The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has officially reached its full nomination limit for the year, as confirmed in a program update released on December 17.
Ontario announced that it issued a total of 10,750 provincial nominations, fully utilising its reduced allocation for the year.
What This Update Means for Applicants
Even though Ontario has met its nomination cap, the province will continue accepting and reviewing OINP applications. This includes:
- Newly submitted applications
- Applications already under review
However, any successful applications approved from now on will be counted under Ontario’s 2026 nomination allocation, not the current year.
Applicants are advised to regularly check the OINP e-Filing portal for the latest updates related to their file. Some candidates may experience delays in receiving nominations as Ontario transitions to the next year’s allocation.
It’s also important to note that receiving a provincial nomination is different from getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Provinces typically issue more invitations than available nominations to account for refusals or withdrawals during processing.
Major OINP Changes Seen This Year
At the beginning of the year, the federal government reduced provincial nomination allocations across Canada by 50%, prompting provinces including Ontario to adopt a more selective approach.
In June, Ontario confirmed that it had received only 10,750 nomination slots, a sharp decline from 21,500 nominations in the previous year.
To manage the reduced allocation, Ontario introduced several key changes. The province launched an online Employer Portal and shifted its Employer Job Offer streams from an applicant-driven model to an employer-led system. Additionally, the OINP introduced the e-Filing system to simplify application submissions and improve tracking.
Proposed OINP Overhaul Ahead
In December, Ontario revealed plans to significantly restructure its Provincial Nominee Program. The proposal includes merging the three Employer Job Offer streams into one single stream, while discontinuing other existing pathways.
Ontario also plans to introduce new targeted streams, such as:
- A priority healthcare stream
- An entrepreneur stream
- An exceptional talent stream
These proposed changes aim to better align immigration pathways with Ontario’s evolving labour market needs.
What to Expect Next
According to the federal government’s latest Immigration Levels Plan, announced in November, Canada aims to welcome 91,500 provincial nominee admissions in 2026, a 66% increase compared to the previous target.
This increase has raised expectations that provinces like Ontario may receive higher nomination allocations next year, potentially opening more opportunities for skilled workers and employers.
