Ontario Workforce Priority: New OINP Pathway Explained

Ontario has announced a major change to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). On 2026/06/26, the province introduced Ontario Workforce Priority, a new immigration stream designed to help Ontario fill in-demand jobs and retain workers who can contribute to the province’s labour market.

This is not a minor program update. It is part of a broader redesign of the OINP.

Ontario says the changes remove the former OINP streams and introduce Ontario Workforce Priority as the first phase of the new system. The Expression of Interest system is closed to new EOIs under the former streams. Ontario also says no further invitations will be issued under the former program streams. However, applications already submitted under the former framework should continue to be assessed against the eligibility requirements in effect when Ontario received those applications.

The e-Filing Portal is expected to reopen later in summer 2026.

What is Ontario Workforce Priority?

Ontario Workforce Priority is a new OINP stream focused on Ontario’s workforce needs. Based on the current information, it is centred on job offers, employer participation, and targeted labour market selection.

The stream includes three pathways:

1. TEER 0 to 3 pathway
2. TEER 4 to 5 pathway
3. Self-employed physicians pathway

These pathways are designed for different types of applicants. Some applicants may need a full-time and permanent job offer from an eligible Ontario employer. Some physicians may be able to proceed without a traditional job offer if they meet the physician-specific requirements.

This change is important for foreign workers, international graduates, employers, and health care professionals who were relying on older OINP pathways.

Why did Ontario create Ontario Workforce Priority?

Ontario says the purpose of the redesign is to modernize the OINP and better respond to labour market needs.

In practical terms, Ontario appears to be moving away from a broad set of separate streams and toward a more targeted selection model. The new system gives Ontario greater flexibility to select applicants who align with the province’s current workforce priorities.

This means applicants should not rely only on the old OINP structure. The new system may place greater emphasis on factors such as:

• Whether the applicant has an Ontario job offer
• Whether the employer is eligible
• Whether the job is urgently necessary to the employer’s business
• Whether the wage meets the applicable threshold
• Whether the applicant has recent Ontario work experience
• Whether the applicant meets language, education, licensing, or work experience requirements
• Whether the job is located outside the Greater Toronto Area

TEER 0 to 3 pathway

The TEER 0 to 3 pathway is for workers with job offers in higher-skilled occupations.

TEER refers to Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities under Canada’s National Occupational Classification system. TEER 0, 1, 2, and 3 generally include management, professional, technical, skilled trades, and other occupations that usually require post-secondary education, apprenticeship training, or significant experience.

To qualify for this pathway, an applicant generally needs a full-time, permanent job offer from an eligible Ontario employer in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation.

The applicant must also meet additional requirements. These may include language, education, licensing, and work experience requirements, depending on the occupation and the applicant’s circumstances.

For language, the minimum requirement may be CLB 6 or CLB 5, depending on the occupation. Some recent Ontario graduates may be assessed differently.

For education, applicants may need a post-secondary degree, diploma, or certificate from a program of at least one year of full-time study. If the credential is from outside Canada, the applicant may need an Educational Credential Assessment.

For work experience, the applicant may need to show relevant experience in the same or a related occupation. In some cases, recent work with the same Ontario employer may help.

If the occupation requires licensing or authorization in Ontario, the applicant must hold the required licence or authorization at the time required by the program.

TEER 4 to 5 pathway

The TEER 4 to 5 pathway is for workers in occupations that usually require a secondary school diploma, short-term training, or on-the-job training.

This pathway is important because it creates a route for some workers who may not fit into higher-skilled OINP categories.

To qualify, an applicant generally needs:

• A full-time and permanent job offer from an eligible Ontario employer
• A job offer in a TEER 4 or TEER 5 occupation
• Wages that meet the applicable median wage requirement
• At least 9 months of recent work experience in Ontario
• Work experience in the same job and with the same employer as the qualifying job offer
• A secondary school diploma or equivalent
• At least CLB 4 in English or French

This pathway may help some workers in sectors such as health support, transportation, food processing, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and other labour shortage areas. However, eligibility will depend on the exact NOC code, work history, wage, employer, and program instructions in effect when the person applies.

Applicants should not assume that every TEER 4 or 5 job will qualify. The job offer, employer, wage, work experience, and application timing all matter.

Self-employed physicians pathway

The self-employed physicians pathway is one of the most important parts of the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream.

Many physicians in Ontario work under fee-for-service models or other arrangements that do not always resemble a standard employer-employee job offer. This has historically created challenges under some employer job-offer immigration pathways.

Under the physician pathway, eligible physicians may be able to proceed without a traditional job offer if they meet specific requirements.

A physician may qualify if they:

• Are licensed and in good standing as a physician in Ontario
• Hold an eligible certificate of registration from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
• Are eligible to bill through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan

The certificate of registration may include independent practice, academic practice, or provisional registration. However, physicians should review the exact requirements carefully. Not every medical licence or training arrangement will necessarily qualify.

This pathway may be especially helpful for internationally trained physicians who are already practising in Ontario and meet the provincial licensing and OHIP billing requirements.

Employer requirements

Ontario Workforce Priority is heavily connected to employer eligibility.

For most applicants, having a job offer is not enough. The employer must also qualify.

An eligible employer generally needs to:

• Have a place of business in Ontario
• Have been operating for at least 3 years
• Meet the applicable revenue threshold
• Employ the required number of Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• Have no outstanding orders under major Ontario employment or workplace safety legislation
• Use the Employer Portal process where required

The revenue requirement may depend on where the job is located. Employers in the Greater Toronto Area usually face higher revenue requirements. Employers outside the GTA may have lower thresholds.

This is significant for rural and northern Ontario employers. The redesign appears to recognize that smaller communities may have genuine labour needs, even if employers outside major urban centres have lower revenue than those in the GTA.

Job-offer requirements

A qualifying job offer must generally be:

• Full-time
• Permanent
• For work primarily in Ontario
• In an eligible NOC and TEER category
• Urgently necessary to the employer’s business
• Paid at or above the required wage level

A full-time job generally means at least 1,560 hours per year and at least 30 hours of paid work per week.

A permanent job means the position has no end date. Seasonal, temporary, or contract positions may not qualify.

The wage is also critical. Ontario generally looks at wage data for the occupation and the region where the applicant will work. If the applicant already works for the employer, the wage offered must usually be at least equal to the employer’s current pay and meet the program’s wage requirement.

Applicants and employers should carefully verify the NOC code, job duties, wage, work location, and business need before relying on this stream.

What happens to old OINP EOIs?

Ontario says the Expression of Interest system is closed to new EOIs under the former streams. It also says no further invitations will be issued under the former program streams.

This means a person who was waiting in the old EOI pool should not assume that their old EOI will lead to an invitation.

At this time, the safest approach is to prepare for the new process. Once the e-Filing Portal and EOI system reopen, applicants and employers may need to follow the new Ontario Workforce Priority instructions.

What happens to applications already submitted?

Ontario has indicated that applications already submitted under the former OINP framework will continue to be assessed under the eligibility requirements in place at the time of application.

This is important. A person who already submitted a complete application should not assume that the new rules automatically replace the rules that applied when Ontario received their application.

However, applicants should continue to monitor their OINP file, respond to document requests, maintain temporary status where required, and ensure the job offer or employment conditions remain consistent if the application depends on employment.

Is the Ontario Workforce Priority an Express Entry stream?

Based on the current information, Ontario Workforce Priority appears to operate through Ontario’s Expression of Interest system and the Employer Portal. This means it appears to be a base provincial nominee stream rather than an Express Entry stream.

This distinction matters.

A base provincial nomination is not the same as an Express Entry nomination. If a person receives a base nomination, they usually apply to IRCC for permanent residence through the non-Express Entry Provincial Nominee Class.

A nomination from Ontario does not itself grant permanent residence. It is an important step, but IRCC makes the final decision on permanent residence.

Who may benefit from Ontario Workforce Priority? The

Ontario Workforce Priority may help several groups.

First, it may help workers who already have strong Ontario employment and an employer willing to support them.

Second, it may help employers struggling to retain workers in difficult-to-fill roles.

Third, it may help some workers in TEER 4 and 5 roles, provided they meet the same-employer requirements for work experience, education, language, wage, and job offer.

Fourth, it may help eligible self-employed physicians who meet Ontario licensing and OHIP billing requirements.

Finally, it may help employers outside the GTA, especially in smaller communities, if they meet the revised employer thresholds and have genuine labour needs.

Who may face challenges?

Some applicants may face new challenges under the redesigned OINP.

International graduates without a qualifying Ontario job offer may have fewer immediate options under the first phase of the new system.

Applicants who were relying on old OINP streams should reassess their eligibility. This includes people who expected to apply through the Master’s Graduate, PhD Graduate, Human Capital Priorities, Skilled Trades, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, International Student, Foreign Worker, or In-Demand Skills streams.

Employers may also face challenges. They must be prepared to use the Employer Portal, provide business information, prove eligibility, and support the approval of the employment position.

This makes employer cooperation essential.

What should applicants prepare now?

Applicants should not wait until the Portal reopens to start preparing.

A potential applicant should review and gather the following:

• Passport and current immigration status documents
• Work permits, study permits, or visitor records
• Proof of maintained status, if applicable
• Language test results, if required
• Educational documents and ECA reports, if required
• Detailed employment reference letters
• Pay statements and tax documents
• Job offer details
• NOC code and TEER category analysis
• Proof of Ontario ties
• Licensing documents, if the occupation is regulated
• Documents showing work experience with the same Ontario employer, if relevant

Applicants should also verify whether their job duties match the NOC code, not just the job title. Immigration officers often look beyond titles and assess the actual duties performed.

What should employers prepare now?

Employers should also prepare in advance.

An employer may need to gather:

• Business registration documents
• Corporate tax documents or financial statements
• Payroll records
• Proof of business premises in Ontario
• Employee-count documents
• Job description and organizational chart
• Recruitment evidence, if required
• Wage information
• Employer Portal access
• Information about the offered position

Employers should also ensure that the job offer is genuine, permanent, full-time, and urgently needed by the business.

An employer should not create an artificial job offer only for immigration purposes. The OINP may refuse applications where the job offer is not genuine or where the employer cannot meet the program requirements.

What comes next?

Ontario has described the Ontario Workforce Priority as the first phase of its OINP redesign.

A second phase is expected to introduce additional streams. These may include a priority healthcare stream, an entrepreneur stream, and an exceptional talent stream. However, Ontario has not announced a firm launch date for those streams.

For now, applicants and employers should focus on the Ontario Workforce Priority stream and wait for Ontario to reopen the e-Filing Portal.

Final thoughts

Ontario Workforce Priority is a major development in Ontario’s immigration system.

The new OINP structure appears to favour applicants who can show a clear connection to Ontario’s labour market. It also places more responsibility on employers. A strong job offer, an eligible employer, proper documentation, and accurate NOC analysis will likely be essential.

At the same time, applicants should be careful. The Portal has not fully reopened, and detailed operational instructions may continue to evolve. Therefore, applicants should avoid relying on outdated OINP assumptions.

If you are a worker, employer, international graduate, or physician considering Ontario Workforce Priority, you should review your eligibility carefully before taking the next step.

Parsai Immigration Services will continue to monitor Ontario’s updates and provide further information as the new system becomes operational.

Important note: This article is for general information only. It is not legal advice. OINP requirements may change, and every case depends on its specific facts.

Ontario Workforce Priorities Assessment Form