OINP vs Express Entry
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream and Express Entry are separate programs run by different governments, and they can work together. This page compares the published rules side by side. Facts only, not advice on which to choose: check both official sources for your situation.
Side by side
| Topic | OINP: OWP Stream | Express Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | The Government of Ontario (OINP). It issues a provincial nomination. | The federal government (IRCC). It invites candidates to apply for permanent residence. |
| What it leads to | A nomination. You then apply to IRCC for permanent residence, either through Express Entry or directly. | An invitation to apply for permanent residence. |
| Job offer | Required: a full-time job with no end date from an Ontario employer that meets the employer requirements. Self-employed physicians are the exception. | Not required for most candidates. Since November 3, 2026, a high-wage job offer can earn points, and job offers no longer need an LMIA. |
| Scoring | An Expression of Interest grid with 11 factors: up to 132 points for job-offer candidates and 117 for self-employed physicians. See the scoring factors. | The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS): core points plus additional points, including 600 for a provincial nomination. |
| Language minimum | CLB 6 in all four abilities for TEER 0 to 3 jobs (CLB 5 for listed skilled trades), CLB 4 for TEER 4 and 5; recent Ontario graduates with a qualifying credential and a TEER 0 to 3 job need no test. Convert scores with the CLB calculator. | Set by each federal program (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades). |
| Where you work | In Ontario. Jobs outside the Greater Toronto Area score more regional points. | Across Canada, through the federal programs. |
| Application fee | $1,500 (job offer or practice outside the GTA) or $2,000 (in the GTA), paid only after an invitation. The OINP charges employers no fee. | IRCC permanent residence fees, listed on canada.ca. |
How the two connect
TEER 0 to 3 job-offer applicants and self-employed physicians can ask to be nominated through Express Entry. They must meet the criteria of a federal Express Entry program and keep a valid profile for the whole application.
An accepted nomination adds 600 CRS points, which leads to an invitation to apply for permanent residence in the next Express Entry round. The nominee has 30 calendar days to accept the nomination in the Express Entry system and 60 days to apply after the invitation.
Everyone else nominated under the stream, including TEER 4 and 5 job-offer applicants, applies to IRCC for permanent residence outside Express Entry, within 6 months of nomination.
Questions
Can I be in the Express Entry pool and the OINP at the same time?
Yes. They are separate systems. TEER 0 to 3 job-offer applicants and self-employed physicians who want an Express Entry nomination need a valid Express Entry profile during their OINP application.
How many CRS points does an Ontario nomination add?
600, the most the CRS gives for any single additional factor. IRCC’s CRS page lists every factor.
Do I need a job offer for Express Entry now?
Not for most candidates, but some federal program rules still use one for eligibility. For the OWP Stream, a qualifying Ontario job offer is required unless you are a self-employed physician.
From the OWP Stream page, the OINP application process page and IRCC’s CRS criteria, checked on 2026-11-05.
Want to see where you stand in the OWP Stream? Use the free OINP points calculator.