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What is the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)?

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is the province’s economic immigration program that nominates eligible workers for permanent residence in Ontario. The program looks at a nominee’s specific work skills, experience, education level and other qualifications to address the province’s labour market needs.

The OINP works with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to nominate people who have the skills and experience needed for Ontario’s economy. The Government of Canada makes the final decision to approve permanent residence applications.

If Ontario nominates you, you must apply to IRCC for permanent residence within the required deadline. To become a permanent resident through the OINP, you must intend to live and work in Ontario and prove that you intend to do so. See the list of ways you can demonstrate you intend to work and live in Ontario.

As of June 2026, the following former pathways are no longer available and have been replaced with a new stream called the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWP):

Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream
Employer Job Offer: International Student stream
Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream
Master's Graduate stream
PhD Graduate stream

Note: If your application was in the system before June 2026, it will be processed according to the criteria for the legacy streams above. You do not need to reapply through the new OWP stream.

Ontario Workforce Priority Stream

The Ontario Workforce Priority stream helps eligible skilled foreign workers apply for permanent residence in Ontario. To qualify, applicants must have experience in an eligible National Occupation Classification (NOC) occupation and a permanent, full-time job offer from an Ontario employer.

Applicants are ranked against other nominee candidates based on their work profiles and Ontario’s labour market needs. Those who best match Ontario’s workforce priorities may receive an invitation to apply.

This is also available to eligible self-employed physicians without a job offer. See more on the rules for “Self-Employed Physicians” in the section below.

How to Apply

If you have a qualifying permanent, full-time job in Ontario, the process is as follows:

Your employer registers its business through the OINP Employer Porta l and submits the job offer for approval.
You receive a job-offer ID and use it to register an Expression of Interest (EOI) within 30 calendar days.
Ontario ranks eligible EOI profiles and may invite selected candidates to apply.
If invited, your employer submits an application for approval of the employment position, and you submit your nomination application and supporting documents within the deadlines set by OINP.
If Ontario approves the job position and your application, you will receive a provincial nomination.
You then apply to IRCC for permanent residence. IRCC makes the final decision.

Self-employed Physicians

As a self-employed physician, you are eligible to apply if you meet the following requirements:

you have an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) billing number and are eligible to receive payment for publicly funded health services.
you’re a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in good standing with a certificate in one of the following classes:

certificates of registration authorizing independent practice
certificates of registration authorizing academic practice
provisional certificates of registration

Eligible self-employed physicians do not need to meet the job-offer or employer requirements. Postgraduate education licence holders are not eligible to apply as self-employed physicians. They may be eligible to apply to the Ontario Workforce Priority stream with a job offer from an Ontario employer.

How Ontario Selects Applicants

For most applicants, the province considers:

If an applicant has a qualifying full-time, permanent job offer in Ontario (the exception is for self-employed physicians).
If work experience that matches the stream requirements for the offered role.
The required language ability and education.
Any licences or authorizations required for the job.
Legal immigration status within Canada. You must have a work or study permit or a visitor record.
Evidence that you intend to live and work in Ontario.
An employer whose business and job offer meet OINP requirements.

For More Information

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) - Information about Ontario's Provincial Nominee Program. From the Ontario Immigration website.
Provincial Nominees - Information about the Provincial Nominee Program across Canada. Eligibility requirements for this program can differ in each province. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
National Occupation Classification (NOC) - The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is the nationally accepted guide to occupations in Canada.
IRCC Help Centre - A tool that helps answer frequently asked questions on immigration matters. It offers several ways of searching through the information available, including search by keyword. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).