Canada: Ontario to introduce changes to immigration system from May 30

The province of Ontario will overhaul its immigration system, with sweeping changes set to take effect on May 30, 2026. The reforms under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) will revoke all current streams, introduce targeted draws, and formalise new rules for employer-backed applications.

The changes stem from amendments to the Ontario Immigration Act, which will give the province wider powers to redesign its immigration selection system.

Existing streams to be revoked

From May 30, several existing immigration categories will no longer accept applicants. These include streams for foreign workers, international students with job offers, in-demand skills, master’s and PhD graduates, human capital priorities, French-speaking skilled workers, skilled trades, and entrepreneurs.


This means candidates who currently qualify under these categories will no longer be eligible under the existing structure. The province has not confirmed whether replacement streams will cover the same groups or when new categories will begin.

Targeted draws to expand

The updated rules will allow Ontario to conduct both general and targeted draws across all streams that require an invitation to apply.

The OINP director will decide “whether to issue general or targeted invitations to apply for a certificate of nomination”.

For targeted draws, candidates will be selected based on specific attributes linked to labour market needs. These include education, language skills, work experience, earnings history, and the ability to meet regional workforce demand. Only the highest-ranking candidates with these attributes will receive invitations.

General draws will continue to rank candidates based on existing scoring systems.

Employer verification made mandatory

The province will also formalise stricter verification for job offers. Candidates applying under streams that require employer support must have a job offer from an employer registered with the OINP.

Employers must first register with the program and submit job offers for approval before candidates can apply for nomination.

New streams under consideration

Ontario had earlier proposed restructuring its immigration system in two phases. In the first phase, the province may merge existing employer job offer streams into a single stream with separate pathways based on skill levels.

In the second phase, remaining streams could be replaced with new categories, including a healthcare-focused stream, an entrepreneur stream, and an exceptional talent stream.

The province has not confirmed timelines for launching these new streams, but the upcoming changes indicate a shift towards a more targeted and flexible immigration system.