Ontario Opens the New Workforce Priority Stream to Applicants
The expression of interest (EOI) portal for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program's new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream opened on August 4, 2026. The stream replaces eight OINP streams repealed on June 25, 2026, and has three pathways: TEER 0-3 jobs, TEER 4-5 jobs, and self-employed physicians. Ontario calls this the first of two phases.
- Date
- August 4, 2026
- What opened
- EOI portal for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream
- Legacy streams repealed
- June 25, 2026 (eight streams)
- Pathways
- TEER 0-3; TEER 4-5; self-employed physicians
- Job offer needed
- Yes, full-time and permanent (TEER pathways)
- Ontario's 2026 allocation
- 14,119 nominations
What happened
Ontario rebuilt its Provincial Nominee Program in two steps:
- June 25, 2026: amendments to Ontario Regulation 422/17 came into force, repealing eight legacy streams: Employer Job Offer (Foreign Worker, In-Demand Skills, and International Student), Master's Graduate, PhD Graduate, and the three Express Entry streams (Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, and Skilled Trades). The EOI system closed to new EOIs under those streams.
- August 4, 2026: the EOI portal for the new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream opened for candidates and employers.
Ontario said this is the first of a two-phase redesign. It has not yet published details of Phase 2.
Who is affected
Candidates with an Ontario job offer. The main requirements of the new pathways are:
| Pathway | Experience | Language | Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEER 0-3 | 6 months in a row in the last 12 months (3 months for recent Ontario graduates), or 2 years total in the last 5 years | CLB 6 (CLB 5 for some jobs) | Post-secondary degree or diploma |
| TEER 4-5 | 9 months total in the last 2 years | CLB 4 | Canadian high school diploma or equivalent |
| Self-employed physicians | Registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and able to bill OHIP |
Graduates without a job offer. The Master's and PhD Graduate streams, which did not need a job offer, are gone.
Express Entry candidates. There is no Ontario stream that selects directly from the Express Entry pool at the moment.
People with old EOIs. EOIs under the former streams that did not lead to an invitation are being withdrawn automatically. Applications already submitted after an invitation are assessed under the rules in place when they were filed.
What to do
- If you have a full-time, permanent job offer from an Ontario employer, check which pathway fits and register an EOI.
- Make sure your language test is valid and meets the CLB level. See language tests.
- Employers can reuse existing portal accounts, but each new EOI needs a new job offer. See PNP employer streams.
- If you do not have a job offer, look at federal Express Entry draws or other provinces on the PNP overview.
Read our Ontario PNP overhaul status page for the full timeline.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream open?
Its EOI portal opened on August 4, 2026.
Can I apply to Ontario PNP without a job offer now?
Not through the TEER pathways, which need a full-time, permanent Ontario job offer. The Master's and PhD Graduate streams were repealed on June 25, 2026.
Are TEER 4 and 5 jobs eligible?
Yes. The TEER 4-5 pathway is open to all occupations at those levels, with CLB 4 and 9 months of experience in the last 2 years.
What is Phase 2?
Ontario said the August launch is the first of two phases but has not published Phase 2 details.
Official sources
General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.