OINP Employer Portal and EOI System Now Open for Ontario Workforce Priority Stream – August 4, 2026

Ontario has reopened intake under the redesigned Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. On August 4, 2026, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development opened the Expression of Interest (EOI) portal for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. Employers can now submit job offers through the Employer Portal, and eligible foreign nationals can register linked EOIs.

This ends the transition period that began when the previous eight streams closed on June 26, 2026. The new system is live.

What opened on August 4, 2026

The official OINP program updates page confirms that the EOI portal is open for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. The stream covers:

• Pathways for individuals with job offers in all National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories
• A dedicated pathway for eligible self-employed physicians

Program materials and website pages have been updated to match the new rules. Official confirmation also appeared on the Ontario immigration X account the same day.

How the employer-led process works

The process is now clearly employer-first.

1. An eligible Ontario employer registers (or logs in if previously registered) in the Employer Portal and submits a job offer for the position. The candidate receives a Job Offer ID by email.
2. The candidate registers an Expression of Interest in the OINP e-Filing Portal using that Job Offer ID. Registration must occur within 30 calendar days or the job offer expires.
3. If the candidate receives an invitation to apply, the employer has 14 calendar days to submit an application for approval of the employment position. The candidate then has 17 calendar days from the invitation date to submit the full nomination application and fee (after the employer’s submission).

Previously registered employers do not need to create a new account. They must, however, submit a new job offer under the Workforce Priority Stream. Old job offers and EOIs that did not receive an invitation were withdrawn during the transition.

The three pathways

TEER 0–3 (higher-skilled) Permanent full-time job offer required. Minimum language is generally CLB 6 (CLB 5 for certain occupations). Post-secondary education is required. Work experience options include six months consecutive with the job-offer employer in the last 12 months, a reduced three-month threshold for recent Ontario graduates, or two years cumulative in the occupation in the last five years. Licensed applicants may be exempt from the experience requirement.

TEER 4–5 (lower-skilled) Permanent full-time job offer required. Minimum language is CLB 4. Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent is required. Nine months cumulative experience in the job-offer position in the last two years is required.

Self-employed physicians No job offer is required. The physician must be a member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, hold an eligible certificate of registration, and be eligible to bill OHIP. These candidates begin by submitting a webform rather than using the Employer Portal.

Rural employers (census divisions with population under 150,000) benefit from lower gross annual revenue thresholds.

Scoring and invitations

Candidates are ranked under a points-based system published on July 20, 2026. Factors include occupational TEER, wage level, Ontario work experience, Canadian earnings history, education, language ability, and regionalization. The Ministry has not announced when the first invitation rounds will begin. Rounds may occur without prior notice, so early preparation remains important.

Practical next steps

Employers who want to support a foreign worker should review the current employer eligibility criteria (business age, Ontario premises, revenue and Canadian-employee thresholds, recruitment efforts where required) and prepare to submit a new job offer.

Candidates should confirm they meet the pathway requirements that match their occupation, secure a qualifying permanent job offer if needed, obtain current language test results, and have education and experience documents ready. Once a job offer is submitted, the 30-day EOI registration window starts immediately.

Applications already in process under the former streams continue under the rules that applied when they were submitted.

Bottom line

The OINP Employer Portal and EOI system are open again. The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is the live pathway for employer-supported nominations and for eligible self-employed physicians. The process is structured, time-sensitive after invitation, and invitation-based. Preparation now positions both employers and candidates to act as soon as invitations begin.

If you need a clear assessment of whether a specific job offer and candidate profile meet the current Workforce Priority Stream criteria, that is the review we perform at the start of every file. Contact JSR Immigration & Legals to discuss next steps.

This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Eligibility depends on the facts of each case and the rules in force at the time of application. Always verify current requirements on the official Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program website or with a licensed representative before taking action.