On March 16, 2026, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) introduced significant regulatory changes under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015.
Key highlights:
🔹 Major reset coming May 30, 2026
Nine existing OINP streams will lose their legal basis, including Employer Job Offer, Masters/PhD Graduate, Human Capital Priorities, and more. New selection frameworks are expected but not yet released.
🔹 Targeted invitations expanded
All candidates must receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Ontario can now issue targeted draws based on factors like education, language, occupation, and regional labour needs.
🔹 Employer Portal requirement
For job offer streams, employers must be registered through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Employer Portal before candidates can apply.
🔹 System redesign underway
Future streams may focus on Priority Healthcare, Entrepreneur, and Exceptional Talent categories.
What this means:
✔ Applications submitted before May 30 are generally unaffected
âš Candidates without ITAs may face uncertainty
📈 Ontario received ~14,119 nominations for 2026, with recent draws targeting key occupations
Bottom line:
Ontario is shifting toward a more targeted, employer-driven immigration system. Staying informed and prepared is critical.