Ontario Opens EOI Portal for New Workforce Priority Stream – Major OINP Redesign Takes Effect

Editorial Team
3 days ago
4 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

TORONTO, August 4, 2026 — Ontario has officially opened the Expression of Interest (EOI) portal for its newly redesigned Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), launching the Ontario Workforce Priority (OWP) stream as the first pathway under the province's most significant immigration overhaul in recent years.

Effective August 4, 2026, eligible foreign nationals can now register an EOI through Ontario's e-Filing Portal, linked to a qualifying job offer from an eligi ble Ontario employer. The opening ends a five-week waiting period that began when the stream was first announced on June 26, 2026, without a functioning online portal.

Published: August 4, 2026 | By VisasUpdate.com Editorial Team

Ontario Workforce Priority stream EOI portal opens 2026 – infographic showing three pathways, 130-point scoring system, 17-day application deadline, and key eligibility requirements for Ontario's redesigned OINP. — Ontario opens EOI portal for new Workforce Priority stream under OINP redesign from August 4, 2026.

What Is the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream?

The Ontario Workforce Priority stream is the first pathway launched under Ontario's redesigned OINP, which replaced the province's previous eight nomination streams with a streamlined structure. The regulatory changes were made through amendments to Ontario Regulation 422/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015.

Aspect	Details
Launch Date	June 26, 2026 (regulatory change)
EOI Portal Opens	August 4, 2026
Replaces	8 former OINP streams
Legal Basis	Ontario Regulation 422/17 amendments
Next Phase	3 additional streams expected

"Targeted skilled immigration is key to building our workforce and securing Ontario's economic future. Our government is updating the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program to prioritize individuals with employment and experience who can swiftly aid in safeguarding Ontario's economy."— David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

Three Pathways Under the OWP Stream

The Ontario Workforce Priority stream consists of three distinct pathways:

Pathway	Eligibility
Higher-Skilled Workers	Job offer in TEER 0–3 occupations
Lower-Skilled Workers	Job offer in TEER 4–5 occupations
Self-Employed Physicians	Registered to practise in Ontario and eligible to bill OHIP

Higher-Skilled Workers (TEER 0–3)

Full-time, permanent job offer in Ontario
At least 6 months of continuous work experience in that job in the past year, OR 2 years of cumulative experience in the same occupation over the past 5 years
Recent Ontario graduates: only 3 months of experience required
Language score: at least CLB 6 (or CLB 5 for some occupations)

Lower-Skilled Workers (TEER 4–5)

Recent work experience with the employer offering the job
Secondary school education or equivalent
Minimum language score: CLB 4

Self-Employed Physicians

No job offer required
Must hold registration and be in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Must hold an accepted certificate of registration
Must be eligible to bill the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)

How the EOI Scoring System Works

Ontario published its 130-point scoring framework on July 20, 2026. Candidates will be ranked based on:

Scoring Factor	Weight
Ontario Work Experience	High
Canadian Income-Tax History	High
Wages	Points awarded
Official-Language Proficiency	Points awarded
Bilingualism	Additional points
Job Offer Location	Regional points for outside Toronto
Education	Points awarded
Occupation	Health occupations receive highest points
Temporary Resident Status	Work permit holders receive more points than study permit holders

Physicians who are self-employed are evaluated using a revised scoring system that omits the wage component and allocates work-experience points based on their total medical practice in Ontario.

Application Process: Step by Step

For Job Offer Candidates

Step	Action	Deadline
1	Employer registers job offer through OINP Employer Portal	—
2	Candidate creates EOI through e-Filing Portal	—
3	Ontario ranks candidates and issues invitations	Periodic draws
4	Invited candidate submits complete application	17 calendar days
5	Employer applies for employment position approval	14 calendar days from invitation

Important Timelines

EOI Validity: 12 months from submission
Re-Registration: Candidates who are not invited within 12 months need to submit a new EOI
Processing: Applications already submitted under former streams continue under previous rules

What Happened to the Old Streams?

Ontario shut down all former OINP streams on May 30, 2026. The province will:

Withdraw existing EOIs that did not receive an invitation to apply
Issue no further invitations under former streams
Continue processing applications already submitted under previous rules

The former eight streams included:

Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream
Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream
Masters Graduate stream
PhD Graduate stream
Express Entry-linked streams (Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, Skilled Trades)

Employer Benefits: New Rural Revenue Thresholds

The redesign introduces lower revenue thresholds for employers in eligible rural communities (defined as census divisions with populations of less than 150,000), potentially expanding access to the program for smaller Northern and rural businesses.

What's Next? Phase 2 of OINP Redesign

Ontario has indicated that the Workforce Priority stream is Phase 1 of a broader redesign. The remaining three streams are expected to be launched later in 2026:

Future Stream	Target
Priority Healthcare Worker Stream	Healthcare professionals
Entrepreneur Stream	Business investors
Exceptional Talent Stream	High-achievers in science, technology, innovation, academia, arts