Ontario has replaced its former eight Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) streams with a new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. The redesign places substantially greater emphasis on an applicant’s present connection to Ontario’s labour market, while retaining education, language ability and regional settlement as important selection factors.

A consolidated, employer-driven stream

The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream provides a nomination pathway for eligible foreign workers with qualifying job offers in occupations across all National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories. It also contains a distinct route for eligible self-employed physicians. For most applicants, the employer must initiate the process through Ontario’s Employer Portal and obtain approval of the employment position.

The redesign should not be understood as a points-only program. An applicant must first satisfy every applicable stream requirement, including the requirements relating to work experience or licensing, language, education, status in Canada, and intention to reside and work in Ontario. The employer and the proposed employment position must also qualify. EOI points determine ranking; they do not cure an eligibility deficiency.

How the new EOI framework is structured

Ontario’s published scoring framework evaluates employment and labour-market characteristics, education, language ability and the location of employment. Every point claimed must be supported by documentary evidence if an invitation to apply is issued.

1. Occupation and TEER category

Applicants may receive 9 points for a job offer in TEER 0 or 1, 6 points for TEER 2 or 3, and no TEER-category points for TEER 4 or 5. Separate points are assigned for the NOC broad occupational category, ranging from 2 to 10 points. These factors make accurate NOC classification particularly important: the selected NOC must reflect the position’s actual duties, not simply its job title.

2. Hourly wage

Hourly wage	EOI points
$40.00 or more	15
$35.00–$39.99	12
$30.00–$34.99	10
$25.00–$29.99	8
$20.00–$24.99	5
Below $20.00	0

The wage entered by the employer is prepopulated in the applicant’s EOI. A higher wage improves ranking, but the wage must also satisfy the separate wage requirements applicable to the employment position.

3. Ontario work experience

Experience in the job-offer position	EOI points
More than 24 months	18
13–24 months	15
6–12 months	12
Less than 6 months, or not currently in the position	0

Where an applicant has less than six months in the job-offer position, other Ontario work experience may produce up to 12 points. This alternative may be relevant to applicants who have an established Ontario employment history but only recently moved into the proposed position.

4. Canadian earnings history and current status

• A Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment showing annual earnings of $70,000 or more in one of the last five years: 8 points
• $50,000–$69,999: 6 points
• $30,000–$49,999: 4 points
• Below $30,000: 0 points

A valid work permit is worth 10 points, while a valid study permit is worth 5 points. No points are awarded under this factor without a valid work or study permit. These are scoring rules, not substitutes for the separate requirement to hold legal status when applying from within Canada.

5. Education

The highest level of education may produce up to 10 points. A Canadian credential or an Educational Credential Assessment is generally required. Applicants may also receive 10 points for more than one qualifying Canadian post-secondary credential, 5 points for one such credential, and no points if they have none.

6. Language ability

• CLB 9 or higher: 15 points
• CLB 8: 12 points
• CLB 7: 8 points
• CLB 6: 4 points
• CLB 5 or lower: 0 points

Points are based on the lowest Canadian Language Benchmark level across reading, writing, listening and speaking. Ten additional points are available for proficiency in both official languages where the applicant has at least CLB 6 in all four abilities in both English and French.

7. Regional employment

• Northern Ontario: 15 points
• Eastern Ontario: 10 points
• Central Ontario outside the Greater Toronto Area: 10 points
• Southwestern Ontario: 10 points
• Within the Greater Toronto Area, excluding Toronto: 5 points
• Toronto: 0 points

For applicants with a job offer, regional points are based on the work location entered by the employer. The factor continues Ontario’s policy objective of encouraging immigration beyond Toronto and gives the greatest advantage to employment in Northern Ontario.

Who may be comparatively well positioned?

The published framework favours applicants who combine a qualifying Ontario job offer with a higher wage, meaningful experience in the offered position, a documented Canadian earnings history, valid work authorization, stronger language results and employment outside Toronto. Education remains relevant, but it is now assessed alongside a much broader set of labour-market indicators.

A competitive score does not guarantee an invitation, and an invitation does not guarantee nomination. Applicants and employers must be able to substantiate every material representation and must continue to satisfy the applicable requirements throughout processing.

Practical preparation before the system opens

1. Confirm that the proposed NOC and TEER accurately reflect the position’s principal duties.
2. Review the employer, job-offer, wage and work-location requirements independently from the EOI score.
3. Organize proof of Ontario work experience, status documents, language results, education records and Notices of Assessment.
4. Identify any regulated-occupation licensing requirement at an early stage.
5. Wait for Ontario’s formal announcement confirming that EOI registration has opened and review the requirements again at that time.

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Official sources: Ontario Workforce Priority Stream · 2026 OINP Updates · Applicant Document Checklist

Published July 2026. Program criteria, procedures and invitation practices may change after publication.