Ontario is reforming the provincial immigration program

Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development has amended Ontario Regulation 422/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015. The changes came into effect on June 26, 2026, and significantly reshape the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). Eight previously existing streams have been eliminated and replaced with a single stream called Ontario Workforce Priority.

The Expression of Interest system for the new stream is expected to open later in the summer of 2026. This is the first of two phases in the planned program overhaul, so further clarifications to the rules should be expected in the coming months.

Why the reform was needed

The province explains the changes through several objectives. The reform aims to simplify the path to permanent residence for those who already have a job arrangement in Ontario and help employers retain proven specialists in hard-to-fill positions. At the same time, new requirements are being introduced, including higher language and education thresholds: authorities want to raise the caliber of nominated candidates and strengthen program integrity. Special attention is given to rural and northern areas. For employers in these locations, more flexible annual revenue thresholds are provided, making it easier for them to hire foreign workers.

The ministry notes that the changes take into account feedback collected through Ontario's regulatory registry and additional consultations. The new stream provides pathways both for applicants with a job offer in any National Occupational Classification (NOC) category by Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) level, and for self-employed physicians.

The amendments also change how violation notices are issued. This is part of the ministry's ongoing work to strengthen oversight through more thorough screening, inspections, and enforcement measures against bad actors.

What to do if you've already applied

The Expression of Interest system is closed for new profiles. No more invitations will be issued under the eliminated streams. Profiles and job offers registered under the previous streams that did not result in an invitation to apply will be automatically withdrawn in the coming weeks while electronic platforms for profiles and applications are updated. Affected candidates, employers, and representatives will receive direct notification.

Candidates and employers are encouraged to familiarize themselves in advance with the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream and its requirements. Eligible candidates will be able to submit a new profile under this stream once the system reopens. Employers who previously registered in the employer portal will not need to re-register. However, once the portal opens, they will need to resubmit a job offer and a new position approval application to initiate a new profile for their candidate under the new stream.

If an application was submitted following an invitation issued under one of the previous streams, it will continue to be processed under the rules that were in effect at the time of submission.

What the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream consists of

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The stream is divided into several pathways depending on occupation category and whether there's a job offer.

TEER 0-3 pathway

This pathway is designed for skilled workers with international training in any occupation in TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 who have a permanent full-time job offer in Ontario. Minimum requirements include work experience, language, and education.

For work experience, the candidate must meet one of these conditions:

• 6 consecutive months in the last 12 months in the position from the job offer and with the same employer;
• for recent graduates of Ontario educational institutions, 3 consecutive months in the last 12 months in that position with the same employer is sufficient;
• or 2 years cumulative in the last 5 years in an occupation from the corresponding NOC code.

Candidates who hold a professional license are exempt from this experience requirement. For language, CLB 6 level (Canadian Language Benchmark) is required, though CLB 5 is acceptable for certain occupations. For education, a post-secondary diploma or degree is required. Alternative criteria may apply for some occupations, so details should be verified directly in the regulation text.

Self-employed physician pathway

Physicians in independent practice can apply for the Ontario Workforce Priority stream without a job offer. To do so, they must simultaneously meet three conditions: be a member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, hold a valid certificate of registration in one of the eligible classes (independent, academic, or temporary), and be eligible to bill through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).

TEER 4-5 pathway

This pathway is open to workers in any occupation in TEER categories 4 and 5 who have a permanent full-time job offer in Ontario. For work experience, 9 months cumulative in the last 2 years in the position from the job offer with the same employer is required. For language, CLB 4 level is sufficient, and for education, a Canadian high school diploma or its equivalent is needed.

For all pathways in the new stream, employers from rural communities will be subject to reduced gross annual revenue requirements. A rural community under the program is defined as a location in a census area with a population under 150,000.

Changes to compliance enforcement

The program has shortened the response time for those issued a notice of intent to impose an Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMP) or issue a prohibition order. Previously, 60 days were allowed for a response; now it's only 30. The amendments also allow violation notices to be sent by email, regular mail, or in person, and such notices are deemed delivered without needing to confirm receipt.

The ministry explains that these changes bring the timelines and procedures for penalty and prohibition notices in line with other program processes, such as notices of intent to refuse an application or revoke a nomination. The goal is to take action more quickly when violations occur.

Which streams are closed

As part of the program restructuring, the following streams have been discontinued:

• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker;
• Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills;
• Employer Job Offer: International Student;
• Master's Graduate;
• PhD Graduate;
• Express Entry Human Capital Priorities;
• Express Entry French-speaking Skilled Worker;
• Express Entry Skilled Trades.

When the Changes Took Effect

The amendments came into force on June 26, 2026. They were introduced through amending regulation 204-26, the text of which is published in Ontario's electronic law database e-Laws. The province recommends monitoring the program page for updates, as the second phase of the reform and the opening of the application system will bring new details.

What This Means for Applicants

For many applicants, the reform means a pause: submitting a new application is currently not possible, and old applications without an issued invitation will be withdrawn. At the same time, the selection logic is shifting toward those who already have confirmed employment in Ontario, and they face higher language and education requirements. Those preparing to apply should consider confirming their language level in advance, gathering work experience documents from a specific employer, and ensuring that their occupation and job offer meet the new conditions. Employers should prepare to resubmit job offers after the portal opens.

Since the rules for the new stream are still being refined and the timeline for opening the application system is only tentative, assessing your chances and choosing the right strategy is easier with a professional. You can book a consultation with licensed immigration consultant Ivanna Pavlenko at this link: Canadian immigration assessment.