On June 26, 2026, Ontario introduced the first phase of its new provincial nomination system. The province has replaced the existing OINP programs with the new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, which currently consists of three different immigration pathways.
1. TEER 0–3 Pathway for High-Skilled Workers
To be eligible, the main criteria include:
- Have a full-time, permanent job offer from an employer in Ontario
- Hold a position classified under TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3
- Meet the minimum language requirements (CLB 5 or 6, depending on the position)
- Demonstrate a post-secondary diploma or professional registration in Canada. For some occupations, a high school diploma is the minimum requirement.
- Work experience in the same position as the job offer: 2 of the past 5 years, or 6 of the last 12 months in Ontario with the employer offering the job
2. TEER 4-5 Pathway for Low-Skilled Workers
Key requirements:
- A full-time, permanent job offer from an employer in Ontario
- A position classified under TEER 4 or 5
- At least a high school diploma
- At least CLB 4 in English or French
- 9 months of work experience in the same position as the job offer in Ontario with the employer offering the position
3. Self-Employed Physicians
To be eligible for this pathway, a candidate must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a valid medical license in Ontario and be in good standing, with a valid certificate of registration as a self-employed, academic, or provisional physician.
- Be eligible to bill through OHIP.
The requirements for obtaining a license are set by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
Does your employer qualify?
To qualify as an employer providing the job offer, the employer must meet the following requirements:
- Have a place of business in Ontario and have been in operation for at least three years.
- Meet the required minimum gross annual revenue: $250,000–$1,000,000, depending on the company’s location
- Depending on location, employ at least 3–5 Canadian citizens or permanent residents on a full-time basis.
- There must be no pending proceedings under Ontario’s labor regulations.
Expression of Interest
Ontario's new program will operate through an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. This means that eligible candidates must first create an EOI profile and receive an invitation from the province before they can submit a full application.
The province has announced that the e-Filing Portal is expected to reopen by the end of the summer, allowing prospective applicants to register new EOI profiles.
Please stay tuned for further announcements, including the reopening of the e-Filing Portal and additional information about the EOI selection process, such as possible point-based selections or priority occupations and sectors.
Is there more to come?
The proposed amendments to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), published in December 2025, also outlined plans for a Priority Healthcare Stream, an Entrepreneur Stream, and an Exceptional Talent Stream as part of a second phase of reforms. However, no additional details have been released to date regarding the eligibility criteria, application process, or implementation timeline for these proposed streams.
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