Ontario is preparing a large-scale reform of the immigration system in 2026

The province of Ontario is planning to completely overhaul its provincial immigration system. Most existing programs will be shut down, but brand new pathways to permanent residence will open up as early as 2026.

This became possible after Bill 30 was passed — a law that gave the minister the power to quickly change immigration streams without separate legislation. The law has been in effect since late November 2025.

Why the reform is happening

After closing the stream for trade occupations due to fraud, the government audited the entire program and concluded: the system is overloaded with streams, poorly protected, and can't keep up with the labor market. Nine streams will become four with a fundamentally new selection process.

The province isn't just changing streams — it's strengthening checks on employers and applicants. Fake job offers and falsified experience will now be filtered out much more strictly.

Two-phase reform

According to the draft regulation, which is currently under public consultation until January 1st, the reform will roll out in two phases. The format and logic will almost certainly remain the same, but individual criteria — language, occupation lists for targeted draws, business requirements — may change.

In the first phase, three existing immigration streams for workers with job offers will merge into one large stream with two tracks — for skilled workers and for trade occupations.

In the second phase, the familiar streams for university graduates and draws through the federal Express Entry system will disappear, but three new pathways will appear. One of them is expected to not require a job offer.

There are no official dates yet — Ontario is talking about a phased rollout throughout 2026. The first phase is expected to launch in the first half of the year, with the second phase closer to fall.

Phase one: new stream for workers

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Three immigration streams are merging into one — a stream for workers with job offers. Within it, there will be two tracks based on occupation skill level.

The first track — for occupations at TEER levels 0 to 3 (skilled workers: doctors, engineers, IT specialists, managers, accountants). The second track — for occupations at TEER levels 4 and 5 (trade occupations: caregivers, laborers, packers, production helpers, delivery drivers, servers).

TEER — is Canada's system for classifying occupations by level of required education, experience, and responsibility.

Track for skilled workers

The main requirement — a job offer with a salary no lower than the median for that occupation in Ontario. Median salary is the middle of the distribution: half the people in the occupation earn more, half earn less. The offer must be at least at this level.

Median salary depends on the specific occupation code and even region. For example, for programmers in Ontario it's around $75,000 CAD per year, for project managers — around $80,000 CAD, for nurses — $65,000-70,000 CAD. Current figures can be checked on Job Bank.

Exception: if the candidate is a graduate of an Ontario educational institution within the last two years, they'll be allowed a salary at the lower end of the range (below median). This is designed to make it easier for employers to hire recent graduates.

The second requirement — work experience. You need to meet at least one of three options: work in Ontario with the same employer for at least 6 months in the position from the job offer, at least 2 years of experience in this occupation within the last 5 years (in Canada or abroad), or holding a valid Ontario license for a regulated profession (doctors, nurses, engineers, electricians).

Important note: if the candidate has already been working in Ontario for 6 months with the employer providing the job offer, the post-secondary education requirement is waived.

Employers will submit data through a special portal, so without real employer support, this program won't work.

Track for trade occupations

The second track — for TEER 4 and 5 occupations. Previously, opportunities to immigrate through Ontario for trade occupations were very limited and only for a narrow list of jobs. Now a real opportunity is opening up.

Key requirement: the candidate must have worked for the employer in Ontario for at least 9 months in the position for which they're getting a permanent job offer. This is an integrity check — the government wants to make sure the job is real and the employer genuinely needs the employee.

The second requirement — minimum level of English or French. The specific level hasn't been announced yet, most likely it will be CLB 4-6.

Technically all TEER 4 and 5 occupations qualify without exceptions, but the province will conduct targeted draws. This means only those occupations the province selects as priorities based on labor market needs will be invited. Construction, manufacturing, care services, and agriculture will likely get priority.

Simply getting a job offer isn't enough — the occupation and region need to match the province's priorities at the time of the draw.

Special pathway for construction workers

Construction workers who are union members will be able to immigrate through a simplified procedure. They won't even need a permanent job offer from a specific employer — union membership and proof of employment will be enough.

This is being done because of the catastrophic shortage of construction workers in Ontario. The province is building housing at a massive pace, and there aren't enough workers.

Phase two: three new streams

After launching the new stream for workers with job offers, the government plans to close almost all other programs and open three completely new ones.

They plan to close: streams for master's and PhD graduates, all streams through the federal selection system (including the francophone stream). The stream for trade occupations was already closed in November.

Important clarification: the federal Express Entry system isn't going anywhere. Only Ontario's nomination streams from this system's pool are disappearing. You can no longer count on an invitation from Ontario through Express Entry — you need to go through federal draws directly or go through the stream with a job offer.

Ontario graduates without job offers will have a harder time because the graduate streams are going away. But for those already working in the province or those with TEER 4-5 and real experience, a new pathway is actually opening up.

Priority stream for healthcare workers

The first new stream — a priority stream for healthcare workers. What makes it unique: no job offer required.

A doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other licensed healthcare professional can get an Ontario license and immediately apply for provincial nomination without a job offer from a specific employer.

Ontario has a massive shortage of healthcare workers. Millions of provincial residents can't find a family doctor, hospitals are operating under critical overload. The government is making the path as simple as possible for healthcare workers.

The program will also be open to graduates of healthcare programs who are in the final stages of getting licensed. A full license isn't mandatory — being in the process and close to the finish line is enough.

Stream for entrepreneurs

The second new stream — for entrepreneurs. Ontario used to have a business immigration program, but it was closed several years ago. Now it's coming back in a new format.

Key difference: you don't need to write a business plan and wait for approval before moving. Instead, the candidate must already be actually running a business in Ontario.

Two options: start a new business in the province and actively manage it, or buy an existing business and run it.

There's particular interest in the second option — business succession. Many small business owners in Canada are aging and want to sell their companies, but they can't find buyers. For immigrants who purchase such a business, this opens a path to permanent residence.

The requirements for investment amounts, number of jobs, and regions haven't been disclosed yet. The logic is clear: the province wants capital, jobs, and economic development, especially in regions outside of Toronto.

Exceptional Talent Stream

The third new stream is the most unusual. There's no points system and no formal criteria like "X years of experience" or "Y level of education." Instead, it's based on expert assessment of achievements and potential.

The province is looking for world-class people in science, technology, innovation, culture, arts, and entrepreneurship. Examples from the official document: a researcher with patents and international grants, an artist or director with prestigious international awards, a startup founder with proven global success, a scientist with significant academic publications, recognized works of art with international impact.

Ontario's immigration minister said the province was losing valuable candidates who didn't fit standard programs: a talented artist without a university degree, a self-taught entrepreneur without formal work experience, a scientist with unique developments but no Canadian job offer.

This stream isn't for "good professionals" — it's for truly exceptional cases. It will be a small stream with only a handful of people getting through, but for them it will be the shortest path.

What's Happening with Current Applications

The government hasn't given a clear answer about the fate of applications submitted under existing programs. Official documents say: transition details will be determined later. There may be transitional rules for already submitted applications, but there aren't any yet.

Recent precedent: in November they closed the stream for trades through the federal selection system, and all applications were returned. Money was refunded, but time and effort — lost.

Bill 30 explicitly allows the province to return applications if priorities change. This is now the government's legal right. If your application is currently in process — you should prepare a backup plan: improve your points in the federal system, look for employers, learn French.

What to Do Right Now

For some people doors are closing, but for others — they're opening. The key is not to panic, but to adapt correctly.

If you have the opportunity to submit an application under an existing program before it closes — do it as quickly as possible. While the program is still alive, there's a chance.

Graduates of Ontario colleges or universities need to urgently find an employer, because direct streams for graduates are planned to be closed. A job offer will become the only way.

Healthcare workers should start the licensing process right now. The new stream for healthcare professionals will be the fastest and easiest, but a license is required, and getting one can take a year or more.

Those working in Canada on a work visa in TEER 4 or 5 occupations need to make sure they'll have 9 months of experience with an employer by the time the program launches. A real chance for permanent residence is appearing.

Entrepreneurs should study the Ontario market: what businesses can be purchased, which regions have shortages, which sectors are priorities.

If you need help developing an immigration strategy for Ontario's new programs, book a consultation with an immigration consultant.