OINP 2026 Update: Ontario’s PNP New Workforce Priority Stream and EOI Scoring System
- Tiffany Chia
- Jul 24
- 15 min read
Published Date: July 23, 2026 Author: Tiffany Chia, RCIC #R512971 Last Updated: July 23, 2026
Key Summary
Ontario has replaced its former eight Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program streams with the new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.
The new Expression of Interest (EOI) scoring system gives significant points for Ontario work experience, wage, Canadian earnings, occupation, language ability and work location.
A job offer candidate receiving the maximum points in every applicable category may have an estimated score of approximately 130 points.
Your Expression of Interest score ranks you against other candidates. It does not confirm that you, your employer or your job offer qualify.
Ontario has not announced when the system will reopen, when the first draw will take place or what the first invitation score will be.
Ontario’s new OINP Workforce Priority Stream uses an Expression of Interest score of approximately 130 points to rank eligible job offer candidates based on employment, income, education, language, status and location.
Ontario has not simply renamed its immigration streams.
It has changed what makes an Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program candidate competitive.
For someone working in Toronto, having a job offer may no longer be enough to produce a strong score. Meanwhile, a candidate working in Northern Ontario, earning a higher wage, speaking both English and French and already working for the employer may receive a substantial scoring advantage.
Many workers and employers are understandably confused.
The former Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program streams have disappeared. Old Expressions of Interest are not being carried into the new system. Employers may also need to submit their job offers again.
Let me walk you through what has changed, how the new score works and what you should prepare before Ontario reopens the system.
OINP Calculator Update 1to1 Immigration is developing an Ontario OINP Expression of Interest Score Calculator.The calculator will estimate your score. It will not assess your full eligibility or predict whether Ontario will invite you.Until the calculator is available, you can receive our weekly Canadian immigration updates so you know when Ontario reopens the system and announces its first Workforce Priority draw.
How Ontario Nomination Fits into Canadian Immigration
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, known as OINP, allows Ontario to nominate foreign nationals who meet provincial economic and labour market priorities.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, known as IRCC, remains responsible for the federal permanent residence application after a provincial nomination.
The federal stage is governed by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, known as IRPA, and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, known as IRPR.
Receiving an Ontario nomination is therefore not the same as receiving Canadian permanent residence. A nominated applicant must still submit a federal application and satisfy the applicable federal requirements.
What has Changed in the OINP in 2026?
Ontario announced Phase 1 of its OINP redesign on June 26, 2026. The regulatory amendments came into force on June 25, 2026.
The redesign removed the former eight OINP streams and introduced the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.
Ontario says the redesign is intended to connect provincial immigration more directly with employers, hard to fill positions, regional labour needs and demonstrated employment in the province. eight former OINP streams
The former streams were:
Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker
Employer Job Offer: International Student
Employer Job Offer: In Demand Skills
Masters Graduate
PhD Graduate
Human Capital Priorities
French Speaking Skilled Worker
Skilled Trades
No further invitations will be issued under these former streams.
Applications that were already submitted after an invitation will continue to be assessed under the requirements that applied when the application was submitted. happened to old EOIs and job offers?
Expressions of Interest and employer job offers that were registered under the former framework but did not result in an invitation are not being transferred automatically.
Affected Expressions of Interest and job offers are being withdrawn as Ontario updates its systems.
Eligible candidates should expect to register a new Expression of Interest after the new system opens. Employers supporting job offer applicants will generally need to submit a new job offer and employment position application.
Do not assume that your old OINP registration remains active simply because it appeared in your account before the redesign.
For a detailed explanation of the June changes, read our earlier guide: Ontario OINP 2026 Overhaul: Old Streams Closed and What PR Applicants Should Do Now.
2. What Are the Three Ontario Workforce Priority Pathways?
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream has three main pathways.
Each pathway has different candidate, employer, job offer, education, language and work experience requirements.
A job in the correct Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities category, known as TEER, does not by itself make someone eligible.
TEER 0 to 3 pathway
This pathway is intended for candidates with a full time and permanent Ontario job offer in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation.
Depending on the candidate’s circumstances, requirements may include:
A minimum language level
Postsecondary education or an applicable exemption
Relevant occupational work experience
Recent experience with the employer making the job offer
Professional licensing where required
An eligible employer and qualifying job offer
A wage that meets the applicable Ontario requirements
Recent Ontario graduates may qualify under different education, work experience and wage provisions.
For example, Ontario’s current page states that a recent eligible Ontario graduate may use at least three months of consecutive, paid, full time work in the offered position under certain circumstances. Every person with a TEER 0 to 3 job offer will qualify.**
TEER 4 to 5 pathway
This pathway is intended for candidates with a full time and permanent Ontario job offer in a TEER 4 or 5 occupation.
Important requirements may include:
At least nine months of qualifying experience with the employer making the job offer
Canadian secondary school education or an equivalent foreign credential
At least Canadian Language Benchmark or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens level 4
A qualifying wage
An eligible Ontario employer
A job offer that meets the program requirements
TEER 4 and 5 applicants receive zero points under the TEER scoring factor. However, they may still receive points for occupation, wage, Ontario experience, Canadian earnings, education, language, status and location.
Self employed physicians
The physician pathway is for qualifying physicians who are licensed and in good standing in Ontario and eligible to bill through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, known as OHIP.
Qualifying physicians do not need to use the same conventional employer job offer structure as other Workforce Priority applicants.
Some employment and wage scoring factors may therefore apply differently to physicians.
3. How Does the New OINP EOI Scoring System Work?
Ontario published a new Expression of Interest scoring grid for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream in July 2026.
For a job offer candidate who receives the maximum available points under every applicable category, the published factors total approximately 130 points.
An Expression of Interest (EOI) score is used to rank candidates within the pool.
It does not establish that the candidate meets the eligibility requirements of the stream.
A candidate could calculate a high score and still be ineligible because:
The employer does not qualify
The job offer does not qualify
The wage does not meet the applicable requirement
The candidate does not have the required work experience
The candidate does not meet the language or education requirement
The candidate selected the wrong National Occupational Classification code
A required licence or registration is missing
Ontario’s own document guidance states that scoring factors are separate from stream criteria. Applicants must meet the program requirements and provide documents supporting every point claimed. TEER category
NOC TEER category | Points |
TEER 0 or 1 | 9 |
TEER 2 or 3 | 6 |
TEER 4 or 5 | 0 |
Ontario’s published scoring page confirms that TEER 0 and 1 occupations receive nine points, while TEER 2 and 3 occupations receive six points. broad occupational category
Broad occupational category | Points |
Category 3, health occupations | 10 |
Category 7, trades, transport and equipment operators | 8 |
Category 2, natural and applied sciences | 6 |
Categories 0, 1, 4, 8 and 9 | 4 |
Categories 5 and 6 | 2 |
The broad occupational category is determined by the first digit of the five digit National Occupational Classification code.
For example, a National Occupational Classification code beginning with 3 falls within the health occupations category.
Your National Occupational Classification code also determines the TEER category. This means an incorrect code can affect both your eligibility assessment and two separate parts of your Expression of Interest score.
Canada’s National Occupational Classification guidance says the correct occupation should be selected by comparing the actual duties performed, not simply the job title. ly wage
Hourly wage | Points |
$40 or more | 15 |
$35 to $39.99 | 12 |
$30 to $34.99 | 10 |
$25 to $29.99 | 8 |
$20 to $24.99 | 5 |
Less than $20 | 0 |
The wage entered by the employer is used for this factor.
The hourly wage generally excludes bonuses, commissions and discretionary compensation. The scoring factor does not apply to self employed physicians in the same way it applies to conventional job offer candidates.
Remember that receiving wage points does not confirm that the job offer satisfies the stream’s separate wage requirement.
Time working in the specific job offer position
Time working in the job offer position | Points |
Over 24 months | 18 |
13 to 24 months | 15 |
6 to 12 months | 12 |
Less than 6 months | Use the general Ontario work experience table |
Ontario’s current wording uses over 24 months for the highest bracket and 13 to 24 months for the second bracket. tor is particularly important for candidates who are already working in the exact position covered by the employer’s job offer.
Other qualifying Ontario work experience
Qualifying Ontario work experience | Points |
Over 24 months | 12 |
13 to 24 months | 9 |
6 to 12 months | 6 |
Less than 6 months | 0 |
Ontario’s current page also uses over 24 months and 13 to 24 months for the general Ontario experience brackets. Ontario experience categories are alternatives. They should not be added together.
Candidates already working in the precise position covered by the job offer may receive the higher job offer tenure score.
Candidates with less than six months in that position may instead be assessed using their broader qualifying Ontario work experience.
Canadian earnings history
Highest qualifying annual Canadian income | Points |
$70,000 or more | 8 |
$50,000 to $69,999 | 6 |
$30,000 to $49,999 | 4 |
Less than $30,000 | 0 |
This factor is based on qualifying Canadian earnings supported by a Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment issued during the preceding five years.
It should not be confused with the candidate’s current annual salary.
Someone earning $70,000 today may not automatically receive eight points if the amount is not supported by a qualifying Notice of Assessment.
Conversely, someone whose current income has changed may still receive points based on a qualifying previous taxation year.
Highest level of education
Highest education | Points |
Doctorate | 10 |
Degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry | 10 |
Master’s degree | 8 |
Bachelor’s degree or qualifying university credential above the bachelor’s level | 6 |
Eligible college, university, apprenticeship or trades credential | 5 |
Below an eligible postsecondary or trades credential | 0 |
A foreign credential normally requires an Educational Credential Assessment where applicable.
The assessment must demonstrate the Canadian equivalency of the foreign credential.
Ontario’s published scoring page confirms that doctorates and qualifying professional degrees receive ten points. dian education
Eligible Canadian credentials | Points |
Two or more | 10 |
One | 5 |
None | 0 |
An eligible credential must generally be from a qualifying Canadian postsecondary institution and represent at least one year of eligible full time study.
A person may receive points under both the highest level of education factor and the Canadian education factor.
Official language ability
Ontario uses the candidate’s lowest score among listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Lowest CLB or NCLC level | Points |
CLB or NCLC 9 or higher | 15 |
CLB or NCLC 8 | 12 |
CLB or NCLC 7 | 8 |
CLB or NCLC 6 | 4 |
CLB or NCLC 5 or lower | 0 |
You should not calculate this factor using your average language result.
For example, results of Canadian Language Benchmark 10 in listening, reading and writing will not produce the top score if speaking is at Canadian Language Benchmark 7.
The score would be determined using level 7.
Ontario does not accept International English Language Testing System Academic results or International English Language Testing System One Skill Retake results for this factor.
Language profile | Points |
Qualifying English and French results | 10 |
Qualifying result in one official language | 5 |
No qualifying official language result | 0 |
A bilingual candidate may receive points under both:
The main official language proficiency factor
The knowledge of official languages factor
The bilingual points do not replace the main language score.
Ontario’s current guidance states that candidates must meet the specified minimum results across all four language abilities to receive the two language points.
Current immigration status | Points |
Valid work permit | 10 |
Valid study permit | 5 |
Neither | 0 |
The permit must confer legal temporary resident status.
Ontario’s published scoring page distinguishes between a valid work permit, which receives ten points, and a valid study permit, which receives five points.
Work location | Points |
Northern Ontario | 15 |
Eastern Ontario | 10 |
Central Ontario outside the Greater Toronto Area | 10 |
Southwestern Ontario | 10 |
Greater Toronto Area outside Toronto | 5 |
City of Toronto | 0 |
The Greater Toronto Area outside the City of Toronto includes Durham, Halton, Peel and York.
A Toronto job offer receives zero points under the regional scoring factor.
That does not mean that a Toronto job offer is automatically ineligible.
It simply means the candidate does not receive regional points for that location.
4. Who Appears to Benefit From the New OINP Scoring System?
The following is my analysis of the published scoring grid. It is not a prediction of Ontario’s future draws or invitation scores.
Profiles that may receive stronger scores include candidates who:
Work in Northern Ontario
Work in health, trades or technical occupations
Earn at least $40 per hour
Have worked in the offered position for more than two years
Have qualifying Canadian earnings of at least $70,000
Hold a master’s degree, doctorate or qualifying professional degree
Have one or more eligible Canadian credentials
Have Canadian Language Benchmark or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens 9 or higher
Speak both English and French at qualifying levels
Hold a valid work permit
A candidate who combines several of these factors could build a much stronger score than a newly arrived candidate with the same occupation but little Ontario employment history.
What the policy says
Ontario awards points for measurable factors such as occupation, wage, documented employment, income, education, language, status and region.
What this means for you
Ontario appears to be placing significant value on demonstrated economic establishment within the province.
Your relationship with the employer, length of service, Canadian tax history and work location may now matter as much as, or more than, simply having a job offer.
A job offer is therefore not the whole strategy.
5. Who May Receive Fewer OINP Points?
Candidates may receive fewer points if they:
Work in the City of Toronto
Earn below $25 per hour
Have limited Ontario work experience
Are not currently working for the employer making the job offer
Have no qualifying Canadian earnings history
Have lower language results
Have no eligible Canadian education
Do not hold a valid work or study permit
This does not mean these candidates cannot qualify or will never receive an invitation.
Ontario may conduct targeted draws based on occupation, pathway, region or other labour market factors.
A candidate with a lower total score may still fit the criteria of a future targeted draw. A candidate with a higher score may not be invited if Ontario targets a different occupation or region.
Ontario has not announced how it will structure the first Workforce Priority draws.
6. Eligibility and EOI Score Are Two Different Questions
This is the most important part of the OINP 2026 update.
Eligibility asks:
“Are you permitted to enter the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream pool?”
The EOI score asks:
“How does Ontario rank your profile against other eligible candidates?”
Before the score becomes meaningful, the applicable requirements must be satisfied.
These can include:
Candidate eligibility
Employer eligibility
Job offer eligibility
Wage requirements
Education requirements
Language requirements
Work experience requirements
Occupational licensing
Legal immigration status
Intention to reside in Ontario
The common misunderstanding
A candidate may calculate 100 points and believe the score proves eligibility.
It does not.
For example, a candidate may claim wage, language, education and regional points but still have an employer that does not meet the program’s revenue, staffing, operating history or business location requirements.
The score calculation cannot identify every such problem.
The hidden refusal risk
Every point claimed must be supported by the required evidence.
A discrepancy involving the job’s duties, wage, location, employment period, Notice of Assessment, language result or educational credential can affect the score and the underlying eligibility assessment.
Ontario can also verify information with the candidate, employer and third parties.
The time advantage of preparing early
Applicants often discover too late that they selected the wrong National Occupational Classification code, do not have a detailed employer letter, cannot document their exact start date or are missing a qualifying Notice of Assessment.
Preparing before the system opens gives you time to confirm duties, correct employment records, gather tax documents, complete an Educational Credential Assessment or retake a language test.
Waiting until an invitation arrives reduces that flexibility.
Well prepared applicants usually organize their evidence before the portal opens, not after Ontario begins counting down an application deadline.
📩 Receive weekly Canadian immigration updates Ontario has not announced the reopening date or first Workforce Priority draw.Our weekly Canadian immigration updates provide structured updates, protection from misinformation and a simple explanation of what changed and who it affects.
7. What Has Not Yet Been Confirmed?
As of July 23, 2026, Ontario has not confirmed:
The exact Expression of Interest reopening date
The date of the first Ontario Workforce Priority draw
The first minimum invitation score
Which occupations will be targeted first
Whether the first draws will target particular regions
How frequently draws will occur
The launch date for Phase 2 of the OINP redesign
Ontario has stated that the Expression of Interest system is anticipated to reopen later in summer 2026.
The new scoring grid should also not be compared directly with invitation scores under the former OINP system.
The factors, pathways and potential candidate pool are different.
8. What Should OINP Candidates and Employers Do Now?
If you already have an Ontario employer
Confirm whether your employer is prepared to participate in the OINP Employer Portal and support a new job offer submission.
The employer should review:
Work location
Length of operation
Annual revenue
Number of full time Canadian citizen or permanent resident employees
Job duties
Wage
Business need for the position
Ability to provide supporting documents
Under the Employer Portal process, the employer submits the job offer before the employee registers the Expression of Interest. Ontario’s previous portal guidance required the employee to register within 30 calendar days after the job offer was submitted. Candidates should check the instructions again when the new system opens. ou had an old OINP EOI
Do not assume your old Expression of Interest will be transferred.
Prepare to create a new registration after Ontario reopens the system.
Review your score using your current circumstances rather than the information you entered under the former stream.
If you are currently working in Ontario
Gather documents showing:
Employment start date
Job title
National Occupational Classification duties
Hours worked
Hourly wage
Work location
Employer relationship
Pay statements
T4 statements
Canada Revenue Agency Notices of Assessment
Current work permit
Employment agreement
Employer reference letters
The exact position matters because candidates with sufficient time in the job offer position may receive more points than candidates using general Ontario experience.
If you have language results
Calculate the lowest Canadian Language Benchmark or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens level across:
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Check the expiry date and accepted test type.
A second official language result may materially increase the score if the candidate meets Ontario’s required results in both English and French.
If you do not know your NOC
Confirm your National Occupational Classification code using the duties you actually perform.
Do not select a code only because the title sounds similar to your job title.
The code affects:
Pathway eligibility
TEER points
Broad occupational category points
Work experience assessment
Wage assessment
Potential occupation targeted draws
If you studied outside Canada
Check whether you need an Educational Credential Assessment.
Confirm that the assessment remains valid and shows the Canadian equivalency required for the education points you intend to claim.
If your score appears low
Do not assume Ontario is no longer an option.
Look at which factors may realistically change, such as language, employment tenure, wage, a second official language or Canadian experience.
Also review alternative permanent residence pathways instead of relying on one provincial program.
📅 Do you need your eligibility reviewed? A score estimate cannot assess your employer, job offer, occupational duties, wage evidence and personal eligibility together. General updates are not personal immigration strategy. A 30 minute consultation can include an eligibility review, National Occupational Classification review, risk identification, pathway alignment and clear next actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum OINP Workforce Priority EOI score?
The published factors add up to approximately 130 points for a job offer candidate receiving the maximum score under every applicable category. The applicable maximum for a self employed physician may differ because some conventional job offer factors do not apply in the same way.
Is a high OINP EOI score enough to qualify?
No. Scoring factors are separate from stream eligibility. The candidate, employer and job offer must meet all applicable program requirements.
Does working in Toronto make me ineligible?
No. A Toronto job offer receives zero points under the regional factor, but it may still qualify if the candidate, employer and position meet the program requirements.
Will my old OINP EOI be transferred?
Ontario has not announced an automatic transfer. Candidates who did not receive an invitation under the former streams should expect to register a new Expression of Interest after the system reopens.
Can I register an OINP EOI now?
Not yet. Ontario says the Expression of Interest system is anticipated to reopen later in summer 2026. No exact reopening date had been announced as of July 23, 2026.
Do I need an Ontario employer?
Job offer candidates under the TEER 0 to 3 and TEER 4 to 5 pathways require support from an eligible Ontario employer. Qualifying self employed physicians follow different requirements.
Does an OINP EOI score guarantee an invitation?
No. Ontario may conduct general or targeted draws. It has not announced the first minimum score, targeted occupations, regions or draw date.
Can TEER 4 and 5 candidates receive an invitation?
Potentially. TEER 4 and 5 candidates receive zero points under the TEER factor, but they may receive points for occupational category, wage, Ontario experience, Canadian earnings, education, language, immigration status and work location.
Key Takeaway
The most important point from this OINP 2026 update is that eligibility and competitiveness must be assessed separately.
Ontario’s new system rewards more than a qualifying job offer.
It considers the candidate’s Ontario employment history, relationship with the employer, wage, reported Canadian income, occupation, education, language ability, immigration status and regional location.
Calculating your estimated Ontario EOI score is useful.
But the score cannot tell you whether your employer qualifies, whether your duties match the correct National Occupational Classification code or whether every program requirement has been satisfied.
Start by confirming eligibility.
Then calculate competitiveness.
Finally, prepare the evidence you would need to support every point claimed.
Official Government Sources
About the Author
Tiffany Chia is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, RCIC #R512971, and founder of 1to1 Immigration Inc. in Vancouver.
Originally from Singapore, Tiffany immigrated to Canada more than a decade ago. She has helped international students, foreign workers, employers and families navigate Canada’s immigration system since 2015.
Disclaimer
Immigration policies can change at any time. This article reflects information available as of July 23, 2026 and is intended for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or immigration advice.
Comments