OINP Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

Your Pathway to Permanent Residency in Ontario

Suppose you’re a foreign worker with experience in high-demand occupations such as agriculture, construction, or personal support work, and you have a valid job offer in Ontario. In that case, you may qualify for permanent residency through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream.

This program is designed to help skilled workers live and work permanently in Ontario, contributing to industries that need talent the most. Whether you are currently in Canada or applying from abroad, this stream provides an opportunity to build your future in Ontario.

How the Application Process Works in 2026

The In-Demand Skills stream uses an employer-led process, which changed significantly in July 2025. Under the new system, your employer must act first — you can no longer initiate an application on your own.

Here is how the full process works from start to finish:

Step 1 — Employer registers in the OINP Employer Portal Your Ontario employer must create a My Ontario account, register their business details in the OINP Employer Portal, and submit a job offer for your position. This replaces the old paper-based Employer Form. The portal is accessed through the OINP e-Filing Portal.

Step 2 — Employer receives a Job Offer ID and shares it with you Once the employer's job offer is submitted and approved, a unique Job Offer ID is generated. Your employer shares this ID with you.

Step 3 — You register your Expression of Interest (EOI) Using the Job Offer ID, you log into your own OINP account and register your EOI within 30 calendar days of your employer submitting the job offer. Your EOI is valid for 12 months in the pool.

Step 4 — OINP scores and ranks EOIs Your EOI is scored based on factors including your job offer's NOC code and wage, your work permit status, time with current employer, earnings history, and whether your job is located outside the GTA. The OINP conducts targeted draws from the pool based on Ontario's labour market priorities.

Step 5 — You receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) If selected, you receive an ITA by email. You must:

• Log in to the OINP e-Filing Portal and click your new file number (prefix: JOXX)
• Submit your full application and payment within 17 calendar days of the invitation date

Step 6 — Employer submits their application After you receive the ITA, your employer must submit their application for approval of the employment position through the Employer Portal within 14 calendar days.

⚠️ Both deadlines are strict. Missing either — employer's 14 days or applicant's 17 days — will result in the application being cancelled.

Step 7 — OINP reviews and nominates OINP reviews both the employer and applicant submissions. They may request additional documents or schedule an in-person interview (a new authority introduced July 2025). If approved, you receive a provincial nomination certificate.

Step 8 — Apply to IRCC for Permanent Residence With your nomination, submit a paper application to IRCC. This is a base (non-Express Entry) stream — there are no 600 CRS bonus points. Federal processing typically takes 12–19 months.

Latest OINP In-Demand Skills Stream Draws in 2026

The In-Demand Skills stream has been active throughout 2026, with draws held in February, March, and multiple rounds in April. The program now runs exclusively targeted draws — meaning each draw specifies eligible NOC codes and a geographic region (GTA, Eastern Ontario, Central Ontario, Northern Ontario, Southwestern Ontario, or province-wide).

Scores and eligible NOC codes change with every draw. Always check the official 2026 OINP updates page for the most current draw details.

Required Documents - Application Checklist

1. Identity Verification

📌 Photograph

• Must be a clear, high-quality passport-style photo (scanned or digital).
• Must meet official passport or visa photo specifications.
• ❌ Not accepted: Blurry images or photos of passport pages.

📌 Passport

• Upload a scanned copy of the personal details page.
• Include all pages with Canadian visas and entry stamps (if applicable).

📌 Family Members’ Passports

• If you are including dependents in your application, provide scanned copies of the passport details page for:
• Your spouse or common-law partner.
• Your children under 22 years old (and their children, if applicable).

Proof of Status in Canada

Suppose you have previously held or currently hold status in Canada. In that case, you must upload scanned copies of all relevant immigration documents issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). These may include:

✅ Work permits ✅ Study permits ✅ Temporary resident visas ✅ Any other official Canadian immigration documents

📌 If you have maintained status, also include:

• A copy of the IRCC acknowledgment letter confirming receipt of your status extension application.
• The IRCC fee receipt for your extension application.
• The post office mailing receipt (if applicable) as proof of submission.

Employer Documents

To meet the eligibility criteria for this stream, your employer must provide specific documents that validate your job offer and their compliance with OINP requirements.

📌 Employer Form:

• A completed and signed "Application for Approval of an Employment Position" (Employer Form) from your employer (or a designated signing officer).
• This form must include detailed business and job position information.

📌 Proof of Recruitment Efforts (if required):

• If your employer is required to demonstrate reasonable recruitment efforts, they must submit copies of job advertisements related to the position being offered to you.
• These ads should be scanned and uploaded under the “Application for Approval of an Employment Position (Employer Form)” section in your online application.

🔍 Important: OINP may request additional supporting documents from your employer to verify the information provided in the Employer Form. Refer to the Employer Checklist for a comprehensive list of documents that may be required.

Submitting complete and accurate documents is crucial for a successful application. Make sure all scans are clear, legible, and in the correct format to avoid delays in processing.

Job Offer Documents

1. Job Offer Letter

Upload a signed job offer letter from you and your employer. The letter must:

✅ Be issued within the last six months ✅ Be on official business letterhead with company details (address, phone, fax, email, and website) ✅ Include the responsible officer/supervisor’s name, signature, and company seal (if applicable)

The job offer must also specify:

• Job title and NOC code (Find your NOC here)
• Salary details for the position
• Duties and responsibilities
• Work schedule, including weekly hours and annual workweeks
• Vacation entitlement
• Work location
• Start date of employment
• Confirmation that the offer is for a full-time, permanent position with no end date
• If already employed, confirmation that job terms remain valid at nomination or upon obtaining a work permit

📌 If you are currently working for the same employer in this position, you can submit an older job offer with your application. However, you must also provide a recent employer letter confirming your ongoing employment, original job conditions, and any updates.

Your original job offer letter must:

• Be signed by both you and your employer (if not signed originally, both must sign the recent confirmation letter)
• Include all required details mentioned above

2. Proof of Current Employment

If already employed in the same role as the job offer, submit copies of your two most recent pay slips.

3. Collective Agreement (if applicable)

If your offered wage is below the median wage, but complies with a collective agreement, submit a copy of the wage section from the agreement.

Professional hands reviewing a detailed topographical map of Ontario on a polished desk, representing province-wide options.

4. Licence or Authorization

For regulated occupations in Ontario, upload a valid licence or authorization required for your job.

5. Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) (if applicable)

If working in Canada under an LMIA-supported work permit, obtain a copy of the LMIA from your employer.

📌 The LMIA must match the same NOC code as your job offer.

Eligible Anywhere in Ontario (Inside and Outside GTA)

Eligible Outside the GTA Only

⚠️ OINP may add or remove eligible NOC codes for specific draws. In April 2026, mining occupations were added to targeted draws for the first time. Always verify eligible NOC codes for the specific draw you are responding to on the OINP updates page.

Wage level

The offered job's pay must meet or exceed the median wage for that occupation in the specific Ontario region where you will be employed. To find the median wage, visit the Job Bank website. Enter the occupation title and NOC code of the job offer, then select the work location in the filter search. Refer to the median wage chart for that occupation.

If the wage for the applicant’s work location is unavailable, the Ontario wage should be used.

If you are already in the position, the offered wage must be equal to or higher than the wage your current employer pays you, in addition to meeting the median wage requirement.

These wage requirements are not applicable if your workplace has a collective agreement (a written contract between the employer and a union) that determines wages.

For annual salary pay, your hourly wage is calculated as follows:

• Subtract any bonuses or discretionary benefits from the annual salary
• Divide the remaining salary by the number of work weeks per year (typically 52 weeks)
• Divide the result by the number of work hours per week
• The final result is the hourly wage

The program does not count piecework, bonuses, commissions, vacation pay, or non-financial compensation toward your hourly base wage for work experience calculations.

The offered position must be crucial to your employer’s business.

It must directly support the employer’s current operations, with the position being urgently required to sustain or expand ongoing business activities.

The work associated with the job offer must primarily take place in Ontario.

You, or any family member, can only hold or have held equity in your employer’s business, either directly or indirectly, if the equity is less than 10%. This equity must have been acquired as part of your employee compensation package. The total equity held by you or any of your family members must not exceed 10%.

A family member includes your spouse, common-law partner, and children under 22, including their children.

Document Checklist: Employer and Applicant

Employer Documents (submitted via Employer Portal)

Required at job offer registration stage:

• Business registration documents — proof the business is legally operating in Ontario
• CRA Business Number and proof of payroll history
• Job offer details — NOC code, job title, wage, weekly hours, start date, and work location
• Confirmation that the position is full-time and permanent with no end date
• Recruitment efforts documentation (if required by OINP) — scanned job ads for the position
• Confirmation that the business equity held by the applicant or their family is less than 10%
• LMIA copy — if the applicant holds an LMIA-based work permit for this position (NOC code must match)
• Collective agreement wage section — if the offered wage is below median but covered by a union agreement

Required after applicant receives ITA (within 14 calendar days):

• Completed Employer Portal application for approval of the employment position
• Signed job offer letter on official letterhead, dated within the last 6 months, including: job title and NOC, salary, duties, weekly hours, work location, start date, and confirmation of permanent, full-time status
• Two most recent pay stubs if the applicant is currently employed in this role
• Valid licence or authorization for any regulated occupation

Applicant Documents (submitted via OINP e-Filing Portal within 17 calendar days)

Identity and status:

• Passport — personal details page plus all pages with Canadian visas and entry stamps
• Current work or study permit
• Previous permits (if applicable)
• If on maintained status: IRCC acknowledgment letter + fee receipt

Family members (if included):

• Passport details pages for spouse/partner and children under 22

Work experience (minimum 9 months in Ontario in the same occupation):

• Reference letters from each employer — must include company letterhead, dates, job title, duties, weekly hours, salary, and supervisor signature
• Pay stubs for first and last month of each work period, OR bank statements showing deposits
• T4 statements and/or Notice of Assessment (CRA) for relevant years
• Work contracts (optional but recommended)
• Business registration documents if self-employed

Job offer:

• Signed job offer letter (same as employer section above)
• Current pay stubs (2 most recent) if already in the role

Education:

• Secondary school diploma and/or transcripts
• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if education was completed outside Canada — must be no more than 5 years old

Language:

• Results of an approved test (IELTS General Training, CELPIP General, PTE Core for English; TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French) — CLB 4 or above in all four skills — taken within the last 2 years

EOI scoring support:

• Notice(s) of Assessment from CRA (last 5 years) — required to claim earnings points; T4 slips alone are not accepted
• Job offer letter clearly stating work location (for regional immigration points)

Résumé — current, including all work experience, duties, and contact information

Proof of intent to reside in Ontario — employment records, lease, family ties, or a written statement if no ties exist

Expression of Interest (EOI) Scoring Factors

If you receive an invitation to apply, you must provide supporting documents for each factor where you claimed points in your EOI. The scoring grid below reflects the current In-Demand Skills stream criteria.

1. Job Offer — NOC TEER Category and Wage

Points are awarded based on the TEER category of your offered occupation and whether the wage meets or exceeds the median wage for that role in your work location. To support this factor, submit:

• Your signed job offer letter, including a description of job duties and the offered hourly or annual wage
• The letter must clearly state the NOC code, job title, work location, and salary

2. Work Permit Status in Canada

Points are awarded for holding a valid work or study permit in Canada. To support this factor, submit:

• Scanned copies of your current and all previous work permits or study permits

If you are currently on maintained status (you applied to renew your permit before it expired), provide one of the following as proof:

• Letter from IRCC acknowledging receipt of your extension application
• IRCC fee receipt for the extension
• Post office mailing receipt confirming submission of your extension application

3. Job Tenure with the Offering Employer

Points are awarded for continuous employment with the employer making the current job offer. The longer your tenure, the more points you may receive. To support this factor, submit:

• A copy of your original job offer or employment contract, showing your start date and position details
• Work must have been performed within Ontario to qualify

4. Earnings History

Points are awarded based on your annual earnings in Canada, as reported to the Canada Revenue Agency. To support this factor, submit:

• Notices of Assessment (NOA) from the CRA for the past five years

Note: T4 slips alone are not accepted as proof of earnings. To claim points under this factor, at least one of your Notices of Assessment must show annual earnings of $40,000 or more in a single calendar year.

5. Regional Immigration — Job Offer Location

Additional points are available if your job offer is located outside the Greater Toronto Area, in recognition of Ontario's regional labour market priorities. To support this factor, submit:

• Your job offer letter, which must clearly state the specific address or municipality of your work location

The GTA includes the City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York regions. Any job offer located outside these boundaries may be eligible for regional points.