Ontario Plans Major OINP Overhaul: New PR Streams, Fewer Pathways, Bigger Opportunities

Ontario is preparing for one of the most significant transformations in its provincial immigration system in recent years. The provincial government has announced a proposed two-phase redesign of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), signaling a shift toward a more targeted, employer-driven, and skills-focused approach to permanent residence.

If implemented, these changes would fundamentally reshape how Ontario selects immigrants, replacing many existing streams with a streamlined structure designed to better align with labour market shortages, healthcare needs, entrepreneurship, and exceptional talent.

The Ontario government is currently seeking feedback from stakeholders, including employers, immigration professionals, and industry representatives, before finalizing the proposed framework.

Why Ontario Is Restructuring the OINP

Ontario continues to face persistent labour shortages across multiple sectors, particularly in healthcare, construction, manufacturing, and skilled trades. At the same time, the province aims to attract global talent and entrepreneurs who can contribute to long-term economic growth.

According to Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, the proposed OINP overhaul is intended to:

1. Simplify program structure

2. Improve responsiveness to labour market needs

3. Strengthen employer participation

4. Attract high-impact talent beyond traditional job-offer pathways

This restructuring will occur in two phases, each introducing substantial changes to existing OINP streams.

Phase One: Consolidation of Employer Job Offer Streams

A Single Employer Job Offer Stream

In Phase One, Ontario proposes to merge the current three Employer Job Offer streams (Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills) into one unified Employer Job Offer stream under the OINP.

This new stream would be divided into two distinct pathways based on the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system:

1. TEER 0–3 pathway

2. TEER 4–5 pathway

OINP Employer Job Offer – TEER 0–3 Pathway

The TEER 0–3 pathway is designed to attract skilled workers with strong qualifications, particularly those already working or studying in Ontario.

To qualify, applicants would need to meet minimum criteria across three areas:

1. Job Offer Wage

1. The job offer must meet or exceed the median wage for the occupation in Ontario

2. Recent graduates from eligible Ontario institutions (within the past two years) may qualify with a job offer at the low-wage threshold

2. Work Experience

Applicants must meet one of the following:

1. At least 6 months of work experience in Ontario in the same NOC and with the same employer

2. At least 2 years of experience in the occupation within the past five years

3. Hold a valid licence and good standing with the relevant regulatory body for regulated occupations

3. Education

1. A post-secondary credential is required

2. This requirement may be waived for applicants with 6 months of Ontario work experience in the job-offer occupation with the same employer

This pathway clearly prioritizes candidates who are already integrated into Ontario’s workforce and economy.

OINP Employer Job Offer – TEER 4–5 Pathway

The TEER 4–5 pathway is a notable expansion aimed at addressing chronic labour shortages in frontline and essential occupations, including service, manufacturing, logistics, and support roles.

Key features of the proposed TEER 4–5 pathway include:

1. Eligibility across all TEER 4 and 5 occupations, with selection focused on high-demand roles

2. Targeted draws based on labour market shortages, occupation, or regional needs

3. A minimum language requirement, likely set through regulation (e.g., a specific CLB level)

4. A requirement of at least 9 months of work experience in the job-offer occupation with the same Ontario employer

Built-In Flexibilities

Ontario is also proposing two important flexibilities:

1. A construction pathway allowing certain construction workers to qualify with union support, even without a permanent full-time job offer

2. Regional and sector-specific targeting, enabling Ontario to invite candidates based on geographic or occupational priorities

Phase Two: Introduction of Three New OINP Streams

In Phase Two, Ontario proposes to eliminate all remaining existing OINP streams and replace them with three entirely new pathways.

1. Priority Healthcare Stream

The Priority Healthcare Stream would create a dedicated pathway for healthcare professionals, addressing one of Ontario’s most urgent workforce challenges.

Proposed highlights include:

1. No job offer requirement for applicants who already hold valid registration in a regulated healthcare profession

2. Eligibility for recent graduates who are in the final stages of obtaining professional licensing or registration

This stream is expected to significantly accelerate permanent residence for internationally trained healthcare workers.

2. Redesigned Entrepreneur Stream

Ontario also plans to relaunch its Entrepreneur Stream, which was previously closed.

This redesigned OINP stream would target foreign nationals who:

1. Have established and are actively operating a new business in Ontario, or

2. Have purchased and are actively managing an existing Ontario business (business succession)

The focus is on:

1. Job creation

2. Long-term economic contribution

3. Regional development across Ontario

3. Exceptional Talent Stream

The proposed Exceptional Talent Stream represents a major shift in how Ontario evaluates high-impact individuals.

This pathway is designed for candidates whose value cannot be measured through traditional job offers or points-based systems, including individuals in:

1. Academia and research

2. Science and technology

3. Innovation and entrepreneurship

4. Arts and creative industries

Applicants would need to demonstrate:

1. Recognized achievements or contributions in their field

2. Evidence of significant impact or potential impact on Ontario’s economy, culture, or society

Examples may include:

1. Major academic publications

2. Prestigious national or international awards

3. Groundbreaking innovations

4. Widely recognized artistic or creative work

Assessment under this stream would be qualitative, focusing on overall contribution rather than standard scoring criteria.

What This Means for OINP Applicants

If approved, this overhaul would make the OINP:

1. More employer-responsive

2. More accessible to essential workers

3. More competitive for global talent

However, Ontario has not yet clarified how in-progress applications under existing streams would be handled once Phase Two is implemented.

Final Thoughts

Ontario’s proposed OINP redesign represents a bold shift toward a modern, targeted, and impact-driven provincial nominee system. While these changes are still in the consultation stage, they signal clear priorities: healthcare, labour shortages, entrepreneurship, and exceptional talent.

Applicants, employers, and international graduates should closely monitor developments and prepare strategically.

At Eiffel Immigration, we continuously track official OINP and Ontario government updates to help clients navigate changes confidently and compliantly.

Contact us today to assess your eligibility under current or upcoming OINP pathways and plan your permanent residence strategy effectively.