The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, known as OINP, lets the province of Ontario nominate people for Canadian permanent residence based on its own labour market needs. It works alongside Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which makes the final decision on every nomination.

OINP exists to help Ontario bring in the workers, graduates, and entrepreneurs it needs most. If you get nominated, you move a big step closer to permanent residence, though the federal government still reviews and approves your file at the end.

Ontario went through a major redesign of this program in the middle of 2026. The province closed its long-running streams, including the ones built around Human Capital, Employer Job Offers, and Business categories, and replaced them with a new structure. This means older program details you may have seen online, including on our own site, no longer reflect how the program runs today.

Canus Immigration follows these changes closely, since they affect who qualifies and how to apply.

What Changed in the 2026 Redesign

Ontario removed its previous nomination streams and introduced the Ontario Workforce Priority stream as the first part of a two-phase overhaul. This new stream covers a wider range of occupations than before and comes with updated language and education benchmarks.

The province also paused its Expression of Interest (EOI) system during the transition. Existing EOI profiles that had not received an invitation were withdrawn automatically. Anyone who wants to apply going forward needs to submit a fresh EOI once the system reopens.

Ontario has said more streams and updates will follow this first phase. Since the rules keep shifting, checking your eligibility against the current framework matters more than ever before you plan your application.

How OINP Generally Works

Even with the changes, the core structure of OINP stays familiar. You typically need one of the following to qualify.

• A qualifying profile based on your skills. This covers your language ability, education, and work experience, often tied to a federal Express Entry profile.
• A valid job offer from an Ontario employer. Employers now need to register with the OINP Director before they can support a candidate’s application.
• A qualifying business plan. Entrepreneurs who want to start or buy a business in Ontario can pursue a nomination through this route, once the relevant stream reopens.

Selection runs through the EOI system for most pathways. You create a profile, answer questions about your background, and the system scores you. Ontario then invites top-ranked candidates during invitation rounds, which can target specific occupations, regions, or priorities set by the province.

Steps to Apply for OINP

• Confirm your eligibility. Check which category fits your background, whether that’s your skills, a job offer, or a business plan.
• Create your EOI profile. Enter your details accurately, since your score depends on this information.
• Wait for an invitation. Ontario invites top-ranked candidates during periodic rounds. There is no fixed schedule for these rounds.
• Submit your full application. Once invited, you generally need to apply within a set number of days through the official portal.
• Receive your nomination. If approved, Ontario nominates you, and you move forward with your permanent residence application through IRCC.

Processing times and fees vary depending on the stream and change as the program changes, so confirm current details before you apply.

Why Choose Canus Immigration for OINP

Programs like OINP change fast, and the 2026 redesign shows exactly why that matters. An outdated stream name or an old eligibility rule can send your application in the wrong direction entirely.

Canus Immigration tracks these updates as they happen. We check which stream applies to your situation today, not last year, and build your application around the current rules.

If you’re unsure whether OINP fits your goals, or which stream applies to you right now, reach out to Canus Immigration for a clear, up-to-date assessment.