Ontario has officially opened the expression-of-interest portal for its new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.
The portal became available on August 4, 2026, allowing eligible foreign workers and self-employed physicians to enter the selection process for provincial nomination.
The new stream forms the first phase of Ontario’s redesigned provincial immigration system. It replaces the eight former Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program streams that were removed during the 2026 restructuring.
For most candidates, the stream is employer-driven. An eligible Ontario employer must first register its business and submit information about the employment position through the Employer Portal.
The candidate then receives a job offer ID and uses it to register an expression of interest through the OINP e-Filing Portal.
Registering an expression of interest does not guarantee an invitation, provincial nomination or permanent residence.
Quick Answer
| Portal opening date | August 4, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Program | Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program |
| New stream | Ontario Workforce Priority Stream |
| EOI registration fee | No fee |
| Deadline after employer submits job offer | 30 calendar days |
| EOI validity | Up to 12 months |
Workers with eligible job offers in TEER categories 0 to 5 can potentially register. Eligible self-employed physicians may also participate without a conventional employer job offer.
What Has Ontario Opened?
Ontario has opened the online expression-of-interest system for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.
The stream is currently the province’s primary OINP pathway for skilled foreign workers with qualifying Ontario employment.
Ontario’s former immigration streams are closed to new expressions of interest. Applications that were already submitted under a former stream will continue to be assessed using the requirements that applied when the application was filed.
The new system combines workers from different occupational skill levels under one stream while applying different requirements according to the TEER category of the job offer.
Three Pathways Under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream
| Pathway | General applicant profile | Job offer |
|---|---|---|
| TEER 0–3 pathway | Skilled workers in managerial, professional, technical and skilled-trade occupations | Required |
| TEER 4–5 pathway | Workers in intermediate, service, labour and other eligible occupations | Required |
| Self-employed physician pathway | Eligible physicians registered to practise and bill under Ontario’s public health system | Not required |
All applicants must demonstrate a genuine intention to live and work in Ontario after receiving permanent residence.
How to Register an OINP Expression of Interest
- The employer registers its business. The Ontario employer begins the process through the OINP Employer Portal.
- The employer submits the job offer. Information about the position, wage, location, duties and worker is entered in the portal.
- The worker receives a job offer ID. Ontario automatically emails the reference number to the candidate.
- The candidate registers an EOI. The candidate enters the job offer ID and required personal information through the e-Filing Portal.
- The EOI enters the selection pool. Ontario assigns points using the information provided in the profile.
- Ontario conducts invitation rounds. The province may invite candidates through general or targeted selections.
The candidate must register the EOI within 30 calendar days after the employer submits the job offer.
If the deadline is missed, the job offer expires in the system and the employer must submit a new offer before the candidate can register.
There is no government fee to register an EOI. A profile can remain in the selection pool for up to 12 months.
Requirements for TEER 0–3 Job Offers
Candidates with a job offer in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation must generally meet one of Ontario’s work-experience or licensing options.
Work-experience options
- At least six months of consecutive, paid, full-time experience in the offered position during the previous 12 months;
- At least three months of consecutive experience in the offered position for an eligible recent Ontario graduate;
- At least two years of cumulative paid experience in the same NOC occupation during the previous five years; or
- A valid mandatory licence or authorization required for the employment position.
Special rules apply to transport truck drivers and bus or transit operators. These candidates must generally meet the six-month consecutive experience requirement even when they hold a mandatory licence.
Language requirement
- CLB 6 in all four abilities for most TEER 0–3 occupations;
- CLB 5 in all four abilities for specified skilled-trade occupations;
- No language test may be required for an eligible recent Ontario graduate who holds one of the specified Ontario credentials.
Education requirement
Most candidates need a Canadian post-secondary credential of at least one academic year or an equivalent foreign credential.
Candidates in listed skilled trades may qualify with a Canadian secondary school diploma or its foreign equivalent.
Foreign education generally requires an Educational Credential Assessment that is less than five years old when the application is submitted.
Requirements for TEER 4–5 Job Offers
Candidates with a job offer in a TEER 4 or 5 occupation must generally have at least nine months of cumulative, paid, full-time experience in the employment position described in the job offer.
The experience must have been gained during the two years before the application was submitted.
Language requirement
Applicants must generally achieve at least CLB 4 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Education requirement
Applicants must hold a Canadian secondary school diploma or an equivalent foreign credential.
Foreign secondary education generally requires a valid Educational Credential Assessment.
Language Tests Accepted by Ontario
| Language | Accepted tests |
|---|---|
| English | IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General and PTE Core |
| French | TEF Canada and TCF Canada |
IELTS Academic, IELTS One Skill Retake and PTE Academic are not accepted for this stream.
Required test results must normally be less than two years old when the application is submitted.
Pathway for Self-Employed Physicians
Eligible self-employed physicians can participate in the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream without a traditional employer job offer.
Supporting evidence can include:
- A Certificate of Registration from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario;
- Proof of registration for an Ontario Health Insurance Plan billing number;
- Evidence concerning the physician’s Ontario practice and billing history;
- Documents supporting any EOI points claimed for Ontario medical practice.
Physicians use a different initial process and may need to contact the OINP through its webform to begin their EOI registration.
How Ontario Ranks EOI Profiles
Ontario assigns points based on employment, education, language, immigration status and regional factors.
Scoring factors can include:
- The TEER category of the occupation;
- The broad occupational category;
- The hourly wage offered;
- Ontario work experience;
- Canadian earnings history;
- Valid work or study status in Canada;
- Highest level of education;
- Number of Canadian credentials;
- English or French proficiency;
- Knowledge of both official languages;
- The Ontario location of the employment position.
Regional points
| Job location | Points |
|---|---|
| Northern Ontario | 15 |
| Eastern Ontario | 10 |
| Central Ontario outside the GTA | 10 |
| Southwestern Ontario | 10 |
| Inside the GTA but outside Toronto | 5 |
| City of Toronto | 0 |
Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee an invitation. Ontario may target specific occupations, regions or other labour-market attributes during an invitation round.
What Happens After an Invitation?
Strict deadlines apply after Ontario issues an invitation to apply.
| Party | Required action | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | Apply for approval of the employment position | 14 calendar days |
| Candidate | Submit nomination application and pay the fee | 17 calendar days |
The candidate may prepare the application during the 17-day period but cannot submit it until the employer has submitted the employment-position application.
Application fees
- $1,500 when the job offer is outside the Greater Toronto Area;
- $2,000 when the job offer is inside the Greater Toronto Area.
The GTA includes Toronto and the Durham, Halton, Peel and York regions.
Express Entry and the 600-Point Nomination
Candidates applying through the TEER 0–3 pathway and eligible self-employed physicians may have the option to receive their nomination through Express Entry.
The candidate must qualify for a federal Express Entry program and maintain a valid Express Entry profile during the provincial process.
After Ontario enters the nomination in the Express Entry system, the candidate has 30 calendar days to accept or reject it.
Accepting a provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points to the Express Entry profile.
Candidates in the TEER 4–5 pathway generally continue through the non-Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program process.
Important Points for Candidates and Employers
- The portal opening is not an invitation to submit a full nomination application immediately.
- The employer normally has to begin the process before the worker can register an EOI.
- The job offer ID must be used within 30 calendar days.
- Information declared in the EOI must be supported with documents after an invitation.
- Incorrect wage, NOC, location or work-experience information can affect eligibility and EOI points.
- Provincial nomination does not guarantee federal permanent residence.
How Always Canada Group Can Help
Always Canada Group is a Canadian immigration consultancy led by Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants.
Our Ontario immigration services may include:
- Reviewing preliminary Workforce Priority Stream eligibility;
- Confirming the applicable TEER pathway;
- Reviewing the Ontario job offer and NOC code;
- Assessing work-experience requirements;
- Reviewing language and education requirements;
- Reviewing potential EOI scoring factors;
- Preparing or reviewing the expression of interest;
- Reviewing employer-supporting documents;
- Preparing the provincial nomination application;
- Preparing the federal permanent residence application.
Always Canada Group cannot guarantee an invitation, nomination, work permit or permanent residence approval.
Provincial decisions remain with the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. Final permanent residence decisions remain with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Book an Ontario immigration consultation with Always Canada Group to review your job offer, occupation and eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the new OINP portal open?
The expression-of-interest portal for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream opened on August 4, 2026.
Can a worker register before the employer submits the job offer?
Generally no. The employer must first submit the job offer through the Employer Portal so that the worker can receive the required job offer ID.
How long does a candidate have to register the EOI?
The candidate has 30 calendar days after the employer submits the job offer.
Is there a fee to register an OINP EOI?
No government fee is charged to register an expression of interest. Application fees apply only after an invitation to apply.
How long does an EOI remain active?
An expression of interest can remain in the selection pool for up to 12 months.
Can TEER 4 and 5 workers register?
Yes. The stream includes a pathway for qualifying job offers in TEER categories 4 and 5.
Do self-employed physicians require a job offer?
Eligible self-employed physicians can apply without a traditional job offer, but they must meet Ontario’s medical registration and OHIP billing requirements.
Does registering an EOI guarantee an invitation?
No. Ontario ranks eligible profiles and decides when to hold general or targeted invitation rounds.
Final Takeaway
Ontario’s new Workforce Priority expression-of-interest portal is now open.
For candidates applying with a job offer, the employer must initiate the process through the Employer Portal before the worker can register.
The worker then has 30 calendar days to register the EOI using the job offer ID.
Candidates should confirm their TEER pathway, work experience, education, language results and EOI score before submitting information through the portal.
Book a consultation with Always Canada Group to review your Ontario immigration eligibility.
