Can You Apply to Express Entry and OINP at the Same Time?

If you are eligible for both Canada's federal Express Entry system and Ontario's provincial nomination program, it is natural to wonder whether you have to pick one or can pursue both at once. Many candidates assume these are competing tracks — enter one queue or the other — when in fact they are usually meant to work together.

Understanding how the two systems actually connect matters, because using them correctly can meaningfully change your standing in the federal pool, while using them incorrectly can waste time on a stream that was never going to fit your profile.

Two Different Programs, Two Different Decision-Makers

Express Entry is the federal government's online system for managing candidates for three economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. It is run entirely by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), by contrast, is a provincial program. Ontario administers it under its own statute, the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015, but the OINP's authority is limited to one thing: nominating candidates for permanent residence. Ontario cannot itself grant permanent resident status, a work permit, or citizenship — those decisions always belong to IRCC, even after a successful provincial nomination.

That distinction is the key to answering the question. Because Express Entry and the OINP are run by two different levels of government for two different purposes, applying to one does not use up your ability to apply to the other.

Yes — You Can Generally Pursue Both

As a general rule, provincial nomination and Express Entry are designed to be complementary systems rather than mutually exclusive ones. A candidate who already has an active Express Entry profile can also apply for an Ontario nomination through whichever OINP pathway they qualify for, and a successful nomination is layered on top of the federal profile rather than replacing it.

This means a typical sequence looks like this:

1. You create and maintain an Express Entry profile with IRCC.
2. Separately, you assess your eligibility for an OINP pathway and apply to Ontario if you qualify.
3. If Ontario nominates you, that nomination is linked back to your existing Express Entry profile.
4. Your profile is then re-ranked with the nomination factored in.

How Ontario's Current Structure Fits Together

Ontario significantly restructured the OINP in 2026. Several previous streams were closed to new applications as of May 30, 2026, and were replaced by a single Ontario Workforce Priority stream, with the underlying regulatory changes in force as of June 25, 2026. As of mid-2026, the new stream's own expression-of-interest intake system was still being rolled out — verify the current intake mechanism before assuming it works a particular way.

The new structure is organized around three pathways: one covering higher-skill (TEER 0–3) occupations, one for self-employed physicians, and one covering lower-skill (TEER 4–5) occupations. This distinction matters for the Express Entry question specifically, because the higher-skill and physician pathways can be linked to an Express Entry nomination, while the TEER 4–5 pathway sits outside Express Entry entirely — a nomination through that pathway does not attach to a federal Express Entry profile the way the others can.

In other words, whether "applying to both at once" is even possible for you depends on which OINP pathway actually fits your occupation and profile — not just whether you happen to have an Express Entry profile open.

What a Nomination Does to Your Federal Ranking

If you are nominated by Ontario while you already have an active Express Entry profile, that nomination adds a substantial fixed block of extra points to your Comprehensive Ranking System score — as of mid-2026, an additional 600 points, though you should verify this figure directly with IRCC before relying on it, since program details can change. In practical terms, a nomination of this kind is one of the largest single boosts available inside the federal ranking system, and it commonly moves a candidate from an unlikely position in the pool to a near-certain invitation.

Practical Considerations Before You Apply to Both

• Check pathway fit first. Confirm which of Ontario's current pathways actually applies to your occupation and circumstances before assuming a nomination is realistic.
• Keep your Express Entry profile active and accurate. A nomination can only attach to a profile that is live and correctly reflects your circumstances at the time.
• Employer-tied pathways need an Ontario connection. Some OINP routes require ties to an Ontario employer or job offer — confirm this applies (or doesn't) to the pathway you're considering.
• Don't assume either system guarantees the other. Being in the Express Entry pool does not make an Ontario nomination more likely, and a nomination does not guarantee your eventual permanent residence application will be approved — IRCC still separately assesses eligibility and admissibility.
• Track both timelines. Federal and provincial processes run on separate schedules, and losing track of either can cost you an opportunity.

Frequently asked questions