Ontario Workforce Priority Stream

What Is The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream?

The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is a new provincial nomination stream announced by Ontario on June 26, 2026, replacing the province’s previous eight OINP streams. It is part of Phase 1 of a two-phase redesign of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

The stream is designed to connect internationally trained workers who have arranged employment in Ontario with a clearer pathway to permanent residence. It covers workers across all National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER levels (0 through 5), as well as self-employed physicians who do not need a job offer to qualify.
The Expression of Interest (EOI) system for the new stream is expected to open later in the summer of 2026.

What Are the Benefits of the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream?

The redesign behind the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream aims to deliver several improvements over the previous program:

• Streamlined pathways to PR for workers with arranged employment in Ontario
• Employer-friendly design to help businesses retain proven talent in hard-to-fill roles
• Broader occupation coverage, with pathways available across all NOC TEER levels
• Flexible thresholds for rural and northern employers, with lower gross annual revenue requirements for communities in census divisions with a population under 150,000
• Faster compliance processes, including reduced response times for enforcement notices

What Do You Need To Qualify For The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream?

Requirements differ depending on your NOC TEER level.

TEER 0–3 (Skilled Workers)

• A full-time, permanent job offer in Ontario
• Work experience: one of the following:
  • 6 months consecutive in the last 12 months in the job offer role with the same employer
  • 3 months consecutive in the last 12 months (for recent Ontario graduates)
  • 2 years cumulative in the last 5 years in the same NOC occupation
  • Licensed applicants are exempt from the work experience requirement
• Language: CLB 6 (CLB 5 for certain occupations)
• Education: post-secondary degree or diploma

TEER 4–5 (Lower-Skilled Workers)

• A full-time, permanent job offer in Ontario
• Work experience: 9 months cumulative in the last 2 years in the job offer position with the same employer
• Language: CLB 4
• Education: Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent

Self-Employed Physicians (no job offer required)

• Active membership in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
• Valid certificate of registration in an eligible class: independent, academic, or provisional
• Eligibility to bill through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)

What happened to the old OINP streams?

All eight previous OINP streams have been closed as of June 26, 2026.

The closed streams are:

1. Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker
2. Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills;
3. Employer Job Offer: International Student
4. Master’s Graduate
5. PhD Graduate
6. Express Entry Human Capital Priorities
7. Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker
8. Express Entry Skilled Trades.

No further invitations will be issued under any of these streams.

FAQs about Ontario Workforce Priority Stream

I already registered an EOI under a former stream. What happens to it?

EOIs and job offers registered under the former streams that have not resulted in an invitation to apply will be automatically withdrawn over the coming weeks while the platforms are updated. You will receive a direct notice when this happens. Once the new EOI system reopens, eligible candidates can register a new EOI under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.

I already received an invitation to apply under a former stream. Is my application still valid?

Yes. Applications submitted following an invitation under a former stream will continue to be assessed against the eligibility requirements that were in effect when the application was submitted.

Does my employer need to re-register to use the new stream?

Employers who previously registered in the employer portal do not need to register again. However, once the Employer Portal reopens, they will need to submit a new job offer and a new application for approval of an employment position to initiate a new EOI for a candidate under the new stream.

When will the new EOI system open?

The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream EOI system is anticipated to open later in the summer of 2026. Ontario has not confirmed an exact date. Candidates and employers should monitor the official OINP page for updates.

Are there special rules for employers in rural or northern Ontario?

Yes. Lower gross annual revenue requirements apply to employers located in a rural community, defined as a community in a census division with a population of less than 150,000.

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