The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) allows Ontario to nominate foreign nationals for Canadian permanent residence based on the province's economic and labour market needs. Nominees then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to finalize their permanent residence.
**Important note for 2026:** Ontario undertook a major program redesign in 2026. All nine previous OINP streams — including the Express Entry, Masters Graduate, PhD Graduate, Employer Job Offer, Entrepreneur, and Regional Immigration Pilot streams — were legally revoked effective May 30, 2026. Ontario launched a redesigned program structure with new streams taking their place. Applications submitted under the former streams before the revocation date are being assessed under the rules that were in place at the time.
Program streams
Ontario has launched its redesigned program in phases throughout 2026. The first new stream is active as of July 2026. Additional streams are expected to be announced later in 2026.
| Stream | Who it's for |
|---|---|
| Ontario Workforce Priority (OWP) Stream | Workers with a job offer from an Ontario employer. The stream includes separate pathways for higher-skilled occupations (NOC TEER 0–3), lower-skilled occupations (NOC TEER 4–5), and self-employed physicians. This stream replaces the previous employer-driven and job offer categories. |
Ontario has announced its intention to launch three further streams in 2026, expected to cover priority healthcare workers, entrepreneurs, and candidates with exceptional talent. Candidates interested in these streams should monitor the official OINP updates page for announcements.
Update, July 22, 2026: Ontario published the Expression of Interest (EOI) scoring framework for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, setting out how eligible candidates will be scored ahead of the EOI system's expected reopening between July and September 2026. Candidates with EOIs under the former streams that had not received an invitation before the transition were withdrawn automatically and must submit a new EOI once the OWP Stream's system opens.
Former streams (revoked May 30, 2026)
The following streams no longer accept new applications. They are listed for reference for candidates who submitted applications before the revocation date.
- Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities Stream - Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream - Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream - Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream - Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream - Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream - Masters Graduate Stream - PhD Graduate Stream - Entrepreneur Stream
Candidates with pending applications under these streams are being assessed under the eligibility rules that applied at the time of submission.
How to apply
Check program status
Confirm which streams are currently accepting registrations or applications through the official OINP website at ontario.ca/page/ontario-immigrant-nominee-program-oinp.
Submit an Expression of Interest or register
Once a stream is open, eligible candidates will register interest or submit an EOI through Ontario's e-Filing Portal.
Receive an invitation
Ontario selects candidates from the EOI pool and issues invitations based on provincial priorities.
Submit a full application
Once invited, submit the complete application with supporting documentation within the deadline.
Apply to IRCC for permanent residence
After nomination, nominees submit a federal PR application to IRCC.
Processing times
OINP processing times vary with application volume and stream type. Because the program is in a transition and redesign phase in 2026, processing timelines for the new streams are not yet well established. Confirm current processing estimates through ontario.ca before advising applicants.
Related links
- Alberta PNP - British Columbia PNP - Saskatchewan PNP - Manitoba PNP
--- *Sources: Government of Ontario, ontario.ca/page/ontario-immigrant-nominee-program-oinp, current as of July 2026. The OINP underwent major structural changes in May–July 2026. The program is actively evolving; verify current stream availability and eligibility before advising applicants. Former streams were revoked May 30, 2026; new streams are being introduced in phases throughout 2026.*