Ontario has just reopened the door for thousands of skilled workers and essential employees seeking permanent residence in the province.
The province’s immigration authority confirmed the launch on August 4, 2026, marking a milestone that candidates have been waiting for since late June.
This opening follows the single largest structural overhaul in the history of Ontario’s provincial nominee program earlier this summer.
Every former immigration stream has been permanently retired, and a completely new framework has taken its place.
Candidates who were monitoring the program closure now have a confirmed date to act on, and the registration window is officially live.
The details below cover exactly what changed, who qualifies, how the new scoring works, and what steps you need to take right now.
Table of Contents
What Changed in Ontario’s Immigration Program
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development has opened the expression of interest portal for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s new Ontario Workforce Priority stream.
This stream is the product of Phase 1 of a two-phase redesign that replaced all eight former OINP streams effective June 26, 2026.
The regulatory changes were made through amendments to Ontario Regulation 422/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015.
Ontario eliminated every existing pathway and consolidated them into a single employer-driven framework with three distinct tracks.
The EOI system had been closed to new registrations since June 25, 2026, and all previously submitted EOIs that did not receive an invitation were withdrawn.
Candidates and employers can now register fresh expressions of interest under the new rules starting today.
Three Pathways Under the New Ontario Workforce Priority Stream
The Ontario Workforce Priority stream operates through three distinct pathways based on your occupation classification under the National Occupational Classification system.
Each pathway has its own language, education, and work experience requirements tailored to the skill level of the position.
The following table summarizes the core eligibility criteria across all three pathways.
| Requirement | TEER 0-3 Pathway | TEER 4-5 Pathway | Self-Employed Physicians |
| Job Offer | Required (full-time, permanent) | Required (full-time, permanent) | Not required |
| Language (CLB) | CLB 6 (CLB 5 for skilled trades) | CLB 4 | Not required |
| Education | Post-secondary degree/diploma (1+ year) or high school for skilled trades | Canadian high school diploma or equivalent | Not required |
| Work Experience | 6 months consecutive, 3 months for recent Ontario grads, or 2 years cumulative | 9 months cumulative in last 2 years | Not required |
| Express Entry Option | Yes | No | Yes |
All three pathways require candidates to demonstrate an intention to live and work in Ontario after receiving permanent residence.
Self-employed physicians must hold a valid OHIP billing number and a certificate of registration from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario to qualify without a job offer.
How the Expression of Interest System Works
The EOI system is the gateway to the Ontario Workforce Priority stream, and registering is now the mandatory first step for all applicants.
Employers must first register their business in the Employer Portal and submit a job offer before candidates can register an EOI.
Once the employer submits the job offer, the candidate receives a job offer ID by email and has 30 calendar days to register their EOI.
If the candidate does not register within that 30-day window, the job offer expires and the employer must submit a new one.
There is no fee to register an expression of interest under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream.
Each EOI registration remains valid for 12 months in the selection pool unless the candidate receives an invitation or withdraws.
Registering an EOI does not guarantee an invitation to apply, and an invitation does not guarantee a nomination for permanent residence.
Work Experience Requirements by TEER Level
The work experience threshold varies based on whether your job offer falls under TEER 0 to 3 or TEER 4 to 5 occupations.
Candidates with a TEER 0 to 3 job offer must meet one of four possible work experience options to qualify.
The first option requires at least six months of consecutive, paid, full-time work experience in the same job offer position within the past 12 months.
Recent Ontario graduates can qualify with just three months of consecutive experience in the job offer position within the past 12 months.
The third option accepts two years of cumulative, paid, full-time experience in the same NOC occupation within the past five years.
The fourth option applies when the position requires a mandatory licence or authorization under Ontario or Canadian law to perform the work.
Candidates with a TEER 4 or 5 job offer must have at least nine months of cumulative, paid, full-time experience in the same position within the past two years.
Transport truck drivers and bus drivers under NOC 73300 and 73301 must meet the six-month consecutive requirement even if they hold a mandatory licence.
Language Requirements and Accepted Tests
Language proficiency is measured using the Canadian Language Benchmark scale, and the minimum threshold depends on your TEER level.
TEER 0 to 3 candidates must achieve CLB 6 or higher in all four proficiencies unless their position is a listed skilled trade.
Skilled trades occupations under specific NOC Major Groups qualify with a lower CLB 5 minimum across all four test areas.
TEER 4 and 5 candidates must achieve CLB 4 or higher in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Recent Ontario graduates who completed an eligible credential within the past three years are exempt from the language test requirement for TEER 0 to 3 positions.
Ontario accepts three English tests and two French tests for the Ontario Workforce Priority stream.
| English Tests Accepted | French Tests Accepted |
| IELTS General Training | TEF Canada |
| CELPIP General | TCF Canada |
| PTE Core | — |
The language test date must fall within two years before your application submission date.
IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, and One Skill Retake tests are not accepted under this stream.
EOI Scoring Factors and Point Breakdown
Once you register an EOI, the OINP assigns points based on several employment, education, language, and regional factors.
The highest-scoring candidates in the selection pool are invited to apply during periodic draw rounds.
The following table lists the key scoring categories and their maximum available points.
| Scoring Category | Maximum Points |
| NOC TEER Category (0-1 highest) | 9 points |
| NOC Broad Occupational Category | 10 points (Category 3) |
| Hourly Wage ($40+/hr highest) | 15 points |
| Ontario Work Experience (24+ months in position) | 18 points |
| Canadian Earnings History ($70K+) | 8 points |
| Legal Status in Canada (work permit) | 10 points |
| Highest Education Level (Doctorate) | 10 points |
| Number of Canadian Credentials (2+) | 10 points |
| Official Language Ability (CLB 9+) | 15 points |
| Knowledge of Two Official Languages | 10 points |
| Regional Immigration (Northern Ontario) | 15 points |
Candidates with job offers in Northern Ontario receive the highest regional points at 15, followed by Eastern, Central, and Southwestern Ontario at 10 points each.
Jobs inside the Greater Toronto Area but outside the City of Toronto receive 5 points, while Toronto itself scores zero for regionalization.
Wages of $40 per hour or higher earn the maximum 15 points, while wages below $20 per hour receive no points in the hourly wage category.
Application Fees and Deadlines
If you receive an invitation to apply under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream, strict deadlines apply for both you and your employer.
Your employer must submit the application for approval of the employment position within 14 calendar days of the invitation date.
You must submit your application and pay the fee within 17 calendar days of the invitation date.
You cannot submit your application until your employer completes their portion first.
The following table breaks down the application fees based on work location.
| Job Offer Location | Application Fee |
| Outside the Greater Toronto Area | $1,500 |
| Inside the Greater Toronto Area | $2,000 |
The GTA for fee purposes includes the City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York regions.
The application fee is non-refundable once OINP has determined the application is complete and started processing it.
Ontario only accepts Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, and Mastercard Debit for payment.
Express Entry Connection and the 600-Point CRS Boost
Candidates who apply under the TEER 0 to 3 pathway or as self-employed physicians can choose to be nominated through the Express Entry system.
An OINP nomination through Express Entry adds 600 Comprehensive Ranking System points to your profile, which has effectively guaranteed an invitation in every recent PNP draw.
You must maintain a valid Express Entry profile from the time you apply until you are nominated.
After nomination, you have 30 calendar days to accept or refuse the nomination in the Express Entry system.
If you accept, you then have 60 calendar days to submit your full permanent residence application to IRCC.
Candidates who do not choose Express Entry can still apply for permanent residence through the non-Express Entry process for provincial nominees.
IRCC currently processes Express Entry PNP applications in approximately six to seven months, while non-Express Entry PNP applications take approximately 13 months based on the latest processing time data.
Employer Requirements Under the New Stream
Employers play a central role in the Ontario Workforce Priority stream because the program is fundamentally employer-driven.
Every employer must have been in active business for at least three years before submitting their application.
The business must have a physical premises in Ontario where the applicant will work.
There must be no outstanding orders against the employer under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 or the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Revenue and staffing requirements vary based on whether the job offer is located inside or outside the GTA.
Employers must also demonstrate that sufficient effort was made to recruit a Canadian citizen or permanent resident before offering the position to a foreign worker.
The job offer itself must be for a full-time and permanent position that is urgently necessary to the employer’s business operations.
Ontario Public Service entities are not eligible to participate as employers in this stream.
Ontario’s 2026 Nomination Allocation and What It Means
Ontario received an allocation of 14,119 nominations for 2026 from the federal government, a 31% increase from the 10,750 nominations issued in 2025.
Based on draws conducted before the June 26 stream closure, approximately 13,000 invitations to apply had been issued under the former streams by the end of April.
This means the remaining nomination capacity for the rest of 2026 under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream may be limited.
Ontario may also launch Phase 2 of the OINP redesign later in the year, which is expected to include pathways for healthcare workers and entrepreneurs.
Candidates who qualify under the current framework should treat this opening as time-sensitive and register as soon as their employer completes the portal submission.
What Candidates Should Do Right Now
The EOI portal is live as of August 4, 2026, and candidates with eligible employers in Ontario should move quickly to register.
Confirm that your employer meets all business eligibility requirements, including the three-year active business threshold and revenue minimums.
Ask your employer to register their business in the Employer Portal and submit the job offer for your position as soon as possible.
Once you receive your job offer ID, log in to the e-Filing Portal and register your EOI under the correct pathway for your NOC TEER level.
Ensure your language test results are current and meet the minimum CLB requirements listed on the official stream page.
If you completed your education outside Canada, obtain an Educational Credential Assessment report that is less than five years old.
Candidates targeting the Express Entry option should create or update their federal Express Entry profile and select Ontario as a province of interest for provincial nomination.
Monitor the official OINP updates page for draw announcements, as the first invitations under the new stream could arrive at any time.
The opening of the Ontario Workforce Priority stream EOI portal on August 4, 2026, marks the first opportunity for candidates to enter Ontario’s completely redesigned immigration system.
This is a single unified pathway that replaces eight former streams, and competition for the remaining 2026 nominations is expected to be intense.
Candidates with valid job offers, strong language scores, and established Ontario work experience are best positioned to score highly in the EOI ranking system.
The window to register is open now, but the 30-day clock starts the moment your employer submits the job offer through the Employer Portal.
Prepare your documents, confirm your eligibility against the official criteria, and register your EOI as soon as your employer completes their step.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I apply to the Ontario Workforce Priority stream if I am currently outside Canada?
Yes, applicants outside Canada can register an EOI if they have a qualifying job offer from an eligible Ontario employer. However, your employer may need to demonstrate that sufficient recruitment efforts were made to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident first. Your legal status in Canada at the time of application affects your EOI score, and candidates without a valid work or study permit receive zero points for the legal status scoring factor.
What happens to my EOI if my employer changes the wage or NOC code after registration?
If your employer needs to change the wage or the NOC code attached to your job offer, they must withdraw the existing job offer and submit a new one through the Employer Portal. You will then need to register a new EOI using the updated job offer ID within 30 calendar days of the new submission. The original EOI linked to the withdrawn job offer cannot be updated to reflect the changes.
Does the Ontario Workforce Priority stream accept part-time work experience?
Part-time experience is only accepted under the two-year cumulative option for TEER 0 to 3 candidates. Part-time equivalent means working at least 15 hours per week in one job over four years, or at least 30 hours per week across multiple jobs over two years, totaling at least 3,120 hours. The TEER 4 to 5 pathway and the six-month consecutive option both require full-time work at 30 hours or more per week.
Can I switch employers after receiving a provincial nomination under this stream?
Your nomination is tied to the approved employment position with the specific employer listed in your application. If your employment in the approved position is terminated by either you or your employer after nomination, Ontario may cancel your nomination. You would need to submit a new EOI with a new employer and go through the entire process again from the beginning.
Are international students who graduated from Ontario colleges and universities still eligible for OINP?
The standalone Master’s Graduate and PhD Graduate streams no longer exist under the new system. However, recent Ontario graduates who completed an eligible credential within the past three years can still qualify under the TEER 0 to 3 pathway with a reduced three-month work experience requirement and a language test exemption. International graduates must now secure a qualifying full-time, permanent job offer from an eligible Ontario employer to apply.
Fact-Checked: All information in this article has been verified against official Ontario government sources as of August 4, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is published by Immigration News Canada for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant or licensed immigration lawyer for guidance specific to your situation.
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