Ontario Unveils Scoring System for New Permanent Residence Pathways
Published July 22, 2026 · SkyPod Immigration Consulting
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has revealed exactly how it will rank candidates competing for a provincial nomination under its three new immigration pathways. Higher-scoring candidates will be prioritised for invitations to apply under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWPS), and successful nominees will then move on to permanent residence through the federal Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Each job-offer candidate under the OWPS can earn up to 130 points. Here is the full breakdown, and what it means in practice for you and your employer.
Work Region (up to 15 points)
Where in Ontario you will work matters. The further from Toronto, the more points you earn.
| Region | Points |
|---|---|
| Northern Ontario | 15 |
| Eastern Ontario | 10 |
| Central Ontario (outside GTA) | 10 |
| Southwestern Ontario | 10 |
| Outside Toronto, within GTA (Durham, Halton, Peel, York) | 5 |
| City of Toronto | 0 |
Occupation Skill Level (up to 9 points)
Points are tied to your job's TEER category under the National Occupational Classification.
| NOC TEER | Points |
|---|---|
| TEER 0 (management) | 9 |
| TEER 1 (university-degree roles) | 9 |
| TEER 2 (supervisory / college diploma or 2+ year apprenticeship) | 6 |
| TEER 3 (shorter college diploma or 6+ months training) | 6 |
| TEER 4 (secondary school) | 0 |
| TEER 5 (short-term work demonstration) | 0 |
Compensation (up to 15 points)
| Hourly wage | Points |
|---|---|
| ≥ $40 | 15 |
| $35 – $39.99 | 12 |
| $30 – $34.99 | 10 |
| $25 – $29.99 | 8 |
| $20 – $24.99 | 5 |
| Less than $20 | 0 |
Occupational Category (up to 10 points)
| Broad occupational category | Points |
|---|---|
| Health (NOC 3) | 10 |
| Trades, transport and equipment operators (NOC 7) | 8 |
| Natural and applied sciences (NOC 2) | 6 |
| Legislative & senior management; Business/finance/admin; Education, law and social services; Natural resources; Manufacturing and utilities (NOC 0, 1, 4, 8, 9) | 4 |
| Art, culture, recreation and sport; Sales and service (NOC 5, 6) | 2 |
Ontario Work Experience (up to 18 points)
Candidates with at least six months in the job-offer position:
| Experience in job-offer position | Points |
|---|---|
| More than 24 months | 18 |
| 13 – 24 months | 15 |
| 6 – 12 months | 12 |
Other candidates:
| Work experience in Ontario | Points |
|---|---|
| More than 24 months | 12 |
| 13 – 24 months | 9 |
| 6 – 12 months | 6 |
| Less than 6 months | 0 |
Canadian Income Tax History (up to 8 points)
| Highest annual income in the past five years | Points |
|---|---|
| $70,000 or more | 8 |
| $50,000 – $69,999 | 6 |
| $30,000 – $49,999 | 4 |
| Under $30,000 | 0 |
Income is verified via your CRA Notice of Assessment.
Level of Education (up to 10 points)
| Highest level of education | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctorate | 10 |
| Degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry | 10 |
| Master's degree | 8 |
| University certificate/diploma above bachelor's level | 6 |
| Bachelor's degree or equivalent | 6 |
| Ontario College Graduate Certificate | 5 |
| University certificate/diploma below bachelor's level | 5 |
| College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate/diploma | 5 |
| Apprenticeship or trades certificate/diploma | 5 |
| Lower than college or trade certificate | 0 |
Canadian Educational Credentials (up to 10 points)
| Post-secondary Canadian credentials | Points |
|---|---|
| Two or more | 10 |
| One | 5 |
| None | 0 |
Credentials must be from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution and from a program of at least one year full-time.
Highest Official Language Proficiency (up to 15 points)
| Minimum CLB across all four abilities in English or French | Points |
|---|---|
| CLB 9 or higher | 15 |
| CLB 8 | 12 |
| CLB 7 | 8 |
| CLB 6 | 4 |
| CLB 5 or lower | 0 |
Scores must come from an approved immigration language test taken within the past two years.
Official Language Bilingualism (up to 10 points)
| Languages at CLB 6+ across all four abilities | Points |
|---|---|
| Both English and French | 10 |
| One language | 5 |
Temporary Resident Status (up to 10 points)
| Status in Canada | Points |
|---|---|
| Valid work permit | 10 |
| Valid study permit | 5 |
| Neither | 0 |
Candidates without a valid work or study permit must still hold legal status in Canada to qualify for the OWPS.
Self-Employed Physicians
Self-employed physicians are not scored on hourly wage. Their Ontario work experience is measured differently:
| Cumulative medical practice in Ontario | Points |
|---|---|
| 24 months or more | 18 |
| 13 – 24 months | 15 |
| 6 – 12 months | 12 |
| Less than 6 months | 0 |
How the OWPS PR Process Works
- Create an eligible profile in the OINP's online Expression of Interest (EOI) system.
- Be selected by the OINP and receive an invitation to apply for provincial nomination.
- Submit a complete provincial nomination application to the OINP.
- Receive a provincial nomination.
- Apply to IRCC for permanent residence as a provincial nominee.
- Receive your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and land as a permanent resident.
To qualify, you must fit one of the three OWPS pathways: the TEER 0–3 pathway (higher-skilled occupations), the TEER 4–5 pathway (lower-skilled occupations), or the Self-Employed Physicians pathway (physicians eligible to bill OHIP). For job-offer streams, the Ontario employer must initiate the EOI.
The EOI system is currently closed and is expected to reopen later this summer. Once it reopens, the OINP will begin holding draws under the new scoring grid.
Context: The Wider OINP Overhaul
Ontario retired all nine of its previous OINP streams on May 30, 2026. Full eligibility criteria for the three new OWPS pathways were released on June 26, 2026, and the scoring grid above went live on the OINP website on July 20, 2026. Three additional streams are expected to follow: a Priority Healthcare stream (no job offer expected), an Entrepreneur stream, and an Exceptional Talent stream. No launch dates for those have been announced.
Applications submitted under the old streams before May 30, 2026 continue to be assessed on the original criteria.
How SkyPod Immigration Consulting Can Help
The new scoring grid rewards specific choices: where you work, the wage on your offer letter, your NOC, your language scores, and your Canadian footprint. Small changes to any of these can move you across the invitation threshold.
Our team can help you:
- Score your current or planned profile against the OWPS grid and identify quick wins.
- Confirm your NOC classification and TEER category before you commit to a job offer.
- Review employer eligibility, wage benchmarks, and regional strategy with your prospective Ontario employer.
- Prepare a complete EOI so you can submit the moment the system reopens.
- Manage the full journey from provincial nomination to your federal PR application with IRCC.
If you want a clear read on your OWPS score and the fastest realistic route to Ontario PR, book a free consultation with SkyPod Immigration Consulting today.