OINP French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream (Closed): Options Now

The French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream was one of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program's (OINP) three Express Entry streams. Ontario used it to grow its French-speaking communities.

It worked inside the federal Express Entry system. Ontario searched the pool for candidates with strong French and at least moderate English, and sent them a Notification of Interest (NOI). Candidates had to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker program or the Canadian Experience Class. No job offer was needed. A nomination added 600 points to the candidate's Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

Because the stream is closed, its old language and education rules no longer apply to anyone applying today.

The French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream is closed. Ontario repealed it, along with the other legacy OINP streams, effective June 25, 2026, when it introduced the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. It does not accept new expressions of interest (EOIs) or applications, and it will not reopen under its old rules.

As of September 2026, the Ontario Workforce Priority stream is the only OINP stream taking new candidates. The full story is on our 2026 OINP overhaul page.

Ontario's updates page explains two rules for people caught in the change:

• You applied after an invitation: your application continues to be assessed against the rules that were in effect on the day you submitted it. You do not need to reapply.
• You only had an EOI (or your employer had registered a job offer) and no invitation: Ontario is withdrawing these automatically. Nothing carries over to the new stream. If you qualify for the Ontario Workforce Priority stream, you (and your employer, if you have a job offer) must start again in the new system.

If you were already nominated, the nomination is still valid for the time stated on it, and you apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence as usual. If your temporary status is running out while you wait, look at maintained status and your options to extend your status. If your situation is complex, talk to a lawyer or a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) before acting.

Yes. The Ontario Workforce Priority stream needs a job offer, but it rewards French in its scoring:

Ontario accepts the TEF Canada and TCF Canada French tests. CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) is also used for French results, where it is called NCLC. With a TEER 0-3 job offer, you can choose to be nominated through Express Entry.

Ontario has also used francophone-focused invitation rounds in the past. Whether it will run French-targeted rounds in the new stream is not yet known.

• Express Entry French draws: candidates with strong French can be invited through the French-language category. Check each round's cutoff with our Express Entry draw tracker.
• Francophone Community Immigration Pilot: the FCIP includes three Ontario communities: Sudbury, Timmins and Superior East. You need a job offer from a designated employer there.
• Work permit first: the Francophone Mobility work permit lets French speakers work outside Quebec without an LMIA.
• Other provinces: New Brunswick's Strategic Initiative targets French speakers, and Quebec runs its own French-focused selection.
• Ontario job offer: apply through the Ontario Workforce Priority stream.