Last Updated On 15 April 2026, 4:54 PM EDT (Toronto Time)
On April 15, 2026, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued 1,334 invitations to apply under the In-Demand Skills stream.
This draw targeted two distinct groups of candidates working in 6 agriculture-related occupations and 33 other priority occupations across the province.
It is the third round of OINP draws in April 2026 following the mining sector draw on April 1 and the massive multi-category draw on April 8.
With today’s draw, Ontario has now issued a total of 3,921 invitations to apply in the first 15 days of April alone.
The In-Demand Skills stream is specifically designed for candidates with job offers in TEER 4 or 5 occupations that would normally not qualify for the federal Express Entry system.
Agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, construction labour, and public works maintenance are all represented in this draw.
Here is a full breakdown of everything included in this draw.
Table of Contents
Summary of the April 15, 2026 OINP In-Demand Skills Draw
The following table provides a quick overview of the two occupation categories, the number of invitations, and the minimum score thresholds for this draw.
| Category | Invitations | Min Score | Targeted Occupations | Date profiles created |
| Agriculture-Related | 315 | 35 | 6 | July 2, 2025 – April 13, 2026 |
| Other Priority | 1,024 | 36 | 33 | April 13, 2026 |
The total of 1,334 invitations was shared across both categories in a single combined draw.
Agriculture-related occupations required a minimum score of 35 while other priority occupations required a slightly higher score of 36.
The minimal one-point difference between the two score thresholds shows that Ontario considers both categories to be equally urgent in terms of labour demand.
The agriculture category included 6 eligible NOC codes, while the other priority category covered a much broader list of 33 NOC codes.
Together, these 39 occupations represent some of the hardest-to-fill roles in Ontario’s workforce.
6 Agriculture-Related Occupations Targeted in This Draw
The agriculture-related portion of this draw targeted candidates with a minimum score of 35 and a job offer in one of six eligible NOC codes.
These occupations cover the full chain of Ontario’s agricultural and food production industry from the farm to the processing floor.
Ontario’s agriculture sector has been facing severe workforce shortages that have only intensified in recent years.
Farms across the province rely heavily on temporary foreign workers and international students to keep operations running.
This draw offers a direct pathway from temporary status to permanent residency for those already working in these roles.
The following table lists all six agriculture-related NOC codes eligible for this draw.
| NOC Code | Occupation Title |
| 84120 | Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators |
| 85100 | Livestock labourers |
| 85103 | Nursery and greenhouse labourers |
| 94140 | Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing |
| 94141 | Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers |
| 95106 | Labourers in food and beverage processing |
33 Other Priority Occupations Targeted in This Draw
The other priority occupations category required a minimum score of 36 and covered an extensive list of 33 NOC codes.
These occupations span manufacturing, construction support, logistics, public works, home care, and industrial processing.
The breadth of this list reflects the reality that Ontario faces labour shortages not just in one or two sectors but across a wide swath of its industrial economy.
The following table lists all 33 eligible NOC codes under the other priority occupations category.
| NOC Code | Occupation Title |
| 14400 | Shippers and receivers |
| 14402 | Production logistics workers |
| 44101 | Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations |
| 74203 | Other automotive mechanical installers and servicers |
| 74204 | Waterworks and gas maintenance workers |
| 74205 | Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers |
| 75101 | Material handlers |
| 75110 | Construction trades helpers and labourers |
| 75119 | Other trades helpers and labourers |
| 75211 | Railway and motor transport labourers |
| 75212 | Public works and maintenance labourers |
| 94100 | Machine operators, mineral and metal processing |
| 94101 | Foundry workers |
| 94103 | Concrete, clay and stone-forming operators |
| 94105 | Metalworking and forging machine operators |
| 94106 | Machining tool operators |
| 94107 | Other metal products machine operators |
| 94110 | Chemical plant machine operators |
| 94111 | Plastics processing machine operators |
| 94112 | Rubber processing machine operators and related workers |
| 94120 | Sawmill machine operators |
| 94124 | Woodworking machine operators |
| 94132 | Industrial sewing machine operators |
| 94200 | Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors and testers |
| 94202 | Assemblers and inspectors, electrical appliance, apparatus and equipment manufacturing |
| 94203 | Assemblers, fabricators and inspectors; industrial electrical motors and transformers |
| 94204 | Mechanical assemblers and inspectors |
| 94212 | Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors |
| 94213 | Industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators |
| 94219 | Other products: assemblers, finishers and inspectors |
| 95100 | Labourers in mineral and metal processing |
| 95101 | Labourers in metal fabrication |
| 95103 | Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing |
The manufacturing sector dominates this list, with motor vehicle assemblers, mechanical assemblers, electrical appliance assemblers, and industrial painters all represented.
Ontario is Canada’s manufacturing heartland and the auto sector alone employs tens of thousands of workers across the province.
Machine operators across metal processing, chemical plants, plastics, rubber, and woodworking are also heavily featured.
The construction support roles, including trades helpers, labourers, and material handlers, reflect Ontario’s booming housing and infrastructure development pipeline.
Home support workers and housekeepers were also included, which ties directly into Ontario’s growing demand for in-home care services for its aging population.
Public works maintenance workers, waterworks and gas maintenance workers, and railway and motor transport labourers round out the logistics and infrastructure side of the list.
Shippers, receivers, and production logistics workers address the supply chain roles that keep Ontario’s goods moving from factory floors to store shelves.
Application Process and Deadlines for Invited Candidates
Candidates who received an invitation on April 15, 2026 must follow the same structured application process that applies to all OINP Employer Job Offer draws.
The deadlines are strict and missing any step will result in the invitation expiring.
| Step | Action Required |
| Step 1 | Review the Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills stream page to confirm you meet all eligibility requirements and prepare your mandatory documents. |
| Step 2 | Your employer must review the employer guide and submit their portion of the application within 14 calendar days from the invitation date. |
| Step 3 | Log in to the OINP e-Filing Portal and click the newly created file number with the prefix JOXX. Submit your application and payment within 17 calendar days from the invitation date. |
The employer deadline of 14 calendar days is often the most critical bottleneck in the process.
Candidates should notify their employers immediately upon receiving the invitation to ensure there is enough time to gather documentation and submit.
The candidate deadline of 17 calendar days starts from April 15, 2026 and cannot be extended for any reason.
All applications must be submitted through the OINP e-Filing Portal using the file number beginning with the prefix JOXX.
Nearly 4,000 Total OINP Invitations in April 2026
The April 15 draw adds another 1,334 invitations to what has already been an extraordinarily busy month for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.
The following table tracks the cumulative OINP invitation totals for April 2026.
| Date | Draw Category | Invitations |
| April 1, 2026 | Mining Sector (3 streams) | 759 |
| April 8, 2026 | Healthcare, Francophone, REDI, Physicians | 1,828 |
| April 15, 2026 | Agriculture and Priority Occupations (In-Demand Skills) | 1,334 |
| Total | 3,921 |
Ontario has issued 3,921 invitations in just two weeks, which puts April 2026 on track to be one of the most active months in the program’s history.
The draws have spanned mining, healthcare, nursing, early childhood education, Francophone immigration, regional development, physician recruitment, agriculture, and manufacturing.
If this pace continues, the province could easily surpass 5,000 or even 6,000 invitations before the end of April.
Candidates in all sectors should ensure their OINP profiles are up to date and watch the OINP Program Updates page closely for any new draw announcements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can a candidate with a job offer in food processing apply under the agriculture category even though they work in a factory and not on a farm?
Yes, the agriculture-related category in this draw is not limited to traditional on-farm work. It includes occupations such as process control and machine operators in food and beverage processing (NOC 94140), industrial butchers and meat cutters (NOC 94141), and labourers in food and beverage processing (NOC 95106). These roles are part of the broader agricultural supply chain and Ontario classifies them as agriculture-related even though the work takes place in processing plants rather than on farms.
What is the difference between the In-Demand Skills stream and the Foreign Worker stream for candidates with a job offer in the same occupation?
The In-Demand Skills stream is specifically designed for candidates whose job offers fall under NOC TEER 4 or TEER 5 categories, which are occupations that typically require on-the-job training, a high school diploma, or short-term work experience rather than formal post-secondary education. The Foreign Worker stream covers a broader range of occupations, including TEER 0, 1, 2, and 3 positions that generally require higher levels of education or specialized training. A candidate’s eligibility depends on the NOC code of their specific job offer.
If a candidate’s OINP profile was created on April 14, 2026, one day after the April 13 deadline, are they excluded from this draw?
Yes, the OINP is very strict about profile creation deadlines. For this draw, eligible profiles had to be created and attested to by April 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Any profile created after that cutoff was not included in the April 15 draw. However, the profile would remain active in the system and could be considered for future draws as long as it meets the eligibility criteria at the time of the next round.
How long will candidates have to wait after submitting their OINP application before receiving a decision on their provincial nomination?
The OINP does not guarantee a specific processing timeline, and wait times can vary depending on application volumes and the complexity of individual cases. Historically, Employer Job Offer stream applications have taken anywhere from 30 to 90 days to receive a decision, though some cases may take longer. Candidates should ensure their applications are complete and accurate to avoid delays caused by requests for additional documentation. Checking the OINP website for the most current processing time estimates is recommended.
Fact Checked: All information in this article has been verified against the official Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program website as of April 15, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal immigration advice. Candidates should consult with a licensed immigration professional or visit the official OINP website for personalized guidance on their specific situation.
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