Welcome to the Ontario Workforce Stream – Ontario PNP

Welcome to the Ontario Workforce Stream – Ontario PNP

Posted on 01/07/2026

The Ontario Workforce Stream (OWS) and Expression of Interest (EOI) system just got an overhaul, and recent legislation by the Federal Government is part of the story here. In March 2026, Ottawa enacted federal legislation that handed off final responsibility for assessing a provincial nominee certificate back to provincial nominee programs. Previously, an IRCC officer would be the final check on any nominee certificate and had the power to reject a certificate, even though the province had approved the certificate.

Not anymore. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, or OINP, now has the final say on that nomination certificate.

So the current OINP overhaul of OWS is the result of the added responsibility provincial nominee programs now face. While the final shape of the new system will reportedly be revealed over the summer months (July & August, 2026), some details have already been released:

• Ontario’s EOI system was temporarily closed down on June 25, 2026.
• If you have submitted an application but have not received an ITA (invitation to apply) your application will be deleted and you’ll have to register all over again at the new portal, when it opens.
• If have received an ITA, your application will continue to be processed.
• The 8 separate streams will be merged into the Ontario Workforce Stream, or OWS, and will consist of 3 separate tracks:
  • Skilled Workers: TEER 0 – 3: higher language requirements (CLB 6 minimum) and
    • 6 consecutive months experience or
    • 2 years cumulative experience in the last 5 years or
    • 3 months consecutive in the last 12 months for recent graduates, who reportedly have a job offer.
    • A post-secondary diploma or degree is required
  • Essential Workers: TEER 4 – 5: language requirements of CLB 4 minimum and
    • 9 months “local” experience with a sponsoring employer.
    • Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent
  • Self-employed Physicians: for physicians who:
    • are in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons (of Ontario),
    • hold a valid registration, and
    • who also have authorization to bill OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Program).
  • The requirements for employers in Ontario will be less restrictive for those located outside of the GTA (Greater Toronto area):
    • The revenue thresholds for rural and northern communities will be lowered to encourage migration of needed workers to these areas of Ontario.
  • The Human Capital programs that gave international Masters and PhD graduates a direct path into the workforce will no longer be available. In other words, if you are an international graduate student studying for your Masters or PhD, your pathway to permanent residence in Ontario has changed. You will now need to apply for a work permit, obtain the necessary experience and then register with the new OINP portal when it is released later this summer.
  • You will now have only 30 days to respond to a notice of Administrative Monetary Penalty or a notice of a Ban. Previously, you had 60 days.
  • The following streams are now closed:

• • • Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker
    • Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills
    • Employer Job Offer: International Student
    • Master’s Graduate
    • PhD Graduate
    • Express Entry Human Capital Priorities
    • Express Entry French-speaking Skilled Worker
    • Express Entry Skilled Trades

Please note, however, that while a federal immigration officer at IRCC reportedly will no longer be able to reject a provincial nomination certificate, that does not necessarily mean your application for permanent residence will be automatically accepted. It does mean you have a very good chance of being successful, but the Ontario government does point out that the final say on your PR application is still up to the IRCC officer reviewing your case.

This story will be updated as new information comes in over the remaining months this year and perhaps even into 2027, as Ontario rolls out the OWS. So, make sure you check back to get the latest on any new details!

Posted in News and tagged Ontario PNP, OWS