Ontario has rebuilt the OINP into a single Workforce Priority stream: a 130-point Expression of Interest system with three pathways for skilled workers and physicians who plan to build their future in Canada's largest province.
In late June 2026, Ontario rebuilt the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). A regulatory change on June 25, 2026 closed all eight of the program's former streams (including Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, Skilled Trades, the Employer Job Offer streams and the Master's/PhD Graduate streams) and the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream took effect on June 26, 2026. This is Phase 1 of a two-phase redesign and the biggest change in the program's history.
The Workforce Priority stream uses a 130-point Expression of Interest (EOI) system with three pathways: a job offer in a higher-skilled occupation (NOC TEER 0–3), a job offer in a lower-skilled occupation (NOC TEER 4–5), and self-employed physicians (no job offer needed). Ontario invites the highest-scoring candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.
Once nominated, you have two ways to reach permanent residence. You can apply directly to IRCC as a provincial nominee (you must apply within six months), or, if you also qualify for a federal Express Entry program and have an Express Entry profile, you can ask Ontario to place the nomination on your profile for an extra 600 CRS points, which places you well above typical Express Entry cut-off scores. The Express Entry boost is optional and only available to those who separately meet Express Entry rules.
Ontario's Expression of Interest system for the new stream is expected to open later in summer 2026. Any EOIs and job offers registered under the old streams were withdrawn during the changeover and will need to be resubmitted once the system reopens.
Curious where you stand? Our free Ontario PR Score Calculator estimates your points out of 130 across all three groups. No sign-up, nothing saved.
The Workforce Priority stream serves very different candidates through three pathways. Most newcomers apply through a job-offer pathway; physicians have their own dedicated route.
For higher-skilled roles. Needs a full-time, permanent Ontario job offer, language of CLB 6+ (CLB 5 for many skilled trades), a post-secondary credential, and qualifying work experience, for example six months in the offered role, three months as a recent Ontario graduate, or two years in the same occupation.
For lower-skilled, in-demand roles. Needs a full-time, permanent Ontario job offer, language of CLB 4+, a high-school diploma, and at least nine months of full-time experience in the exact offered position within the last two years.
For physicians with an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) billing number and a certificate of registration from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. No job offer is required, and the work-experience, language and education requirements do not apply.
The two job-offer pathways share the same four building blocks (work experience, language, education and status in Canada), but the bar is set by your job's skill level (NOC TEER). Physicians follow a separate route (see below).
For a TEER 0–3 job offer you must meet at least one of the four options below. For a TEER 4–5 job offer, only the in-position route applies.
At least 6 months of consecutive, paid, full-time work in the occupation you're being hired for, within the 12 months before you apply.
Minimum 780 hoursGraduated within the last 3 years from an eligible Ontario college or university with a qualifying credential, plus 3 months of full-time work in the occupation.
Minimum 390 hoursAt least 2 years of cumulative, paid, full-time work in the same occupation, gathered anywhere in the world within the last 5 years.
Minimum 3,120 hoursHold the valid licence or authorization required to legally practise the occupation in Ontario (excludes NOC 73300 and 73301 transport-truck & delivery drivers).
In place of the options aboveAt least 9 months of cumulative, paid, full-time work in the exact position you're being offered, within the last 2 years.
Minimum 1,170 hoursOn the two job-offer pathways, your Ontario employer has to qualify too. To register a job offer, the employer must meet all of these conditions.
On the exact revenue and employee numbers: Ontario sets these by job location (inside vs. outside the GTA) in its OINP Employer Guide and in Ontario Regulation 422/17, and does not publish a single fixed figure on the stream page. We confirm the current thresholds with your employer before anything is registered, so no one wastes an Expression of Interest on an offer that won't qualify.
The offer itself, not just the employer, has to tick specific boxes. A qualifying Workforce Priority job offer is:
A continuing position with no fixed end date, at full-time hours, not seasonal, casual or a short contract.
Any occupation classified under NOC TEER 0 through 5. Your job's TEER decides which eligibility bar and which pathway apply.
Pays at or above the wage level Ontario requires for that occupation and location. A higher wage also lifts your score (up to 15 points).
The role must be genuinely needed for the employer's ongoing operations: a real, current vacancy.
You must intend to keep working in the role, and stay employed, through nomination and the post-nomination period.
The position cannot affect the settlement of a labour dispute or the employment of anyone involved in one.
Two parts of the stream reward a Canadian credential. Graduates of an eligible Ontario institution can use the shorter 3-month graduate work-experience option (Option B above) instead of 6 months, and a Canadian post-secondary credential is worth up to 10 scoring points. To count, the credential must be from a public institution and represent at least one year of full-time study.
Studied elsewhere in Canada? Public colleges and universities across every province and territory also count toward the Canadian-credential scoring points. The shorter graduate work-experience option is the part reserved for eligible Ontario institutions. Ontario keeps the definitive list on ontario.ca; we confirm your specific school before you rely on it.
Ontario ranks every Expression of Interest on a 130-point grid built from three groups. There is no fixed pass mark. The cut-off changes from draw to draw, so the goal is simply to make your profile as strong as it honestly can be. Below is every factor and its exact point value, matching Ontario's published criteria.
| Scoring group | What it measures | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Employment & labour market | Skill level, occupation, wage, Ontario experience, Canadian earnings, status | 70 |
| Human capital | Language ability, second language, education, Canadian credentials | 45 |
| Location | Region of your Ontario job (or physician practice) | 15 |
| Your job's TEER category | Points |
|---|---|
| TEER 0 or 1: management / professional | 9 |
| TEER 2 or 3: technical, skilled, supervisory | 6 |
| TEER 4 or 5: intermediate or entry-level | 0 |
| Occupational category | Points |
|---|---|
| Health occupations (Category 3) | 10 |
| Trades, transport & equipment operators (Category 7) | 8 |
| Natural & applied sciences (Category 2) | 6 |
| Management; business & finance; education, law & social services; natural resources; manufacturing (Categories 0, 1, 4, 8, 9) | 4 |
| Art & culture; sales & service (Categories 5, 6) | 2 |
| Hourly wage | Points |
|---|---|
| $40.00 / hour or more | 15 |
| $35.00 – $39.99 | 12 |
| $30.00 – $34.99 | 10 |
| $25.00 – $29.99 | 8 |
| $20.00 – $24.99 | 5 |
| Under $20.00 | 0 |
| Experience in the offered position | Points |
|---|---|
| More than 24 months | 18 |
| 13 – 24 months | 15 |
| 6 – 12 months | 12 |
| Other Ontario work experience | Points |
|---|---|
| More than 24 months | 12 |
| 13 – 24 months | 9 |
| 6 – 12 months | 6 |
| Less than 6 months / none | 0 |
| One-year Canadian income (Notice of Assessment) | Points |
|---|---|
| $70,000 or more | 8 |
| $50,000 – $69,999 | 6 |
| $30,000 – $49,999 | 4 |
| Under $30,000 / none | 0 |
| Your status | Points |
|---|---|
| Valid work permit | 10 |
| Valid study permit | 5 |
| Neither / currently outside Canada | 0 |
| CLB level | Points |
|---|---|
| CLB 9 or higher | 15 |
| CLB 8 | 12 |
| CLB 7 | 8 |
| CLB 6 | 4 |
| CLB 5 or lower | 0 |
| Languages tested | Points |
|---|---|
| Both English and French | 10 |
| One official language | 5 |
| Education | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctorate (PhD); or a degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry | 10 |
| Master's degree | 8 |
| Bachelor's degree, or a university certificate/diploma above bachelor level | 6 |
| Ontario College Graduate Certificate; college / CEGEP / non-university certificate; trade or apprenticeship certificate; university certificate below bachelor level | 5 |
| Less than a one-year college or trade certificate | 0 |
| Canadian post-secondary credentials | Points |
|---|---|
| Two or more | 10 |
| One | 5 |
| None | 0 |
| Region | Points |
|---|---|
| Northern Ontario | 15 |
| Eastern Ontario | 10 |
| Central Ontario (outside the GTA) | 10 |
| Southwestern Ontario | 10 |
| Greater Toronto Area, except the City of Toronto | 5 |
| City of Toronto | 0 |
Where the regions are. Northern: e.g. Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Algoma, Timiskaming, Kenora, Muskoka. Eastern: e.g. Ottawa, Kingston (Frontenac), Peterborough, Renfrew, Hastings. Central (outside the GTA): Simcoe, Waterloo, Wellington, Grey, Dufferin. Southwestern: e.g. Hamilton, Niagara, London (Middlesex), Windsor (Essex), Brant. GTA (except Toronto): Durham, Halton, Peel, York. A job outside Toronto is one of the biggest single levers on the whole grid.
Physicians who bill OHIP directly, rather than working for a single employer, have their own route with no job offer required. Because there's no hourly wage to score, physicians are ranked out of 115 points instead of 130.
Express Entry option. Eligible physicians can still ask Ontario to place a nomination on an Express Entry profile for the 600-point boost, provided they separately qualify for a federal Express Entry program.
The Workforce Priority stream is Expression-of-Interest based: you build a profile, Ontario scores it, and the highest-scoring profiles are invited to apply. Here's the full sequence and every deadline.
On the two job-offer pathways, your Ontario employer registers the position in the OINP Employer Portal. You receive a Job Offer ID. (Self-employed physicians skip this step.)
Create your Expression of Interest in Ontario's EOI system and enter your profile: occupation, wage, experience, language, education, location and status. Answer truthfully: you'll need documented evidence for every point you claim.
Within 30 days of the job offerYour EOI sits in the pool. Ontario periodically invites the highest-scoring profiles. There's no fixed cut-off; it moves from draw to draw with demand.
If you're invited, two clocks start. Your employer submits its employment position approval first, then you submit your full application and pay the fee.
Employer 14 days · You 17 daysOntario assesses your application and supporting documents. If everything checks out, you receive a provincial nomination.
Base route: apply to IRCC as a provincial nominee within 6 months. Express Entry route (TEER 0–3 who qualify): accept the nomination within 30 days for +600 CRS, then apply to IRCC within 60 days. A licensed RCIC prepares and files this application.
6 months (base) · 30 + 60 days (Express Entry)Timing note: Ontario expects to open the EOI system for the new stream later in summer 2026; an exact date hasn't been announced. Any EOIs or job offers registered under the old streams were withdrawn in the changeover and need to be resubmitted once the system reopens. We'll have you ready to file the moment it goes live.
Our OINP package provides comprehensive support from pathway selection through to federal PR approval.
We map your profile to the right Workforce Priority pathway (TEER 0–3, TEER 4–5 or self-employed physician) and estimate your 130-point score before you commit.
We help you target the moves that lift your score: a job outside the GTA, a higher language result, the right occupation. If you qualify for Express Entry, a licensed RCIC sets up your profile to capture the 600-point boost.
For candidates with an Ontario employer, we help you and your employer get ready for the job-offer registration and Expression of Interest, with a licensed RCIC handling the application filing.
A licensed RCIC prepares and reviews your OINP application, including all supporting documents, forms, and employer documentation.
After receiving your provincial nomination, a licensed RCIC prepares and submits your federal PR application to IRCC with all required documentation.
Guidance on housing, healthcare registration, banking, and community resources to help you settle successfully in Ontario.
The Solution Hub provides job-search and career services. Immigration advice and the applications under IRPA are prepared and submitted by a licensed RCIC we connect you with, as required under IRPA s.91.
Track your document preparation progress. Click each item as you gather your documents.
Here is a typical timeline from profile assessment to PR approval through the Ontario PNP.
We check which Workforce Priority pathway fits you, estimate your 130-point score and map the moves that raise it.
Day 1Your Ontario employer registers the job offer in the Employer Portal and you receive a Job Offer ID. You then register your Expression of Interest within 30 calendar days.
Within 30 daysOntario invites the highest-scoring profiles from the pool to apply for a nomination. Cut-off scores change from draw to draw.
VariesAfter an invitation, your employer submits its position approval within 14 days and you submit your application within 17 days. Ontario reviews and issues the nomination.
17 days to applyApply to IRCC within six months as a provincial nominee, or, if you qualify for Express Entry, receive the nomination on your profile for a 600-point CRS boost. A licensed RCIC handles the PR application.
6 – 12 monthsBelow is an estimated breakdown of government, third-party, and service fees for an Ontario PNP application.
| Fee Item | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| OINP Application Fee | ~$1,500 |
| IRCC Processing Fee | $990 |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) | $600 |
| Biometrics | $85 |
| Language Test (IELTS / CELPIP / PTE) | ~$300 |
| TSH Service Fee | $599 |
* Fees are approximate and subject to change. The OINP charges a single non-refundable application fee for the Workforce Priority stream; IRCC and third-party amounts may vary by country of origin and number of dependents. Fees current as of 2026; always confirm the latest amounts on ontario.ca.
It is the single OINP stream that took effect on June 26, 2026, replacing the program's eight former streams (which closed the day before). It uses a 130-point Expression of Interest system with three pathways: a job offer in a higher-skilled occupation (NOC TEER 0–3), a job offer in a lower-skilled occupation (NOC TEER 4–5), and self-employed physicians. Ontario invites the highest-scoring candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.
They were closed on June 25, 2026. Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, Skilled Trades, the three Employer Job Offer streams and the Master's and PhD Graduate streams no longer exist. Any Expression of Interest or job offer registered under them was withdrawn during the changeover. If you were already invited and applied under a former stream, your application is still assessed under the rules that were in effect when you submitted it.
For the two main pathways, yes. You need a full-time, permanent job offer from an eligible Ontario employer that meets the required wage for its location. The only exception is the self-employed physician pathway, which does not require a job offer. We help you find and secure the right Ontario role to build the strongest possible score.
It can, but it is no longer automatic. By default the Workforce Priority stream is a “base” nomination: once nominated, you apply directly to IRCC as a provincial nominee within six months. If you also qualify for a federal Express Entry program and have an Express Entry profile, you can ask Ontario to place the nomination on your profile for an extra 600 CRS points, which places you well above typical Express Entry cut-off scores. The 600-point boost only applies to those who separately meet Express Entry requirements.
Ontario expects to open the Expression of Interest system for the new stream later in summer 2026; no exact date has been announced. After an invitation you have 17 calendar days to submit your application. Total timelines from application to PR are typically around 12–18 months, though official processing times will settle once the new stream is fully running. We keep this page updated as Ontario confirms dates.
Your profile is scored across three groups: employment and labour-market factors (up to 70 points: skill level, occupation, wage, Ontario experience, Canadian earnings and status), human-capital factors (up to 45 points: language ability, a second official language, education and Canadian credentials), and the location of your Ontario job (up to 15 points). Self-employed physicians are scored out of 115 because the hourly-wage factor doesn't apply to them. Our free Ontario PR Score Calculator adds it all up in a couple of minutes.
For a TEER 0–3 job, you need one of: six months of full-time work in the offered occupation in the last year (780 hours); three months as a recent graduate of an eligible Ontario institution (390 hours); two years of cumulative full-time work in the same occupation in the last five years (3,120 hours); or a valid mandatory licence to practise the occupation in Ontario. For a TEER 4–5 job, you need nine months of cumulative full-time experience in the exact offered position within the last two years (1,170 hours).
Your employer must have been in active business for at least three years, have premises in Ontario where you'll work, and have no outstanding orders under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 or the Occupational Health and Safety Act. They must also meet a minimum revenue and a minimum number of full-time Canadian-citizen or permanent-resident employees, both set by the job's location and higher inside the GTA. If you're outside Canada or working outside Ontario, they must also show they tried to recruit a Canadian or permanent resident first. We confirm the current thresholds with your employer before an Expression of Interest is registered.
A job in Northern Ontario scores the highest at 15 points. Eastern, Central (outside the GTA) and Southwestern Ontario each score 10 points. The Greater Toronto Area outside the City of Toronto scores 5 points, and a job in the City of Toronto scores 0 on the location factor. Taking the same role outside Toronto is one of the biggest single boosts available on the grid.
Estimate your 130-point score, then get a free profile assessment to see which Workforce Priority pathway fits you best.