The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Explained

If you are exploring pathways to Canadian permanent residence and you plan to settle in Ontario, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program — commonly called the OINP — is one of the most important programs to understand. A provincial nomination from Ontario can dramatically accelerate a federal application, and several OINP streams do not require you to already be inside Canada to apply.

This guide explains how OINP Ontario works, how it connects to the federal Express Entry system, and what the main stream categories look like. Because streams open and close and eligibility rules change, treat this as a starting point and always confirm current requirements on Ontario.ca/OINP and Canada.ca.

What Is the OINP?

Canada's immigration system divides responsibility between the federal government and the provinces. The federal Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) department controls who can become a permanent resident, but provinces can nominate candidates they want to attract. When Ontario nominates you through the OINP, you still need to apply to IRCC for your permanent resident visa — but you do so with a significant advantage.

The legal authority for this arrangement is split. Admission and status remain federal, governed by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the associated federal-provincial immigration agreements, while Ontario runs the nomination program itself under its own provincial statute, the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015, and the regulations made under it. Ontario's agreement with the federal government allows it to nominate a set number of candidates each year across a range of occupation categories and skill levels.

How a Provincial Nomination Connects to Federal Express Entry

Express Entry is the federal government's points-based management system for three economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. Candidates create a profile and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on age, education, language ability, work experience, and other factors. IRCC periodically holds draws and sends Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the highest-scoring candidates in the pool.

A provincial nomination from OINP adds 600 CRS points to a candidate's score. Because draws have historically been conducted well below the 600-point ceiling, a nomination effectively guarantees that the candidate will receive an ITA at the next eligible draw. This is why many applicants who find their base CRS score is not competitive on its own look to provincial nomination as a path forward.

The mechanics work like this:

1. You create or already hold a federal Express Entry profile.
2. OINP reviews your profile (through its own Expression of Interest system, described below) and, if eligible, issues you a Notification of Interest inviting you to apply for a nomination.
3. You apply to OINP. If approved, Ontario issues a provincial nomination certificate.
4. You accept the nomination in your federal Express Entry profile, and the 600-point boost is added.
5. You receive an ITA from IRCC and submit a full permanent residence application.

The entire process involves two separate approvals: one from Ontario (the nomination) and one from IRCC (the permanent resident visa).

OINP's Expression of Interest System

OINP does not simply accept applications from anyone who wishes to apply. Instead, it runs its own Expression of Interest (EOI) system alongside the federal Express Entry pool. Candidates indicate interest in Ontario by registering in the OINP EOI system, and OINP conducts targeted draws — sometimes from the federal Express Entry pool directly, sometimes from its own provincial pool — inviting specific candidates to apply to a particular stream.

This means:

• You may be in the federal Express Entry pool and receive an invitation from OINP before IRCC ever draws your profile.
• Alternatively, some OINP streams operate entirely outside Express Entry and have their own EOI or direct application process.
• OINP draws are not on a fixed schedule. Ontario announces them as program capacity allows.

Key Stream Categories

Ontario overhauled the OINP in 2026. The province's former lineup of streams — the three Employer Job Offer streams (Foreign Worker, In-Demand Skills, International Student), the Master's Graduate and PhD Graduate streams, and the Express Entry–linked streams (Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, Skilled Trades) — closed to new applications as of May 30, 2026, and regulatory amendments in force June 25, 2026 replaced them with a single Ontario Workforce Priority stream. If you have read about the older stream names elsewhere, treat that information as out of date.

The new stream has three pathways:

TEER 0–3 pathway — for candidates in higher-skilled occupations. Candidates on this pathway can opt into a nomination linked to a federal Express Entry profile.

Self-employed physicians pathway — for physicians establishing a practice in Ontario; this pathway can also be linked to Express Entry.

TEER 4–5 pathway — for candidates in lower-skilled occupations. This pathway sits outside Express Entry entirely.

The new stream's Expression of Interest system was still launching through the summer of 2026 as this article was last reviewed, and detailed eligibility criteria are likely to be refined as the stream matures. Confirm the current pathway structure, eligibility requirements, and what is actually open and accepting applications on Ontario.ca/OINP before taking any steps.

The Two-Step Process: OINP Then IRCC

A common point of confusion is that a provincial nomination is not permanent residence. It is a provincial recommendation to the federal government. The full journey looks like this:

1. Qualify for and apply to an OINP stream — meet stream-specific requirements, submit documentation, pay the provincial application fee (as of writing; confirm current fees at Ontario.ca/OINP).
2. Receive a nomination certificate — Ontario approves your application and issues the certificate.
3. Apply to IRCC for permanent residence — using Express Entry (if your stream is Express Entry–linked) or through a non-Express Entry paper-based application (for streams outside the federal system). Federal fees apply; confirm current amounts on Canada.ca/IRCC.
4. Complete federal processing — IRCC reviews your application, conducts security and medical checks, and, if approved, issues your permanent resident visa or confirmation of permanent residence.

Both stages involve processing times that vary with application volumes. IRCC and Ontario each publish estimated processing times that should be checked at the time of application — do not rely on historical figures as an accurate guide.

One Important Condition: Intend to Live and Work in Ontario

Every OINP stream requires that nominees genuinely intend to live and work in Ontario. This is not merely a formality. As part of the application you will be asked to describe your settlement plans, and IRCC may assess the sincerity of your intention during the federal stage. After landing, nominees are expected to follow through — although once you are a permanent resident you retain mobility rights within Canada under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Frequently asked questions