Ontario · New in 2026

Ontario Workforce Priority Stream

Ontario permanently closed all eight legacy OINP streams on June 25, 2026 and replaced them with a single Workforce Priority Stream containing three pathways. Here's exactly what changed, who qualifies, and how to prepare while the new Expression of Interest system rolls out.

Eight OINP streams closed permanently

Foreign Worker · In-Demand Skills · International Student · Master's Graduate · PhD Graduate · Human Capital Priorities · French-Speaking Skilled Worker · Skilled Trades. No further invitations or applications will be accepted under any of the above.

The three new pathways

All three pathways operate through a single Expression of Interest system with a shared selection pool. Every skilled and essential pathway requires a valid full-time, permanent Ontario job offer.

Skilled Workers Pathway

TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3

Managers, professionals, technical and skilled trades roles

Full-time, permanent job offer from an Ontario employer
Occupation classified in NOC TEER 0–3
Wage that meets or exceeds the Ontario median for the occupation
Two years of full-time work experience in the offered occupation (last 5 years)
CLB 7 in English or French (higher for regulated occupations)
Post-secondary education (equivalent to a Canadian credential — ECA required)

Essential Workers Pathway

TEER 4 or 5

Frontline workers in labour-critical Ontario industries

Full-time, permanent job offer from an Ontario employer
Occupation classified in NOC TEER 4 or 5 within a priority sector
Wage that meets or exceeds the Ontario median for the occupation
Nine months of full-time work experience in the offered occupation (last 3 years)
CLB 4 in English or French
Canadian secondary-school credential or an equivalent ECA

Self-Employed Physicians Pathway

Licensed physicians

Family physicians and specialists setting up practice in Ontario

Licensed to practise medicine in Ontario (CPSO registration)
Intent to establish or continue a self-employed medical practice in Ontario
Business plan demonstrating patient-care commitment
No employer job offer required for this pathway

Job-offer requirement (Skilled + Essential pathways)

Under the old streams several routes (International Student, Master's Graduate, Human Capital Priorities) allowed candidates to be nominated without an Ontario employer job offer. The new Workforce Priority Stream removes that flexibility: an eligible full-time, permanent Ontario job offer is now mandatory for every applicant except self-employed physicians. Wages must meet or exceed the Ontario median for the occupation.

Old stream → new pathway mapping

If you were preparing under a closed stream, this is where its equivalent pathway lives now.

Closed stream (pre-June 2026)	Maps to
Foreign Worker Stream	Skilled Workers Pathway (TEER 0–3, requires job offer)
In-Demand Skills Stream	Essential Workers Pathway (TEER 4–5)
International Student Stream	Skilled Workers Pathway (job offer now mandatory)
Master's Graduate Stream	Skilled Workers Pathway (job offer now mandatory)
PhD Graduate Stream	Skilled Workers Pathway or Self-Employed Physicians (if applicable)
Human Capital Priorities Stream	Skilled Workers Pathway (Ontario job offer required)
French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream	Skilled Workers Pathway — apply through federal Francophone routes for language advantage
Skilled Trades Stream	Skilled Workers Pathway (TEER trades codes, job offer required)

Expected EOI timeline

June 25–26, 2026
All eight legacy streams closed permanently.
Summer 2026 (expected)
New Expression of Interest system opens. Exact date pending — official details on ontario.ca/OINP.
First invitations to apply
Following the EOI opening, based on Ontario labour-market priorities.

CRS & Express Entry impact

A Workforce Priority Stream nomination is expected to remain an enhanced nomination — meaning candidates in the Express Entry pool receive the standard +600 CRS bonus upon acceptance, effectively guaranteeing an ITA in the next federal draw. Applicants without an existing Express Entry profile can still apply through the base (non-EE) route.

Frequently asked questions

When did the eight legacy OINP streams close?

Ontario permanently closed all eight legacy OINP streams on June 25–26, 2026. No new applications or expressions of interest are being accepted under those streams.

When does the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream open for applications?

The new Expression of Interest (EOI) system is expected to open later in the summer of 2026. Official ontario.ca guidance will confirm exact intake dates — this page updates automatically when new IRCC/Ontario data is ingested.

Do I still need a job offer under the new stream?

Yes. The Skilled Workers and Essential Workers pathways both require a full-time, permanent Ontario job offer. Only the Self-Employed Physicians pathway is exempt.

What happens to my in-progress application under a closed stream?

Ontario has committed to continuing processing of applications already submitted before the closure date. New submissions under the eight closed streams are not being accepted.

How does this affect my Express Entry CRS score?

A provincial nomination through the new stream still adds 600 CRS points, effectively guaranteeing an ITA in the next Express Entry round for enhanced-stream applicants.

Source: Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (ontario.ca/OINP). Program details reflect the official announcement of June 25, 2026; specific EOI-opening dates and intake caps will be confirmed by Ontario. Content is informational and not legal advice.