What is the OINP?
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is Ontario's provincial nominee program. It lets the province nominate candidates for Canadian permanent residence based on its own labour market needs. Ontario nominates; IRCC decides permanent residence.
Is an OINP nomination the same as permanent residence?
No. A nomination is Ontario's recommendation. You still apply to IRCC afterwards, either through Express Entry or the paper based process, and IRCC runs its own medical, security and admissibility checks.
What happened to the old OINP streams?
All eight were closed on June 26, 2026 and replaced by the single Ontario Workforce Priority stream. Expressions of interest sitting in the pool under the old streams were withdrawn rather than transferred.
Can I still apply as a master's or PhD graduate?
Not on the strength of the degree alone. The Master's and PhD Graduate streams closed in June 2026. Your degree now earns points within the Workforce Priority stream, but you need an eligible Ontario job offer like everyone else.
Do I need a job offer?
Yes, unless you are a self employed physician with an OHIP billing number and an eligible certificate from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Physicians are the only pathway that does not require an employer.
What language level do I need?
CLB or NCLC 6 in all four abilities for TEER 0 to 3 job offers, CLB 5 for listed skilled trades, and CLB 4 for TEER 4 to 5 offers. Results must be less than two years old. These are minimums for eligibility; higher levels also earn points.
How much work experience do I need?
Six months of consecutive experience in the job offer position for TEER 0 to 3, or nine months cumulative within the last two years for TEER 4 to 5. The experience must be in the same occupation as your job offer.
Can I apply from outside Canada?
Yes, if you meet every requirement including the job offer. Be aware you start with zero on Ontario work experience, legal status and tax history: 36 points that are simply unavailable from abroad.
Does my employer have to qualify too?
Yes, and they file first. Employers must generally have at least three years in business, meet revenue and staffing thresholds that vary by location, operate from physical premises in Ontario, show recruitment effort and be in good standing with employment law.
How many points is the OINP out of?
130 points across 11 factors. Self employed physicians max out at 115 because the hourly wage factor does not apply to them.
What score do I need to be invited?
No score has been published, because no draws have been held under the new stream. Any site quoting a cut off for the Workforce Priority stream is either guessing or citing a closed stream's data.
Is age scored in the OINP?
No. Unlike the federal CRS, the OINP grid contains no age factor at all. This makes the provincial route structurally better for applicants over 35 who have an Ontario job offer.
How much are region points worth?
Up to 15. Northern Ontario scores 15, Eastern, Southwestern and Central Ontario outside the GTA score 10, the GTA excluding Toronto scores 5, and the City of Toronto scores 0. It is based on the work location in your job offer.
How is language scored?
On your lowest ability across listening, reading, writing and speaking. CLB 9 or higher earns 15 points, CLB 8 earns 12, CLB 7 earns 8 and CLB 6 earns 4. One weak band caps the entire factor.
Which year of income tax counts?
Your highest annual earnings on a CRA Notice of Assessment within the last five years, not your most recent year. $70,000 or more earns the maximum 8 points.
How long do I have to register my EOI?
About 30 days from when your employer files the job offer. If you are invited, you then have roughly 17 days to submit the full nomination application with supporting documents.
How does the OINP connect to Express Entry?
If your job offer is TEER 0 to 3, or you are a self employed physician, you can choose to be nominated through Express Entry. An accepted nomination adds 600 CRS points, which in practice guarantees an invitation at the next federal draw.
Can I apply to the OINP and Express Entry at the same time?
Yes, and it is usually sensible. Keeping an Express Entry profile active costs nothing and gives you a second route. Just keep the information in both consistent; mismatches are a genuine refusal risk.
What happens if my application is refused?
You can request an internal review within the stated deadline, or address the deficiency and reapply if the underlying issue is fixable. Most refusals trace back to documentation or employer eligibility rather than to score.
When will the EOI system reopen?
Ontario has indicated the system reopens in summer 2026 but has not confirmed a date. We log every announcement on the draw history page as it is published.