Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) in 2026: The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream
Ontario redesigned the OINP in 2026. On June 25, 2026, the province closed eight existing streams and introduced one stream, the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. The expression of interest portal opened for it on August 4, 2026. Ontario has described this as the first of two phases, so more changes may follow.
Streams that closed
- Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker
- Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills
- Employer Job Offer: International Student
- Master's Graduate
- PhD Graduate
- Express Entry Human Capital Priorities
- Express Entry French-speaking Skilled Worker
- Express Entry Skilled Trades
Profiles registered under these streams that had not yet been invited were withdrawn, and applications already submitted are assessed under the rules in force when they were filed. Guides that still describe these streams as open are out of date.
The Ontario Workforce Priority stream
The stream has three pathways.
TEER 0 to 3 pathway. For skilled workers with a full-time, permanent job offer in Ontario. Minimums include: - Work experience: one of the following: six consecutive months in the last 12 in the job offer position with the offering employer (three months for recent Ontario graduates), or two years cumulative in the last five years in the occupation. Licensed applicants are exempt. - Language: CLB 6, or CLB 5 for certain occupations. - Education: a post-secondary degree or diploma.
TEER 4 to 5 pathway. For workers with a full-time, permanent job offer in these occupations. Minimums include: - Work experience: nine months cumulative in the last two years in the job offer position with the offering employer. - Language: CLB 4. - Education: a Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent.
Self-employed physicians. May qualify without a job offer if they are members in good standing of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, hold a valid certificate of registration in an eligible class, and are eligible to bill through OHIP.
Employers in rural communities, meaning census divisions with populations under 150,000, face lower revenue requirements. Some occupations have alternate criteria, so check the regulation.
What this means for you
Because the stream is employer-led, your job offer and your employer's eligibility are central. Employers must register a new job offer under the new stream, even if they registered before. Higher language and education benchmarks apply than under the old system.
Get help from a licensed consultant
I can check whether you and your employer qualify, review your documents, and explain how Ontario's redesign affects your plan. No one can guarantee an invitation or a nomination.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Human Capital Priorities stream still open? No. It closed in June 2026 along with the other Express Entry-aligned Ontario streams.
Can international graduates still get nominated? The stand-alone Master's and PhD Graduate streams closed. Recent Ontario graduates have modified experience rules within the job offer pathway.
Do I need a job offer? For most pathways, yes, a full-time, permanent one. Self-employed physicians are an exception.
Are more changes coming? Ontario described the June changes as phase one of a two-phase redesign, so watch for updates.
Sources: Ontario government, 2026 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Updates (last modified August 4, 2026).
This page is general information, not legal advice on your situation.