Explore Ontario's current Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, eligibility requirements, EOI process, scoring factors and pathways to permanent residence.
Ontario redesigned its Provincial Nominee Program in June 2026. The former eight OINP streams were closed and replaced by the new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream EOI portal opened on August 4, 2026. The current stream provides pathways for eligible foreign workers with qualifying Ontario job offers across NOC TEER categories and for eligible self-employed physicians.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program allows Ontario to nominate people for permanent residence when their skills, employment and experience support the province's labour-market priorities. In 2026, Ontario consolidated its pathways under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.
The current stream covers workers with qualifying Ontario job offers in every NOC TEER category and eligible self-employed physicians who do not need a job offer. Ontario first assesses the employer, position, candidate and EOI. A provincial invitation is not a nomination, and a nomination is not permanent residence: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada makes the final federal decision.
The 600-point CRS increase applies only when an eligible TEER 0–3 or physician applicant chooses the Express Entry nomination option, independently qualifies for a federal Express Entry program and accepts the nomination in their federal profile. Other nominations follow the applicable non-Express Entry federal PR process.
If you are comparing Ontario with other options, review our permanent residence pathways and Express Entry guidance before choosing a strategy.
If your current authorization to work is ending, review the separate options for an expiring work permit. A provincial nomination does not automatically issue or guarantee a work permit.
Choose the pathway that matches the approved position or medical practice. Each route has different evidence, language, education and federal-processing rules.
For eligible workers with an approved full-time, permanent Ontario job offer in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.
For eligible workers with an approved full-time, permanent Ontario job offer in NOC TEER 4 or 5.
For eligible physicians who will practise independently in Ontario. No Ontario job offer or employer is required.
| Pathway | Job Offer | Occupations | Main Candidate Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEER 0–3 | Required; employer position approval required | NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 | Managers, professionals, technicians, skilled trades and other eligible skilled workers |
| TEER 4–5 | Required; employer position approval required | NOC TEER 4 or 5 | Intermediate and labour occupations meeting the specific work, language and education rules |
| Self-Employed Physician | Not required | Eligible Ontario medical practice | Physicians with eligible CPSO registration, good standing and an OHIP billing number |
These requirements apply to TEER 0–3 and TEER 4–5 applications. Self-employed physicians use separate rules.
The position must be indeterminate and require at least 30 paid hours per week. Seasonal, temporary or contract-only work does not meet this standard.
Employment activities must occur primarily in Ontario, subject to the specific transport occupation exception in the regulation.
The position, duties and experience must align with the NOC selected by the employer. The TEER category determines the applicant pathway.
The wage generally must meet the Job Bank median for the occupation and region and cannot be below the applicant's current employer wage. A qualifying recent Ontario graduate may use the applicable low-wage level.
There must be a real employer-employee relationship. Independent contracting is not eligible, except for the separate self-employed physician pathway.
The employer initiates the job offer in the Employer Portal and must complete the position-approval application. A candidate EOI cannot replace employer approval.
The position must be urgently necessary to the employer's business activities and must not affect a labour dispute.
The candidate must meet the education, work, licence and other qualifications reasonably required to perform the offered occupation.
If the candidate already works for the employer, the offered wage cannot be lower than the current wage and the qualifying employment must be maintained as required.
Employer eligibility is assessed separately from candidate eligibility. The location where the applicant will work changes the revenue and staffing thresholds.
Location and pathway differences matter. Revenue, staffing, wage and transport-sector rules should be checked against the current official criteria before submission.
EOI, invitation, nomination and permanent residence are separate decisions. Completing one stage does not guarantee the next.
For job-offer pathways, the Ontario employer enters the offer in the Employer Portal. An eligible physician instead starts through the OINP physician webform.
The employer completes the position-approval application. Candidate eligibility does not cure an ineligible employer or position.
The job-offer candidate uses the offer ID and registers within 30 calendar days. The EOI is free and is normally valid for 12 months.
OINP may run general or targeted draws. An invitation to apply is permission to submit evidence; it is not a nomination.
The candidate has 17 calendar days after invitation to file the complete application and pay the provincial fee. Ontario assesses the employer, position and candidate.
If Ontario nominates, the candidate applies to IRCC within the required federal period. IRCC assesses admissibility and makes the final permanent-residence decision.
Ontario can conduct general or targeted draws and may change selection priorities. Meeting eligibility or having a particular score does not guarantee an invitation.
| Factor | Value | Points |
|---|---|---|
| NOC TEER | TEER 0 or 1 / TEER 2 or 3 / TEER 4 or 5 | 9 / 6 / 0 |
| NOC broad occupational category | Category 3 / 7 / 2 / 0, 1, 4, 8 or 9 / 5 or 6 | 10 / 8 / 6 / 4 / 2 |
| Hourly wage (job-offer pathways) | $40+ / $35–39.99 / $30–34.99 / $25–29.99 / $20–24.99 / under $20 | 15 / 12 / 10 / 8 / 5 / 0 |
| Ontario experience in offered position | Over 24 months / 13–24 / 6–12 / under 6 | 18 / 15 / 12 / 0 |
| Other Ontario work if under 6 months in offered position | Over 24 months / 13–24 / 6–12 / under 6 | 12 / 9 / 6 / 0 |
| Physician Ontario medical practice | Over 24 months / 13–24 / 6–12 / under 6 | 18 / 15 / 12 / 0 |
| Canadian earnings history | $70,000+ / $50,000–69,999 / $30,000–49,999 / under $30,000 | 8 / 6 / 4 / 0 |
| Factor | Value | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status in Canada | Valid work permit / valid study permit / none | 10 / 5 / 0 |
| Highest education | Doctorate or listed professional degree / master's / bachelor's or specified university credential / eligible college or trade credentials / below | 10 / 8 / 6 / 5 / 0 |
| Canadian education credentials | More than one / one / none | 10 / 5 / 0 |
| Official language ability | CLB/NCLC 9+ / 8 / 7 / 6 / 5 or lower | 15 / 12 / 8 / 4 / 0 |
| Knowledge of official languages | Two official languages / one | 10 / 5 |
| Regional immigration | Northern / Eastern / Central outside GTA / Southwestern / GTA except Toronto / Toronto | 15 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 5 / 0 |
For education, occupation, experience and region, consult the official scoring definitions rather than estimating from the shortened table. Wage points do not apply to self-employed physicians.
| Pathway | Minimum Experience | Timing and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TEER 0–3: offered position | 6 consecutive months, paid and full-time; at least 780 hours and 30 paid hours per week | Must be in the offered position and gained within the 12 months before application |
| TEER 0–3: recent Ontario graduate | 3 consecutive months, paid and full-time; at least 390 hours and 30 paid hours per week | Must be in the offered position within the 12 months before application and meet the recent-graduate definition |
| TEER 0–3: same or allowed related NOC | 2 years cumulative full-time, or qualifying part-time equivalent; 3,120 paid hours | Within the five years before application; limited related-NOC substitutions apply to specified engineering, pharmacy and nursing occupations |
| TEER 0–3: mandatory licence | Work-experience exemption may apply | Applicant must hold the required Ontario licence or authorization; transport truck and bus/transit operators remain subject to specific experience rules |
| TEER 4–5 | 9 months cumulative, paid and full-time; at least 1,170 hours and 30 paid hours per week | Must be in the offered position and gained within the two years before application |
| Self-employed physician | No separate minimum for basic pathway eligibility | Cumulative Ontario medical practice can earn EOI points; professional registration and OHIP billing eligibility are mandatory |
Document requirements vary by pathway and individual circumstances. Ontario can request further evidence during assessment.
Ontario continues to assess eligible applications submitted under the transition rules using the criteria that applied to those files. These closed stream names should not be used for a new 2026 EOI.
The difference between approval and refusal is preparation. Here's what every SkyPod client gets — no exceptions.
We assess the candidate, NOC, pathway, work history, language, education, status and EOI points against the current Ontario rules.
We review the job offer, wage, employer thresholds and position evidence, or the physician's CPSO and OHIP eligibility.
We organize the EOI and supporting documents, check consistency and prepare the application for the 17-day invitation window.
We track provincial requests, nomination conditions and the appropriate federal permanent-residence stage without promising an outcome.
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IRCC's October 16, 2026 announcement: a new Labour Market Integration CRS factor, points for Canadian work experience and high-wage job offers, LMIA changes, and what to do before November 3, 2026.
Results of the September 3, 2026 physician-specific Express Entry round, previous 2026 physician draws, and what the CRS cut-off means.
IELTS General Training scores for CLB 5 and CLB 7, section-by-section minimums and how long results stay valid for a PGWP.
It is Ontario's current OINP stream, introduced in 2026. It has three pathways: job offers in NOC TEER 0–3, job offers in NOC TEER 4–5, and eligible self-employed physicians without a job offer.
No. Ontario closed the former eight streams to new applications in 2026. Applications submitted under the transition rules continue to be assessed under the criteria that applied to them.
The TEER 0–3 and TEER 4–5 pathways require an approved Ontario job offer. The self-employed physician pathway does not require a job offer or employer.
No. The employer must satisfy Ontario's business-operation, premises, revenue, employee, compliance, recruitment and position requirements. Thresholds vary by the job location.
Generally, the wage must meet or exceed the Job Bank median wage for the occupation and region on the application date, and cannot be below the wage the employer currently pays the applicant. A qualifying recent Ontario graduate in TEER 0–3 may use the applicable Job Bank low-wage level. Collective agreements still apply.
TEER 0–3 generally requires CLB/NCLC 6, or CLB/NCLC 5 for listed skilled-trade occupations. TEER 4–5 requires CLB/NCLC 4. A qualifying recent Ontario graduate in TEER 0–3 may be exempt. Accepted tests must be less than two years old.
For English: IELTS General Training, CELPIP General and PTE Core. For French: TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Academic versions are not accepted for this purpose.
An Ontario Workforce Priority Stream EOI remains valid for 12 months unless Ontario issues an invitation or the EOI is removed earlier. Registration is free and does not guarantee an invitation.
A job-offer applicant must register the EOI within 30 calendar days of the employer's job-offer submission. Otherwise, the job offer expires for EOI purposes.
An invited candidate has 17 calendar days from the invitation date to submit the complete OINP application and fee.
The current fee is $2,000 when the job or physician practice is in the Greater Toronto Area, and $1,500 outside the GTA. EOI registration is free. Ontario may update fees, so confirm the amount before submission.
Only an Express Entry-linked nomination adds 600 CRS points after it is accepted in the federal Express Entry account. That option is available to eligible TEER 0–3 and self-employed physician applicants who meet federal Express Entry requirements. It does not apply to the TEER 4–5 pathway.
No. Ontario decides the provincial nomination, while IRCC makes the final permanent-residence decision. The applicant must continue meeting nomination conditions and federal admissibility requirements.
Yes, if you meet the pathway rules. A person applying from inside Canada must have valid temporary-resident status, such as a visitor record, study permit or work permit. Maintained status may be accepted while an extension decision is pending.
No representative can guarantee selection, nomination or permanent residence. SkyPod can assess eligibility, verify employer and candidate evidence, calculate EOI points, prepare the application and help respond to official requests.
Our team can review your pathway, employer or physician evidence and EOI score, then explain the next practical step. Selection and approval are never guaranteed.
OINP criteria can change. Use the current Ontario pages and regulation before registering or submitting an application.
This page provides general information reviewed in September 2026. It is not legal advice and does not guarantee an invitation, nomination, work permit or permanent residence. Ontario and IRCC may change criteria, priorities, fees, forms and procedures. Eligibility depends on the complete facts and documents in each case.
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