Canada: Ontario restructures immigration program to fill in-demand jobs

Ontario has overhauled its immigration nomination program, reducing its existing eight streams to four as the province looks to better match immigration with labour market needs and fill workforce shortages across key sectors.

The Ontario government said the revamped Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) will simplify application pathways, strengthen eligibility requirements and reduce duplication while giving the province greater flexibility to target workers with in-demand skills. The changes took effect immediately under the Ontario Immigration Act.

The first stream under the redesigned program, the Ontario Workforce Priority (OWP) stream, has been launched, while the remaining three streams are expected to be introduced later this year.

New workforce priority stream introduced

The OWP stream will connect eligible foreign workers holding job offers from Ontario employers with pathways to permanent residence. The stream introduces minimum language and education requirements and prioritises applicants with Ontario-based work experience and direct employer connections.

The redesigned program also lowers employer revenue thresholds, allowing more small businesses in Northern and rural Ontario to access the nominee program for the first time. It also offers greater flexibility by allowing applicants to qualify for related occupations. For example, a nurse can qualify for a position as a Personal Support Worker while working towards credential recognition.

"Targeted skilled immigration is key to building our workforce and securing Ontario's economic future. By modernizing the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, our government is focusing on people with jobs and experience who can contribute to our ongoing work to protect Ontario's economy quickly," said Ontario Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Minister David Piccini.

Province tightens oversight

The government said the changed program builds on measures introduced under the Working for Workers Six Act, 2024 to strengthen oversight and tackle fraud within the immigration system.

According to the province, administrative orders and program bans against bad actors have increased from none in 2018 to more than 200. In 2025 alone, the OINP integrity team carried out inspections and site visits for 485 applications, issuing 56 bans and 76 administrative penalties.

The government said applications already submitted under the previous program structure will continue to be processed under the stream through which they were filed and will not be affected by the redesign.

Ontario also temporarily closed its Expression of Interest (EOI) system on June 25 as part of the transition to the new program. The system is expected to reopen for new registrations later this summer.

The OINP allows Ontario to nominate skilled workers for permanent residence based on the province's labour market needs, while the federal government retains the final authority on permanent residence applications. In 2025, Ontario nominated 10,750 candidates for permanent residence through the program.