Ontario Express Entry Stream

Program Update — June 26, 2026: Ontario permanently closed all eight OINP streams on June 26, 2026, including the Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, and Skilled Trades streams. No further invitations will be issued under any former pathway. Ontario has replaced those streams with the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. The Expression of Interest system for the new stream is expected to reopen later in summer 2026. Applications submitted under a former stream following a valid invitation continue to be assessed under the rules in effect at the time of submission. If you submitted an OINP application before June 26, 2026, contact our office to confirm the status of your file.

Ontario's Former Express Entry Streams Are Now Closed

On June 26, 2026, Ontario permanently closed all eight OINP streams through amendments to Ontario Regulation 422/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015, as confirmed on the 2026 OINP Updates page. This includes the three Express Entry-linked streams that previously allowed candidates to receive a Notification of Interest through their federal profile.

Applications already submitted following a valid invitation under any of these streams continue to be reviewed under the eligibility rules that were in force when OINP received the application.

What Candidates With Former OINP Profiles Should Do Now

If you registered an Expression of Interest under one of the former OINP streams before June 26, 2026, and did not receive an invitation to apply, your EOI will be automatically withdrawn by Ontario. You will receive a direct notice when your profile is affected.

If you submitted a complete application under a former stream after receiving a valid invitation, your file remains active. Monitor your OINP e-Filing Portal account and keep your contact information current.

If you had an active federal Express Entry profile and were waiting for an Ontario Notification of Interest, those NOIs are no longer available under the former stream structure. Federal Express Entry draws from IRCC continue independently of Ontario's changes. If your Comprehensive Ranking System score is competitive, you may still receive a federal Invitation to Apply through a federal draw without a provincial nomination.

Ontario's New Immigration Pathway: The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream

Ontario replaced its former stream structure with the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, the first new pathway under a two-phase OINP redesign. The stream is designed to connect workers who have secured employment in Ontario with a clearer pathway to permanent residence. Unlike the former Human Capital Priorities stream, which did not require a job offer, almost all OWP pathways require a full-time, permanent job offer from a registered Ontario employer.

The stream has three pathways:

TEER 0 to 3 Pathway — Skilled Workers

This pathway is for workers in skilled occupations classified at TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 under Canada's National Occupational Classification system, covering management roles, professional positions, technical occupations, and skilled trades that typically require post-secondary training or significant work experience.

General eligibility requirements:

• Job offer: Full-time and permanent position from a registered Ontario employer in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation
• Work experience: Minimum six consecutive months with the same employer in the job offer position; recent Ontario graduates may qualify with three months of experience with the sponsoring employer; applicants with two cumulative years in the same occupation across employers may also qualify
• Language: Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 6, with CLB 5 applying to some occupations
• Education: Post-secondary diploma or degree

Employer eligibility requirements also apply. Your employer must be registered with the OINP Director and meet minimum gross annual revenue and full-time employee thresholds. Reduced thresholds apply to employers in rural communities, defined as those in census divisions with populations under 150,000.

TEER 4 to 5 Pathway — Essential Workers

This pathway opens a provincial nomination route to workers in essential occupations at TEER 4 or 5, including healthcare support, food processing, transportation, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. The inclusion of TEER 4 and 5 workers is a significant expansion from the former OINP, which largely excluded lower-TEER occupations.

General eligibility requirements:

• Job offer: Full-time and permanent position in an essential occupation from a registered Ontario employer
• Work experience: Minimum nine months of cumulative experience in the last two years in the job offer position with the same employer
• Language: Minimum CLB 4
• Education: Requirements vary by occupation; confirm your specific NOC code requirements before applying

Your employer must meet OINP registration and revenue requirements, with reduced thresholds for rural employers.

Self-Employed Physicians Pathway

This is the only OWP pathway that does not require a traditional employer-employee job offer. It is designed for physicians who practice under fee-for-service or other independent arrangements common in Ontario's healthcare system.

To qualify, you must:

• Be a member in good standing of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
• Hold a valid certificate of registration in the independent, academic, or provisional class
• Be eligible to bill through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan

Ontario Workforce Priority Stream: Pathway Comparison

Eligibility requirements are set in Ontario Regulation 422/17 and may be updated. Confirm current requirements on the official Ontario immigrant nominee program streams page before submitting any application.

Federal Express Entry vs. Ontario Provincial Nomination: What Is the Difference?

Federal Express Entry is a national selection system managed by IRCC. It draws candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class, selecting the highest-ranking candidates based on CRS score at regular draws. Federal draws do not require a provincial nomination and continue independently of Ontario's program changes.

Ontario's Workforce Priority Stream is a provincial nomination program that operates through Ontario's own Expression of Interest system. Selection is based on Ontario's labour market priorities and employer demand, not on a national CRS score ranking. An Ontario nomination is a separate provincial step that leads to a federal PR application rather than a replacement for a federal ITA.

For candidates who do not have a competitive CRS score but hold a valid Ontario job offer, the Workforce Priority Stream may offer a clearer route to permanent residence than waiting for a competitive federal draw. For candidates with strong CRS scores, maintaining an active federal Express Entry profile while awaiting the OWP portal reopening is a practical parallel strategy. If you are unsure which route fits your profile, a free assessment can help clarify your options.

How to Apply for Ontario Express Entry Stream

Applying for the OINP through Express Entry is a multi-step process:

1. Receive a Notification of Interest (NOI): Before applying, you must receive a notification of interest from the OINP through your Express Entry profile.
2. Create an OINP Profile: Once invited, log into your My Ontario account and create a profile in the OINP e-Filing Portal. Ensure that you follow all instructions carefully.
3. Submit Required Documents: You will need to submit documentation to validate your qualifications. This includes proof of work experience, language test results, and an Educational Credential Assessment (if your education was completed outside Canada).
4. Submit Your Application: After preparing your profile and gathering all necessary documents, you must submit your application within 45 calendar days of receiving the notification of interest.
5. Maintain a Valid Express Entry Profile: Ensure that your Express Entry profile remains valid throughout the process. If it expires, your OINP application may be returned, and you will need to start over.

What Happens After OINP Is Approved

Once your OINP application is approved, you’ll receive a nomination certificate from the province of Ontario. This nomination significantly boosts your chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residency through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

After the approval, the next step is to apply for permanent residence through the federal Express Entry system. The federal government will assess your medical exams, background checks, and eligibility to make the final decision on your permanent residency.

Although the OINP nomination is a crucial step, it does not guarantee permanent residency, as IRCC makes the final determination based on additional criteria.

OINP Application Fee and Processing Times

The OINP application fee for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is $1,500 CAD, as confirmed on the OINP application page. The fee is non-refundable once OINP begins processing your application, including if your application is refused. A refund is issued only if your application is returned as incomplete or if you withdraw before processing begins. Payment is accepted by Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, and Mastercard Debit. There is no cost to register an Expression of Interest.

OINP has not yet published official processing time estimates for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. Under the former OINP streams, processing typically ranged between 60 and 150 days depending on the stream and application volume. Processing benchmarks for the new stream will be released once the program is actively receiving applications. Check the OINP program updates page for current timelines before submitting.