Ontario Job Offer Stream

What is the Ontario Job Offer Stream?

The Ontario Job Offer Stream has been replaced by the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, Ontario's new single pathway for foreign workers with a job offer in the province. On June 26, 2026, Ontario closed its former Employer Job Offer streams (Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills) along with the other remaining Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program streams, and consolidated them into this one program. A regulatory amendment effective May 30, 2026 had already revoked the legal framework behind the old streams. The Expression of Interest portal for the new stream opened to registrations on August 4, 2026, and registration is open now.

To begin the process, an employer must first register the job offer through the OINP Employer Portal. The applicant then registers an Expression of Interest in the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)'s EOI System within 30 calendar days of the date the employer submitted the job offer in the portal. If that deadline passes, the job offer expires in the system and the employer must submit a new one.

Types of Job Offers Accepted

TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job offers cover higher-skilled occupations such as management, professional, and technical or skilled trades roles. Applicants must meet one of the following: at least 6 months of consecutive, paid, full-time experience in the job offer position gained within the 12 months before the application date (3 months for recent Ontario graduates), or at least 2 years of cumulative, paid, full-time experience in the same NOC occupation within the 5 years before the application date, or a mandatory licence or authorization required under Ontario or Canadian law for that position.

Ontario Job Offer Stream Applicant Requirements

Applicants aiming to qualify for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream with a job offer must satisfy several key criteria:

Job Offer Specifications:

The job offer must be full-time and permanent, in any NOC occupation, and must meet or exceed the required wage level for that occupation and region of Ontario.

Work Experience and Licensing:

Work experience requirements depend on the TEER category of the job offer (see above). If the occupation requires a mandatory licence or authorization in Ontario, applicants must hold a valid one at the time of application.

Language:

Applicants generally need CLB 6 or higher (CLB 5 for listed skilled trades) for TEER 0–3 job offers, or CLB 4 or higher for TEER 4–5 job offers, across all four language abilities — unless exempted by a recent eligible Ontario credential.

Education:

TEER 0–3 applicants generally need a postsecondary credential of at least one year (or a Canadian high school diploma for listed skilled trades); TEER 4–5 applicants need a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent.

Intention to Reside in Ontario:

Applicants must demonstrate a clear intention to live and work in Ontario, shown through ties such as previous work or study in Ontario, property ownership, or professional networks in the province.

Legal Status in Canada:

If applying from within Canada, applicants must maintain valid legal status, such as a visitor record, study permit, or work permit, until nomination. Those in maintained status may also apply.

Expression of Interest and Invitation:

Applicants must first register an Expression of Interest and receive an invitation to apply from the OINP, then apply within the specified deadline.

Employer Requirements

Employers play an important role in the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream by providing eligible job offers to foreign workers. To qualify, employers must adhere to several important criteria:

General Business Criteria:

The employer must have been in active business for at least three years prior to applying, must have business premises in Ontario where the position will be based, and must have no outstanding orders under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000, or the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Revenue Requirements:

• Employers in the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) need a minimum of $1,000,000 in total gross annual revenue.
• Employers in select regions — including Ottawa, Waterloo, Hamilton, Niagara, Essex, Wellington, Simcoe, Middlesex, Greater Sudbury, Frontenac, Brant, Peterborough, Hastings, and Thunder Bay — need a minimum of $500,000.
• Employers everywhere else in the province need a minimum of $250,000 over their two most recently completed fiscal years.

Full Time Employee Requirements:

• Employers in the GTA must have at least five full-time Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the relevant work location.
• Employers outside the GTA need at least three.
• A full-time employee is defined as someone working a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Reasonable Recruitment Efforts:

Employers must show that reasonable efforts were made to recruit a Canadian citizen or permanent resident before offering the position to a foreign worker. This requirement applies only where the applicant is living outside Canada or working outside Ontario, and it does not apply if the applicant is already authorized to work in Ontario or the employer holds a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for the same NOC code and position. Where recruitment is required, employers should use at least two advertising methods and keep the posting live for a minimum of four weeks. Recruitment efforts carried out by an immigration representative are not accepted and will result in refusal.

Employer Portal Registration:

Employers must register their business and submit the job offer through the OINP Employer Portal, then submit an application for approval of the employment position once the applicant is invited to apply.

How to Apply for Ontario Job Offer Stream

Applying under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream involves a structured sequence of steps for both applicants and employers:

Step 1 – Employer Submits a Job Offer:

The employer registers in the Employer Portal and submits the job offer. The applicant then receives a job offer ID by email.

Step 2 – Register an Expression of Interest (EOI):

Using the job offer ID, the applicant must register an EOI within 30 calendar days. The EOI remains valid in the selection pool for 12 months.

Step 3 – Receive an Invitation to Apply:

Ontario periodically reviews EOIs and issues invitations to candidates who meet the eligibility and scoring criteria. Applications without an invitation are not considered.

Step 4 – Employer and Applicant Submit Their Applications:

Once invited, the employer has 14 calendar days to submit the application for approval of the employment position. The applicant then has 17 calendar days to submit their own application and pay the fee — but cannot do so until after the employer has submitted theirs.

Step 5 – Application Review and Nomination:

The OINP reviews both applications to confirm all criteria are met. If approved, the applicant receives a nomination.

Step 6 – Apply for Permanent Residence:

With the nomination, the applicant has 6 months to apply to IRCC for permanent residency.

Important Considerations:

Deadlines: Adhere strictly to application deadlines after receiving an invitation to apply.

Representatives: If using a representative, ensure they are properly registered. Applications submitted by self-appointed representatives are invalid and will be withdrawn, with the application fee refunded.

Job Offer Validity: The job offer must remain active throughout the nomination process, including when the work permit is obtained and the position starts.

Following these steps carefully increases the likelihood of a successful application and a smooth transition to permanent residency in Ontario.

Ontario Job Offer Stream Fees

Understanding the fee structure for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is essential for budgeting and preparation:

Application Fees:

• Greater Toronto Area (GTA): The fee is $2,000 for job offers within the GTA regions, including the City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York, and Peel.
• Outside GTA: The fee is $1,500 for job offers outside these regions.
• There is no fee to register an Expression of Interest.

NonRefundable Fees:

Fees become nonrefundable once the OINP begins processing the application. If an application is deemed incomplete before processing, the fee is returned.

Additional Costs:

Applicants may incur costs related to language testing, Educational Credential Assessments (ECA), translations, and certifications. Employers might also face costs in preparing job postings and supporting documentation to meet recruitment requirements.

Payment Methods:

Fees are paid online through the OINP e-Filing Portal using a credit or debit card.

Refund Policies:

Since fees are nonrefundable once processing begins, applicants should thoroughly review eligibility and prepare their applications carefully before submitting.

Are you considering applying through the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream but unsure where to start? Our team at SEP Immigrants is here to help guide you through the process. Contact us today to get started on your journey to permanent residence in Ontario! For the full official eligibility criteria, see the Ontario Workforce Priority stream page on ontario.ca.