 5 for certain occupations
• minimum education: post-secondary degree or diploma

Some occupations may have alternate criteria, consult the regulations for detailed requirements.

Self-employed physicians

Self-employed physicians may qualify for the Ontario Workforce Priority stream without a job offer. To qualify, candidates must demonstrate all of the following requirements:

• 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: independent, academic or provisional
• be eligible to bill through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).

TEER 4-5 pathway

This pathway is open to workers in all TEER 4-5 occupations with a full-time and permanent job offer in Ontario. Minimum eligibility requirements include:

• work experience: 9 months cumulative experience in the last 2 years in the job offer position with the job offer employer
• language: CLB 4
• minimum education: Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent

For all Ontario Workforce Priority Stream pathways, lower gross annual revenue requirements will apply to employers located in rural communities. For the purposes of the program, a rural community is a community located in a census division with a population of less than 150,000.

Closed streams

As part of the redesign of the OINP, the following streams have been closed:

• 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