- Ontario has opened applications for its new Workforce Priority Stream under the OINP.
- Eligible foreign workers with qualifying job offers can now submit an Expression of Interest for permanent residence.
- The new immigration pathway includes routes for higher-skilled workers, lower-skilled workers, and self-employed physicians.
The Canadian province of Ontario has officially opened applications for its new Workforce Priority Stream, creating another pathway for eligible foreign workers seeking permanent residence through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
Eko Hot Blog reports that the application portal became accessible on August 4, allowing qualified foreign nationals to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through Ontario’s e-Filing Portal.
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Applicants must be linked to a valid job offer from an eligible employer in the province before they can register.
The Workforce Priority Stream, introduced as part of Ontario’s immigration reforms, is designed to address labour shortages by attracting skilled professionals and essential workers from around the world.
According to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, the stream consists of three categories: a pathway for higher-skilled workers, another for lower-skilled workers, and a dedicated route for self-employed physicians who are licensed to practise in Ontario and eligible to bill the province’s public healthcare insurance plan, OHIP.
To qualify for nomination, applicants must create an Expression of Interest connected to a qualifying job offer submitted by an eligible employer through the OINP Employer Portal.
Although the Workforce Priority Stream was launched on June 26, 2026, candidates were unable to enter the selection pool until the online application portal became operational this week.
Ontario authorities said all active EOIs will be assessed using a points-based ranking system introduced on July 20, 2026. Invitations to apply for provincial nomination will be issued periodically through selection draws.
The province noted that each Expression of Interest will remain valid for up to 12 months. Candidates who do not receive an invitation within that period will be required to submit a new EOI if they wish to remain eligible for future draws.
Applicants who receive an invitation will have 17 calendar days to submit a complete application, while their employers must seek approval for the employment position within 14 calendar days.
Successful nominees under the job offer streams will receive a provincial support letter, enabling them to apply for a federal work permit while their permanent residence application is being processed.
Ontario also stated that applicants under the higher-skilled worker category and the self-employed physician pathway may qualify for the Enhanced Provincial Nominee Program linked to Canada’s Express Entry system, potentially reducing permanent residence processing times.
The Workforce Priority Stream is the first immigration route introduced following Ontario’s major restructuring of the OINP, after all previous streams were closed on May 30, 2026.
Provincial authorities added that more immigration pathways, including the Priority Healthcare Worker Stream, Entrepreneur Stream, and Exceptional Talent Stream, are expected to be launched during the next phase of the programme’s modernisation.
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