Ontario Workforce Priority Stream: the new OINP explained
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWP Stream) is Ontario's single immigration nomination stream as of June 26, 2026, when it replaced all eight of the province's previous Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) streams. The OWP Stream has three pathways: a job-offer pathway for occupations in TEER 0–3, a job-offer pathway for occupations in TEER 4–5, and a pathway for self-employed physicians who do not need a job offer. Ontario published the stream's Expression of Interest (EOI) scoring grid on July 20, 2026, and EOI registration is set to open later in summer 2026. Once registration opens, candidates who meet the eligibility requirements for one of the three pathways can submit a profile; Ontario ranks profiles by score and periodically invites top-ranked candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. This guide covers who qualifies for each pathway, how the application process runs from job offer to nomination, and where to find the full points breakdown.
Who can apply?
The OWP Stream has three pathways, and each one has its own eligibility requirements.
Do I qualify under the TEER 0–3 job-offer pathway?
This pathway is for candidates with a valid job offer in an occupation classified TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 under the National Occupational Classification.
- At least 6 months of experience in the job-offer position within the last 12 months. Alternatives: 3 months for recent Ontario graduates, 2 years of cumulative experience in the same NOC within the past 5 years, or a mandatory professional licence for the occupation.
- Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 6 or higher (CLB 5 for skilled trades occupations).
- A post-secondary credential.
Do I qualify under the TEER 4–5 job-offer pathway?
This pathway is for candidates with a valid job offer in an occupation classified TEER 4 or 5.
- At least 9 months of cumulative paid full-time experience within the past 2 years.
- CLB 4 or higher.
- A high school diploma or equivalent.
How do self-employed physicians qualify?
This pathway is for physicians establishing or continuing a practice in Ontario and does not require a job offer.
- A valid OHIP billing number.
- Registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).
- No job offer is required.
How does the application process work?
The OWP Stream application process runs from an employer's job offer through to a provincial nomination in six ordered steps.
The employer submits a job offer
The Ontario employer submits the job offer through the OINP Employer Portal. Self-employed physicians skip this step.
You register an Expression of Interestwithin 30 days
You register an EOI profile within 30 calendar days of the job offer being submitted. Your profile is scored against the EOI grid.
Ontario invites top-ranked profiles
Ontario reviews ranked EOI profiles and periodically issues invitations to apply to the highest-scoring candidates.
Employer and applicant file their parts14 and 17 days
After an invitation, the employer files a position approval within 14 days and you submit your application within 17 days.
Ontario issues a provincial nomination
Successful applications receive an Ontario provincial nomination.
You apply to IRCC for permanent residencewithin 6 months
You apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada within 6 months of nomination. TEER 0–3 job-offer applicants may instead use the nomination through Express Entry, which adds 600 points to their CRS score.
The deadlines are strict
How are candidates scored?
Ontario scores every EOI profile against the same set of factors, covering occupation, job offer, work experience, earnings, status in Canada, education, language ability, and work location. Job-offer pathways can score up to a maximum of 130 points; the physician pathway can score up to a maximum of 115 points, since physicians have no wage factor to score. See the full scoring factors breakdown for every point value, or use the free OINP points calculator to estimate your own score.
Where can I learn more?
- Regionalization points by Ontario region: how much your work location is worth.
- Frequently asked questions about the OWP Stream.
- What happened to the old OINP streams that the OWP Stream replaced.