Effective June 26, 2026, Ontario eliminated all eight of its former Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) streams and replaced them with a single new stream: the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. The change was made through amendments to Ontario Regulation 422/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015, and represents the largest structural change in the program's history.
What was closed
Every legacy OINP category has been revoked, including the Employer Job Offer streams (Foreign Worker, In-Demand Skills, International Student), the Master's Graduate and PhD Graduate streams, and the Express Entry–linked streams (Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, and Skilled Trades). Ontario's Expression of Interest system is closed to new registrations, and EOIs that had not yet resulted in an invitation are being withdrawn as the platform is rebuilt. Applications already submitted before the change will continue to be assessed under the rules that were in place when they were filed.
Three new pathways
The new Workforce Priority stream consolidates the previous options into three tracks:
- TEER 0–3 pathway — for skilled workers with a full-time, permanent Ontario job offer. Language requirements rise to a minimum CLB 6 (CLB 5 for select occupations), with a post-secondary credential required. Recent Ontario graduates working for their job-offer employer benefit from a shorter work-experience threshold.
- TEER 4–5 pathway — for essential and entry-level occupations, requiring a minimum CLB 4 and a secondary school credential, alongside nine months of cumulative experience with the job-offer employer.
- Self-employed physicians pathway — the only track that does not require a job offer. Eligible physicians must be 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.
Across the board, language and education benchmarks are higher than under several of the streams they replace — a deliberate shift Ontario has described as raising the calibre of nominees the province supports.
A boost for rural employers
The redesign also lowers the gross annual revenue threshold for employers located in rural communities, defined as census divisions with a population under 150,000. This is intended to help employers outside the Greater Toronto Area compete for talent against larger urban employers.
Why this matters beyond Ontario
Even for clients not specifically targeting Ontario, this redesign is worth watching. It reflects a broader pattern across provincial programs: tightening eligibility criteria while raising language and credential expectations. A provincial nomination still carries a 600-point Comprehensive Ranking System boost once entered into Express Entry, making it one of the most reliable paths to an invitation to apply — but only for candidates who plan carefully around each province's current rules.
Ontario has described this as Phase 1 of a two-phase redesign, with further changes expected but not yet detailed. Anyone with an active or planned Ontario strategy should confirm current requirements directly against the official OINP updates page before making decisions.
What to do now
If you had an EOI or job offer registered under a former OINP stream, watch for direct notice from the program regarding its status. If you are an employer, review job offers against the new wage, education, and full-time employment criteria before the EOI system reopens. If you are exploring provincial nomination as part of a broader Canadian immigration strategy, this is a good moment to reassess which province and pathway best fit your profile.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute immigration advice. Provincial nominee programs change frequently and eligibility depends on individual circumstances — book a consultation to review your specific situation.
