What replaces the old OINP streams?

Ontario consolidated the nine streams into fewer, more focused pathways. Phase 1 merges the three Employer Job Offer streams into a single stream with two pathways: a Skilled pathway for TEER 0-3 roles and an Essential pathway for lower-TEER roles. Phase 2 introduces new targeted streams aimed at the province's most acute labour shortages, including a Healthcare stream, an Exceptional Talent stream, and a redesigned Entrepreneur stream.

Ontario is rolling out the redesign in two phases, each introducing new pathways aimed at the province's labour market shortages.

Phase 1: OINP Employer Job Offer consolidation

The three legacy OINP employer job offer streams merged into one stream with two pathways:

Skilled Pathway (TEER 0-3):

• Management positions
• Professional roles
• Technical occupations
• Skilled work experience required
• Higher language requirements expected

Essential Pathway (TEER 4-5):

• Sales and service roles
• Trades positions
• Transport occupations
• Labour jobs
• Modified requirements for essential workers

Instead of three separate streams with different rules, applicants use a single Employer Job Offer stream. Pathway assignment depends on your occupation's TEER (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) category, which maps to your National Occupational Classification (NOC) code.

Phase 2: three new OINP streams

OINP Healthcare Stream

A direct pathway for healthcare professionals without a job offer. Eligible candidates must hold valid registration with their Ontario regulatory body and can apply on their own.

Ontario already used this approach with physician-specific OINP draws in early 2026, including a February 2 draw inviting 129 candidates under NOC codes 31100, 31101, and 31102. The new stream formalizes that targeted approach and expands it to include:

• Registered nurses
• Licensed practical nurses
• Allied health professionals
• Healthcare technicians
• Mental health practitioners

Exceptional Talent Stream

A new pathway for high-impact individuals contributing to Ontario's economy outside traditional employment:

• Research scientists and academics
• Technology innovators and entrepreneurs
• Artists and creative professionals with international recognition
• Industry experts and consultants
• Social impact leaders

Candidates are assessed on demonstrated impact, contributions to their field, and likely economic benefit to Ontario. No job offer is required, which makes this stream a fit for self-employed professionals and industry leaders.

One important caution for self-employed applicants: a provincial nomination is one thing, but if you later compete in Express Entry, self-employed income does not count as qualifying work experience for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Federal rules require paid employment (salary or commission) for CEC, so plan your federal options accordingly.

Revamped Entrepreneur Stream

The legacy Entrepreneur stream was redesigned around active business ownership rather than passive investment plans:

• Acquiring and operating existing businesses
• Specific focus on business succession outside the Greater Toronto Area
• Hands-on management and job creation requirements
• Alignment with Ontario's strategy to spread immigration across the province
• Support for rural and northern community development

How do the new OINP targeted draws work?

The OINP director now has regulatory authority to run targeted draws based on specific criteria instead of pulling the highest-scoring candidates from a general pool. Targeting factors include level and field of education, institution location, professional certifications, official language ability, settlement intent, and Ontario work experience. This lets Ontario invite candidates for specific occupations, regions, or qualifications rather than running broad pool selections.

The regulatory changes give the OINP director authority to run targeted draws based on specific criteria:

Educational factors:

• Level of education completed
• Field of study relevance to Ontario's needs
• Institution location (Canadian vs. international)
• Professional certifications and licences

Language and settlement intent:

• Official language proficiency scores
• French language abilities for Francophone streams
• Intent to settle outside the GTA
• Community connections and support networks

Experience and market alignment:

• Specific work experience requirements
• Earnings history and career progression
• Industry experience matching Ontario's labour shortages
• Regional economic development priorities

Recent draws already showed this pattern before the changeover:

• February 18 draw: 1,404 invitations specifically for Skilled Trades
• February 2 draw: 1,649 invitations targeting healthcare and early childhood education

What is the OINP allocation and quota for 2026 in Ontario?

Ontario received 14,119 Provincial Nominee Program nominations from the federal government for 2026, up from 10,750 in 2025. This allocation is set under the federal immigration levels plan, which cut the national PNP target for 2025-2027. With fewer, more focused streams, Ontario can direct these nominations toward the sectors with the most severe labour shortages.

Allocation priorities:

• Healthcare and social services
• Technology and innovation sectors
• Skilled trades and manufacturing
• French-speaking communities
• Rural and northern development

What are the new OINP employer registration requirements?

Employers must now complete a registration process with the OINP director before any candidate they sponsor can submit an OINP application. Registration includes business registration verification, financial stability documentation, and a labour market impact assessment. This is a major change from the legacy system, where employers did not pre-register.

Under the redesigned OINP system, employers complete a registration process with the OINP director before their candidates can submit applications.

Registration requirements:

• Business registration and licensing verification
• Financial stability documentation
• Labour market impact assessment
• Compliance with provincial employment standards
• Commitment to support newcomer integration

Employers planning to hire through the work permit to permanent residence pathway should begin registration immediately to avoid delays.

How do the OINP changes affect current and future applications?

Ontario has confirmed that applications submitted complete before May 30, 2026 are generally assessed under the rules in place when they were filed. Candidates who only held a profile in the pool, without an invitation to apply, transition to the new targeted-draw system. If you can submit a complete application that is still open, do so; if not, plan around the redesigned employer-registration and targeted-draw model.

Applications filed before May 30: Complete applications filed before the changeover are generally assessed under the rules that applied when filed. Applicants should still monitor official communications for transition details. Check immigration processing times regularly for updates.

Planning to apply now: Do not chase a revoked legacy stream. The consolidated and new streams may offer a better pathway for your profile. Use our CRS calculator to assess your Express Entry eligibility as a parallel route.

Healthcare professionals: The dedicated OINP healthcare stream could provide the fastest path to permanent residence. Begin the Ontario regulatory body registration process immediately, since it is a prerequisite for stream eligibility.

International students: With the Master's Graduate and PhD Graduate streams revoked, look at alternatives including Express Entry and the consolidated employer-sponsored pathway. Other Provincial Nominee Programs may also fit your profile.

Employers: Complete the OINP registration process before sponsoring candidates. The new verification rules mean registration must be in place before candidates can apply through employer-supported pathways.

How does Ontario PNP compare to other immigration pathways?

Express Entry remains a viable parallel route with no job offer required for most streams and faster federal processing. Other provincial programs may fit better if your profile aligns with their priorities: British Columbia leans toward tech, Alberta covers a broad range of occupations, and Atlantic provinces run employer-driven programs. Family sponsorship is a separate, non-economic route for those with an eligible Canadian relative.

With these changes, applicants should weigh the OINP against other options:

Express Entry system:

• Federal program with faster processing
• No job offer required for most streams
• Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score-based selection
• Learn more about Express Entry

Other provincial programs:

• British Columbia PNP for tech workers
• Alberta PNP for diverse occupations
• Saskatchewan PNP with lower requirements
• Explore other provincial programs

Family sponsorship:

• Spouse and partner sponsorship
• Parent and Grandparent Program
• Other eligible relationships
• Family immigration options

How should applicants prepare for the OINP transition?

Get your Educational Credential Assessment, language test results, and professional certifications ready now. Push your English and French scores higher, since targeted draws are likely to weight language more heavily, and start gathering Ontario-specific evidence of work experience and settlement intent. For regulated professions, begin the Ontario licensing process early, because registration is a prerequisite for the new Healthcare stream.

Document preparation: Gather essential documents early:

• Educational credential assessments
• Language test results
• Professional certifications
• Work experience letters
• Police clearance certificates

Language requirements: Push your English and French language scores up. The new targeted draws may have higher language requirements, and strong scores matter for competitive selection.

Professional registration: For regulated professions, begin the Ontario licensing process immediately. This matters most for healthcare professionals who want access to the new dedicated stream.

Employer partnerships: If you are pursuing an employer-supported pathway, work with employers who understand the new registration requirements and are committed to supporting the process.

Who can give you paid advice on the OINP changes?

In Canada, only three types of professionals can legally give paid immigration advice or representation: Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) in good standing with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), lawyers who are members of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society, and notaries who are members of the Chambre des notaires du Québec. Ontario paralegals are limited to representation before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB); they cannot provide full paid advice on OINP applications. Always verify your representative's standing before paying for advice.

This is the largest single change in OINP history. It creates real opportunities and real risks for applicants. Our licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) are tracking every step of the transition.

What we do:

• Profile assessment against the new OINP streams
• Timing recommendations for application submission
• Employer registration process guidance
• Alternative pathway evaluation including Express Entry
• Document preparation and application submission
• Case management throughout the process

We serve Iranian and Middle Eastern immigrant communities with practical guidance tailored to each case.

Book a consultation for a case-specific assessment of how the OINP changes affect your strategy. Our licensed consultants will help you map out the best pathway to permanent residence.

For ongoing developments, follow our immigration news updates.

Sources

• Government of Ontario, 2026 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program updates (draw dates, invitation counts, and minimum scores for 2026).
• Government of Ontario, OINP invitations to apply.
• Government of Ontario, OINP streams.
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Immigrate as a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidate.
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Immigrate through Express Entry.
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Express Entry rounds of invitations.
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Find your National Occupational Classification (NOC) code.
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Notice: Supplementary Information for the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan.
• College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, public register of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants.