Ontario Launches Three New Pathways to Permanent Residence Under OINP Overhaul

Ontario has officially launched the first phase of its major overhaul to provincial immigration pathways, introducing three new streams under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. The regulatory amendments were published on June 26, 2026, marking a significant shift in how foreign nationals can pursue provincial nomination for permanent residence through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

The three new pathways are: the TEER 0-3 pathway for workers in higher-skilled occupations, the TEER 4-5 pathway for workers in lower-skilled occupations, and a dedicated stream for self-employed physicians. While the streams have come into effect immediately, foreign nationals must wait until Ontario reopens its Expression of Interest (EOI) system later this summer to actually apply.

The Three New Pathways Explained

TEER 0-3 Pathway: Higher-Skilled Workers

This pathway targets foreign nationals with job offers in occupations that typically require post-secondary education or training. Requirements include:

• Job offer: Full-time, permanent position with an eligible Ontario employer in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation, paying at least the median wage for that occupation in Ontario. Recent graduates from eligible Ontario institutions (within the past two years) may qualify with a job offer at the low-wage level.
• Education: A post-secondary credential with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for non-Canadian credentials, unless the applicant has six months of Ontario work experience in the job offer occupation with the same employer.
• Language: The proposed minimum is CLB 6 in English or French (or CLB 5 for some occupations).
• Additional requirement (one of three):
• Licensed to work in a regulated profession in Ontario and in good standing; OR
• At least two years cumulative work experience within the past five years in the same occupation as the job offer; OR
• Minimum consecutive work experience within the past 12 months in the same job with the same employer: six months for general applicants.

TEER 4-5 Pathway: Lower-Skilled Workers

This pathway opens opportunities for workers in occupations requiring primarily secondary school education and short-term on-the-job training:

• Job offer: Full-time, permanent position with an eligible Ontario employer in a TEER 4 or 5 occupation. The job offer must pay at least the median wage for the occupation in the region.
• Work experience: At least nine months cumulative work experience within the past two years in the same occupation (same NOC code) with the same employer. This experience must be paid, full-time, and legally obtained in Ontario.
• Education: A Canadian high school diploma or equivalent (with ECA if from outside Canada).
• Language: CLB 4 in English or French.

This stream is designed for essential workers and will use targeted draws to address specific labor shortages by occupation or region.

Self-Employed Physicians Pathway

A specialized stream for medical professionals:

• Licensed and in good standing as a physician in Ontario with a valid certificate of registration.
• Eligible to bill through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).

How the New EOI System Will Work

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is currently offline. All applicants must wait for the EOI system to reopen, which Ontario anticipates happening later this summer. Once reopened:

• Employers must initiate the process by submitting a new job offer and an application for employment position approval through the Employer Portal. Employers already registered in the Employer Portal will not need to re-register.
• Foreign nationals must then create a new EOI profile within 30 calendar days of the job offer being submitted by their employer.
• The OINP will select candidates from the pool and issue Invitations to Apply (ITA) for provincial nomination.
• If invited, the employer has 14 calendar days to apply for the approval of the employment position, and the applicant has 17 calendar days to submit their complete application.

What About Existing Applications?

Foreign nationals who already submitted applications under the old pathways will continue to have their files processed under the requirements that were in place when their applications were received. This ensures continuity for those already in the system.

Phase Two: What’s Coming Next

Ontario’s immigration overhaul is a two-phase process. The second phase, for which no launch date has been announced yet, will introduce three additional streams as proposed in December 2025:

• Priority Healthcare Stream: For healthcare workers who are licensed or on the path to licensing. Notably, this stream will NOT require a job offer.
• Entrepreneur Stream: For owner-operators of businesses in Ontario.
• Exceptional Talent Stream: For foreign nationals with outstanding achievements in science and technology, arts/literature/culture, or academia.

The Bigger Picture: Ontario’s Immigration Overhaul

This overhaul represents the most significant restructuring of Ontario’s provincial immigration program in years. The province retired all previous permanent residence pathways on May 30, 2026, without any replacements initially in place. The revocation was implemented through changes to provincial regulations, following proposals first announced by Ontario in December 2025.

The shift toward a workforce-priority model reflects Ontario’s focus on addressing labour market needs directly. By introducing separate pathways for different skill levels, the province is attempting to serve both high-skilled professionals and essential workers in lower-skilled occupations. The removal of job offer requirements for the upcoming Priority Healthcare Stream signals a broader strategy to address critical sector shortages.

How PNP Permanent Residence Works

The general process for obtaining permanent residence through a Provincial Nominee Program includes:

1. Meet the requirements of an OINP pathway.
2. Create an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile in the Ontario system once it reopens.
3. Be selected by OINP and receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
4. Submit a complete application for provincial nomination.
5. Receive nomination from OINP and apply to IRCC for permanent residence under the provincial nominee class.
6. Upon approval, receive Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).
7. Complete the landing process in Canada to receive PR status.

OINP Employer Requirements

Employers must have been actively operating for at least three years and meet specific revenue and staffing requirements. For 2026, the proposed revenue thresholds are $1,000,000 for businesses in the Greater Toronto Area and $500,000 for those outside it. Employers in rural communities (census divisions with populations under 150,000) face lower requirements, making it easier for smaller Ontario employers to sponsor foreign workers.

Key Takeaways

• Ontario’s new Workforce Priority Stream is now active in regulation but the EOI system reopening is expected later this summer.
• The TEER 4-5 pathway represents a notable expansion for lower-skilled workers, with relatively accessible language and education requirements.
• The self-employed physicians pathway provides a dedicated route for licensed medical practitioners eligible for OHIP billing.
• Phase Two streams (healthcare without job offer, entrepreneurs, exceptional talent) will follow at an unspecified date.
• Existing applications under old pathways continue processing normally.

This overhaul signals Ontario’s commitment to aligning its immigration program more closely with workforce needs. For foreign nationals considering provincial nomination, the key is to prepare documentation, secure job offers where applicable, and monitor for the EOI system reopening announcement.