The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is Ontario's part of Canada's Provincial Nominee Program. It lets the province nominate people who want to live and work in Ontario, and a provincial nomination is one of the most powerful boosts in Canadian economic immigration. Important 2026 update: Ontario has overhauled the entire program. Under regulatory amendments that took effect May 30, 2026, the province repealed all nine of its previous nomination categories and is moving to a redesigned, employer-driven framework that is expected to roll out in phases over the second half of 2026. As of June 2026, Ontario is processing applications submitted before the change but the previous streams are no longer open to new registrations, and the new streams are not yet active. Because the program is changing quickly, treat every stream name in this guide as historical context and confirm the current streams and intake status on the official OINP website before you rely on anything here. This page is educational and is not immigration advice.
How the OINP works (and the 2026 overhaul)
The OINP operates under Ontario's Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 and its regulations, and it works alongside the federal government: Ontario nominates candidates, but Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes the final permanent residence decision and conducts admissibility, medical, and security checks. A provincial nomination does not by itself grant permanent residence; it is a recommendation that you then use in a federal application.
Historically the OINP had nine nomination categories grouped into three families. The Express Entry-linked streams were the Human Capital Priorities stream, the French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream, and the Skilled Trades stream. The Employer Job Offer family included the Foreign Worker stream, the International Student stream, and the In-Demand Skills stream. There were also the Masters Graduate stream and the PhD Graduate stream, plus a business-focused Entrepreneur stream.
On May 30, 2026, regulatory amendments under the Ontario Immigration Act took effect and repealed all nine of those categories. Ontario has signalled a phased redesign: a first phase expected to consolidate the three Employer Job Offer streams into a single employer-driven stream with tracks for higher-skilled (TEER 0 to 3) and lower-skilled (TEER 4 to 5) occupations, and a later phase expected to introduce a Priority Healthcare stream, an Exceptional Talent stream, and a redesigned Entrepreneur stream. These replacement streams are not yet confirmed in detail and were not accepting new applications as of June 2026, so confirm the current streams and their status on the OINP website before applying.
OINP and Express Entry: the 600 CRS points
Express Entry is the federal system that manages applications under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. Candidates in the Express Entry pool are ranked by the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and IRCC invites the highest-scoring candidates to apply for permanent residence.
A provincial nomination is the single largest CRS boost available: a nomination through an Express Entry-aligned provincial stream adds 600 points to a candidate's CRS score. Because draws typically invite candidates well below 600 points, a nomination effectively guarantees an invitation to apply in a later Express Entry draw. This is why the Express Entry-linked OINP streams were so sought after before the 2026 overhaul.
The 600-point boost is a feature of how Express Entry treats provincial nominations in general, not a special Ontario rule. If Ontario's redesigned framework includes streams that are aligned with Express Entry, the same 600-point logic would be expected to apply, but you should confirm whether any new stream is Express Entry-aligned, because some provincial streams lead to a non-Express Entry (paper-based) permanent residence application instead.
Notifications of interest and how invitations worked
Under the OINP Express Entry streams, you generally could not apply directly. Instead, you first created a federal Express Entry profile, and Ontario periodically searched the Express Entry pool and issued a Notification of Interest (NOI) to candidates who met the province's criteria for a given draw. Receiving an NOI was an invitation to apply to the OINP, not the nomination itself.
Once you received an NOI, you had a limited window to submit a complete OINP application with supporting documents. If Ontario approved it, you received the provincial nomination, which you then accepted in your Express Entry profile to receive the 600 CRS points. The Employer Job Offer and graduate streams worked differently, often using an Expression of Interest (EOI) registration where candidates were ranked and the highest were invited to apply.
Ontario has said its redesigned framework will lean more heavily on employer-driven selection and Expression of Interest registrations. Because the mechanics of notifications, EOI scoring, and application windows are changing, do not rely on the older NOI process described here; check the OINP website for the current intake method, selection factors, and deadlines once new streams launch.
Eligibility factors and what to do now
Across its past streams, the OINP weighed factors such as skilled work experience, education, language ability in English or French, a connection to Ontario through study or a job offer, and whether an occupation was in demand. The Entrepreneur stream instead focused on business net worth, investment, and a business plan. Exact requirements differed by stream, and Ontario could change selection criteria from one draw to the next.
Because all nine streams were repealed effective May 30, 2026, there is no open OINP stream to register a new profile in until the redesigned streams launch. If you applied before the change, Ontario has indicated that applications submitted before the amendments will be assessed against the eligibility criteria that were in place when they were submitted. If you are planning ahead, the most useful steps are usually to keep a federal Express Entry profile current, build skilled work experience and language scores, and explore an Ontario job offer in a priority sector such as healthcare or skilled trades, since the new framework is expected to favour employer-driven nominations.
None of this is legal advice, and program rules can change again. For your specific situation, and especially before making any decision based on a stream you read about here, confirm the current streams on the OINP website and consider speaking with a licensed Canadian immigration lawyer or a regulated CICC consultant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the OINP open in 2026?
As of June 2026, Ontario is processing applications submitted before May 30, 2026, but the nine previous OINP streams were repealed on that date and are no longer open to new registrations. A redesigned, employer-driven framework is expected to roll out in phases over the second half of 2026. Always confirm the current intake status on the official OINP website.
What streams did the OINP have?
Before the 2026 overhaul, the OINP had nine streams: three Express Entry streams (Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, and Skilled Trades), three Employer Job Offer streams (Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills), the Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams, and the Entrepreneur stream. All nine were repealed effective May 30, 2026.
How many CRS points does an OINP nomination add?
A provincial nomination through an Express Entry-aligned stream adds 600 points to your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Because draws usually invite candidates scoring well under 600, a nomination effectively secures an invitation to apply in a later Express Entry draw. Confirm whether any new OINP stream is Express Entry-aligned before relying on this.
What is a Notification of Interest (NOI)?
Under the OINP Express Entry streams, Ontario searched the federal Express Entry pool and issued a Notification of Interest to candidates who met its criteria, inviting them to apply to the OINP. An NOI was an invitation to apply, not the nomination itself. The redesigned framework is expected to use updated selection methods, so check the OINP website for current procedures.
Does an OINP nomination guarantee permanent residence?
No. A provincial nomination is a recommendation that strengthens your application, but IRCC makes the final permanent residence decision and carries out admissibility, medical, and security checks. An officer can refuse an application even with a nomination.
What is replacing the OINP streams?
Ontario has signalled a phased redesign. A first phase is expected to consolidate the Employer Job Offer streams into a single employer-driven stream with tracks for TEER 0 to 3 and TEER 4 to 5 occupations, and a later phase is expected to add a Priority Healthcare stream, an Exceptional Talent stream, and a redesigned Entrepreneur stream. These are not yet confirmed in detail or open, so confirm current streams on the OINP website.
What happens to my application if I applied before May 30, 2026?
Ontario has indicated that applications submitted before the regulatory amendments will be assessed according to the eligibility criteria that were in place at the time the application was submitted. If you have a pending application, follow the OINP program updates page and any direct communications from the program for the latest guidance.
How is the OINP different from Express Entry?
Express Entry is a federal system that ranks and invites candidates for federal economic programs. The OINP is Ontario's provincial nominee program, which nominates candidates to live in Ontario. Some OINP streams were aligned with Express Entry and added 600 CRS points, while others led to a separate, paper-based permanent residence application. IRCC makes the final PR decision in either case.
Guides
Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.