Ontario Opens New Permanent Residence Pathway for Foreign Workers and Physicians

Ontario has officially opened its new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWPS), providing eligible foreign workers and self-employed physicians with a new pathway to provincial nomination and permanent residence in the province.

The new stream is part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)’s major redesign and is designed to help Ontario address labour shortages while giving employers a way to retain skilled international talent. The stream was introduced as part of changes that came into effect in June 2026, replacing several of Ontario’s previous immigration pathways.

Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is now open

Ontario has launched the new Workforce Priority Stream after updating its OINP systems and eligibility requirements.

Under the new pathway, eligible foreign nationals can seek a provincial nomination if they have a qualifying job offer from an Ontario employer. The stream is also available to certain self-employed physicians who meet Ontario’s requirements and do not need a job offer.

For applicants applying with a job offer, the Ontario employer must begin the process by registering and submitting the job offer through the OINP Employer Portal. Once the employer submits the job offer, the foreign worker can register an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Three pathways under the new stream

The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream provides opportunities for workers across different skill levels, as well as eligible self-employed physicians.

TEER 0–3 pathway

This pathway is designed for skilled foreign workers with a full-time and permanent job offer in an occupation classified under TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.

Applicants generally need relevant work experience, appropriate education and language proficiency. The standard language requirement is CLB 6, although CLB 5 may apply to certain eligible skilled-trade occupations.

Applicants may also qualify for an exemption from the language-test requirement in certain circumstances if they recently graduated from an eligible Ontario institution.

TEER 4–5 pathway

The stream also provides a pathway for foreign workers with full-time and permanent job offers in TEER 4 or 5 occupations.

Applicants generally need at least nine months of cumulative paid, full-time work experience in the position offered by their employer during the previous two years. The minimum language requirement is CLB 4, while applicants must generally have a Canadian secondary school diploma or an equivalent credential.

Self-employed physicians

Eligible self-employed physicians can apply without a job offer.

To qualify, physicians must meet Ontario’s requirements, including being a member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, holding an eligible certificate of registration and being eligible to bill Ontario’s public health insurance program, OHIP.

How the application process works

For applicants with a job offer, the process begins with the Ontario employer.

First, the employer must register with the OINP Employer Portal and submit information about the job offer. The applicant then receives a job offer ID and must register an Expression of Interest within 30 calendar days of the employer submitting the job offer.

OINP ranks candidates based on the information provided in their EOI. Selected candidates may receive an Invitation to Apply for provincial nomination.

After receiving an invitation, the employer has 14 calendar days to submit its application for approval of the employment position. The applicant has 17 calendar days to submit their complete application and pay the required fee.

Employer requirements

Ontario employers must also satisfy specific requirements before a job offer can qualify under the stream.

Among other requirements, the employer generally must have been actively operating for at least three years, maintain a business location in Ontario, meet applicable revenue requirements and employ a required number of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

The job itself must be full-time and permanent, be urgently necessary for the employer’s business and meet Ontario’s applicable wage requirements.

Employers located in rural communities may benefit from lower gross annual revenue requirements under the program.

What happens after nomination?

If an application is approved, the successful candidate receives a provincial nomination from Ontario and can then apply to the federal government for permanent residence.

The final decision on permanent residence is made by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), not the Ontario government.

Applicants should also carefully maintain the information and qualifications declared in their Expression of Interest, as they must provide documents supporting the factors that formed the basis of their invitation.

Ontario replaces its previous immigration streams

The Workforce Priority Stream represents the first phase of Ontario’s broader OINP redesign.

As part of the changes introduced in June 2026, Ontario closed several previous pathways, including the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker, Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills, Employer Job Offer: International Student, Master’s Graduate, PhD Graduate and several Express Entry-linked streams.

Applications submitted under the previous program continue to be assessed according to the eligibility requirements that were in place when those applications were submitted.

More Ontario immigration pathways are planned

Ontario has indicated that additional immigration pathways are planned as part of the second phase of the OINP redesign.

The province has announced plans for a priority healthcare worker stream, an entrepreneur stream and an exceptional talent stream. The exceptional talent pathway is expected to focus on individuals with significant achievements in areas such as academia, innovation, science and technology, and the arts.

However, full eligibility requirements and launch dates for these future pathways have not yet been announced.

A new opportunity for foreign workers

The launch of the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream gives eligible foreign workers with Ontario job offers a new route toward provincial nomination and permanent residence.

With pathways covering occupations across TEER categories 0 through 5 and a separate option for eligible self-employed physicians, the program is intended to support Ontario employers facing labour shortages while creating new opportunities for international workers.

Prospective applicants should carefully review the current OINP requirements before submitting an Expression of Interest, as meeting the basic requirements does not guarantee an invitation or provincial nomination.

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