Ontario Immigration 2026

On This Page You Will Find:

• Why Ontario is Canada’s top destination for immigrants
• How the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) works
• Ontario’s new Workforce Priority Stream
• The 2026 redesign of the OINP
• Federal immigration pathways to Ontario
• What happened to the former OINP streams
• Frequently asked questions

Ontario Immigration

Ontario remains Canada’s leading destination for newcomers, welcoming more permanent residents each year than any other province. Its diverse economy, world-class universities, strong job market and high quality of life continue to attract skilled workers, international graduates, entrepreneurs and families from around the world.

The province is also the largest destination for immigrants selected through Canada’s federal economic immigration programs. Every year, Ontario receives by far the greatest share of newcomers admitted through programs such as Express Entry, the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, reflecting the province’s broad employment opportunities and strong demand for skilled talent.

In addition to federal immigration programs, Ontario operates its own provincial immigration system through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The program allows the province to nominate workers with the skills and experience needed to address labour shortages and support long-term economic growth.

The OINP underwent its most significant transformation in 2026, replacing the previous multi-stream system with a simplified employer-led model centred on the new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. This guide explains how Ontario immigration now works and the pathways available to prospective newcomers.

Why Immigrate To Ontario?

Ontario is Canada’s most populous province and its economic engine. Home to Toronto, Ottawa and many of Canada’s fastest-growing communities, the province offers employment opportunities across technology, health care, manufacturing, finance, construction, skilled trades, transportation and professional services.

Ontario also provides:

• Canada’s largest labour market.
• A diverse and resilient economy.
• Excellent public education and universities.
• Universal health care for eligible residents.
• Strong public services and infrastructure.
• Vibrant multicultural communities.

Whether arriving through a federal immigration program or a provincial nomination, most newcomers to Canada choose Ontario as their destination.

How The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Works

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program allows the provincial government to nominate individuals for permanent residence based on Ontario’s labour market needs.

Unlike federal immigration programs, which select candidates for immigration to Canada as a whole, the OINP focuses on workers who intend to live and work permanently in Ontario.

Successful applicants receive a provincial nomination and then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. The federal government remains responsible for assessing admissibility and making the final decision on every permanent residence application.

You can also consider our guide to other ways to immigrate to Canada.

Ontario’s New Workforce Priority Stream

In 2026, Ontario introduced the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream as the province’s primary employer-driven immigration pathway.

The stream is designed for skilled foreign workers with qualifying permanent job offers from eligible Ontario employers. It also includes a dedicated pathway for eligible self-employed physicians.

Applicants must meet requirements relating to work experience, language ability, education and legal status. Employers must first register the employment position through the OINP Employer Portal before the applicant can submit an Expression of Interest.

Candidates who receive an Invitation to Apply and successfully satisfy all program requirements may receive an Ontario nomination for permanent residence.

Read our complete guide to the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.

Ontario’s 2026 Immigration Reform

The launch of the Workforce Priority Stream marked the biggest restructuring of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program since its creation.

The province replaced its previous system of separate worker and graduate streams with a simplified employer-led model designed to make the program easier to navigate while giving Ontario greater flexibility to respond to changing labour market needs.

The redesign also introduced a new Employer Portal, revised eligibility requirements, a new employer approval process and updated Expression of Interest selection criteria.

What Happened To The Previous OINP Streams?

As part of the 2026 redesign, Ontario closed nine long-standing immigration streams.

These included:

• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream
• Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream
• Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream
• Human Capital Priorities Stream
• French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
• Skilled Trades Stream
• Masters Graduate Stream
• PhD Graduate Stream
• Entrepreneur Stream

Candidates who already had applications in progress should follow Ontario’s transition guidance. New applicants should instead consider the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream if they meet the eligibility requirements.

The Ontario Entrepreneur Stream (Closed 2026)

This section is historical. The OINP Entrepreneur Stream is closed and is not accepting applications. Ontario removed it along with the other eight streams on 30 May 2026, and on 26 Jun 2026 O. Reg. 422/17 was amended to delete the remaining OINP streams and create the single Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. Ontario has said a redesigned entrepreneur stream will come in a later phase of the reform, but no eligibility criteria, investment thresholds or opening date have been published. The requirements below are recorded only so that applicants who were in the pipeline can see the rules that applied to them — they must not be treated as current.

While it was open, an Entrepreneur Stream applicant had to:

• have at least 24 months of full-time business experience in the previous 60 months, as an owner or a senior manager;
• hold a minimum net worth of $800,000 for a business in the Greater Toronto Area, or $400,000 outside the GTA and for information and communications technology or digital media businesses anywhere in the province;
• invest at least $600,000 in the GTA, or $200,000 outside the GTA and for ICT or digital media businesses, with at least 33 per cent equity ownership in each case;
• create two full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents in the GTA, or one outside the GTA and for ICT or digital media businesses;
• score at least CLB 4 in English or French, be actively involved in day-to-day management, and physically reside in Ontario for at least 75 per cent of the time the business was being managed; and
• meet all of the same requirements again for any business partner applying alongside them.

Buying an existing business carried extra conditions: at least one business-related visit to Ontario within 12 months of registering an Expression of Interest, continuous operation by the same owners for the previous 60 months, a complete transfer of ownership, at least 10 per cent of the personal investment put toward improving or expanding the business, and retention of all existing permanent full-time employees.

The business itself had to earn active income from selling goods or services, comply with federal, provincial and municipal law including Ontario’s labour and employment standards, be permanent rather than seasonal or project-based, and maintain a place of business in Ontario at all times. Ineligible businesses inside the GTA were existing Ontario franchises (a new foreign franchise expanding into Ontario was permitted), gas stations, tire recycling, scrap metal recycling, pawnbrokers, bed and breakfasts, holding companies, laundromats, automated car washes and payday lenders. Outside the GTA the same list applied without gas stations, bed and breakfasts and existing franchises.

Entrepreneurs who still want a Canadian business route should look at the provincial entrepreneur immigration programs that remain open in other provinces and territories.

Federal Immigration To Ontario

Many newcomers settle in Ontario without applying through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.

Ontario receives the largest share of immigrants selected through Canada’s federal economic immigration system, particularly under Express Entry.

Federal immigration pathways include:

• Express Entry
• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Family sponsorship
• Other permanent residence pathways administered by the federal government

For many skilled workers, obtaining permanent residence through a federal program may be faster than seeking a provincial nomination. Others may benefit from the additional opportunities offered through the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, particularly where an Ontario employer is prepared to support their application.

Which Immigration Pathway Is Right For You?

The right immigration pathway depends on your qualifications, work experience and long-term plans.

In general:

• The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is suitable for workers with qualifying Ontario job offers.
• Express Entry is often the preferred route for highly ranked skilled workers who qualify under a federal immigration program.
• Self-employed physicians may qualify under the dedicated physician pathway within the Workforce Priority Stream.

Before applying, candidates should review the eligibility requirements for each pathway carefully and ensure they meet the relevant criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions