How to Apply for Ontario’s New Workforce Priority Stream

If you’re a skilled worker with a job offer in Ontario—or planning to get one—you’re looking at a very different process than you were six months ago. In June 2026, Ontario closed eight legacy OINP streams and replaced them with a single, unified pathway: the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. The Expression of Interest portal opened in August, and the first nominations under this new system are expected any day now.

Here’s exactly how to apply.

What Changed, and Why It Matters

Ontario’s old OINP had separate streams for skilled trades, healthcare workers, international graduates, entrepreneurs, and more. Each stream had its own rules, point systems, and processing timelines. The government consolidated all of that into one employer-led stream that uses a single scoring framework.

What this means for you: if you have a valid Ontario job offer, you’re now competing against a broader pool of applicants using the same eight scoring factors. It’s simpler, but you need to understand exactly how Ontario ranks your profile.

The Three Pathways

The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream has three routes:

• TEER 0–3 (Skilled): Professional, technical, and skilled trades roles
• TEER 4–5 (Semi-Skilled): Service and manual labor roles
• Self-Employed Physicians: Self-employed medical doctors

TEER stands for “Trade, Education, Experience, Responsibility”—Canada’s occupational classification system. Most applicants fall into the first two categories.

Step 1: Your Employer Must Register First

You cannot apply until your employer has submitted an eligible job offer through the OINP Employer Portal. This is the critical first gate. Your employer needs to:

• Register with the OINP Employer Portal
• Provide proof of active business in Ontario (typically 3+ years of operation)
• Document the permanent, full-time position they’re offering you
• Confirm you will work at a physical location in Ontario

Once your employer submits the job offer and Ontario accepts it, you can move to Step 2. Ask your employer for confirmation that the offer has been registered. Don’t assume—verify it before you proceed.

Step 2: Create an Expression of Interest

After your employer’s job offer is accepted into the system, you will file an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Ontario OINP portal. Your EOI will include:

• Personal and contact information
• Details of your job offer (the one your employer registered)
• Your work experience in Ontario (if any)
• Your education and language proficiency
• Your current legal status in Canada

Ontario uses your EOI to calculate your score. Every claim you make must be supported by documents you keep on file. If Ontario asks for proof later and you can’t provide it, your application can be refused. Keep everything: pay stubs, letters from employers, educational transcripts, language test results, proof of Canadian work experience.

Understanding the Scoring System

The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream scores you out of a possible 130 points. Here’s how the points break down:

Job Offer Factors (up to 49 points):

• TEER category: 0–9 points (TEER 0 and 1 earn 9; TEER 2 and 3 earn 6; TEER 4 and 5 earn 0)
• Occupational category: 0–10 points
• Hourly wage: 0–15 points (higher wage = more points; $40/hour or above = 15 points)
• Job location: 0–15 points (Northern Ontario = 15; outside Toronto = 5; Toronto = 0)

Work Experience (up to 18 points): Experience in Ontario, Canada, or related to your occupation adds points.

Other Factors (up to 63 points): Language proficiency, education level, age, legal status in Canada, and other criteria contribute.

A higher score improves your chances, but there’s no published “cutoff” score—Ontario reviews applications in batches and selections depend on the overall pool of applicants.

Step 3: Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

If your EOI score is competitive, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. This typically happens after Ontario conducts a selection draw. You then have a set number of days (usually 60 days) to submit a complete PR application with full documentation.

What Happens After You’re Nominated?

Once Ontario nominates you for permanent residence, you have two options:

1. Apply directly to IRCC as a provincial nominee: You file a separate PR application with the federal government. This process takes several months.
2. Add the nomination to an existing Express Entry profile: If you already have an Express Entry account and profile, Ontario’s nomination adds 600 CRS points to your score. This typically leads to a faster federal processing time and an ITA from IRCC.

The second option is usually faster, so if you’re eligible for Express Entry, consider getting your profile submitted before your OINP nomination arrives.

Timeline: When to Apply

The OINP Expression of Interest portal is open now. Ontario’s first selection draw under the new system is expected in October 2026. If you meet the basic requirements (a job offer from a registered employer, legal work authorization in Canada, and the educational or experience credentials for your role), you should submit your EOI as soon as possible.

Do not wait for the draw schedule to be announced. The sooner your EOI is in the system, the sooner you’ll be ranked and eligible for selection.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Incomplete documentation: Ontario can refuse applications if your supporting documents don’t match your EOI claims. Start collecting proof today: employment letters, tax returns, educational credentials, test results.

Assuming a job offer is registered: Ask your employer to confirm. Don’t assume they’ve submitted it.

Providing inconsistent information: Your EOI must align exactly with the job offer your employer submitted. Any mismatch creates a red flag.

Omitting prior work experience: Even if it’s not in Ontario or Canada, related work experience adds to your score. Don’t leave it out.

Next Steps

The Ontario OINP Workforce Priority Stream is now your clearest employer-sponsored route to permanent residence in Ontario. The process is streamlined, the scoring is transparent, and draws are imminent. If you have a job offer in hand, begin your EOI today.

Questions about eligibility, scoring, or the application process? Every profile is different, and the details matter. Email us at hello@bisonimmigration.com to get started or ask a question.