Ontario PNP Requirements for Canada PR in 2026
Canada’s largest province has long run the country’s most successful PNP. If you’re reading up on how Ontario PNP works, here’s an important piece of information to be aware: Ontario was a very un-typical year for PNP. Back in June 2026, they shut down 8 long-running OINP streams of the program, and replaced them all with a brand new stream. Many of the “Ontario PNP requirements” articles out there today were written before that, and so no longer accurately show what the program is like.
GIEC Global UK keeps a tight rein on all changes made to this program so that our clients apply via the right one at the right time. When your PNP Canada application is being done from the UK and you need your PR file managed efficiently and without missed dates, our UK advisors would be delighted to guide you.
What Is the Ontario PNP (OINP) and What Changed in 2026?
The OINP, more commonly referred to as the Ontario PNP is the method by which Ontario nominates individuals for Canadian permanent residence. A provincial nomination for Canada PR does not directly grant you Canadian permanent residency, but rather, is a referral from Ontario that you then use to apply with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for your PR.
The program is also commonly referred to as PNP Ontario Canada, Canada PNP Ontario or the Ontario Nominee Program.
Back in 2025-early 2026, the OINP consisted of eight separate streams: The Human Capital Priorities Stream, the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream, the Skilled Trades Stream, the three Employer Job Offer Streams, and the Masters and PhD Graduate Streams. On 25 June 2026, Ontario shut down all of these eight streams with no further invitations going out and candidates with an outstanding Expression of Interest were required to reapply in a new pool. Ontario replaced all these streams with the new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, and reopened its EOI for this system August 4 2026, and it is currently now the primary means to enter Ontario’s provincial nominee program. Ontario have now given notice of a phase two for their provincial nomination program that will include streams for exceptional talent, entrepreneurs, and healthcare workers but no concrete dates have been announced.
| Ontario Workforce Priority Pathway | Who It's For | Job Offer Needed | Language Level | Minimum Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEER 0–3 | Managers, professionals, technical and skilled trades roles | Yes — full-time and permanent | CLB 6 (CLB 5 for some occupations) | Post-secondary degree or diploma |
| TEER 4–5 | Intermediate and essential-service roles | Yes — full-time and permanent | CLB 4 | Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent |
| Self-Employed Physicians | Licensed physicians | Not required | N/A | CPSO membership and OHIP billing eligibility |
Ontario PNP Eligibility Requirements in 2026
Based on the pathway that applies to your job offer, to qualify for the new stream, you will most likely need:
- A valid, full-time, permanent job offer from an eligible employer in Ontario (excluding self-employed doctors);
- Employers that have been in active business in Ontario for a minimum of three years and meet Ontario’s revenue and staffing standards;
- Workplace experience
TEER 0-3: 6 months for your employer (3 months for a recent graduate of an Ontario college/university) or accumulated at 2 years total for your occupation within the past 5 years.
TEER 4-5: 9 months accumulated within the past 2 years; - Test scores from an official language test with results no less than CLB 6 for the job in TEER 0-3, and CLB 4 for TEER 4-5 in English or French;
- Educational documentation that meets the minimum requirement of the pathway applicable to your job offer;
- Genuine intention to live and work in Ontario;
- A valid immigration status if you are residing in Canada.
How to Apply for the Ontario PNP – Step by Step
It takes some time to get an application in once a nomination goes forward, so be sure to look ahead: If you meet the eligibility requirements your Ontario employer can register on the OINP Employer Portal and verify that your job offer is program compliant. Then, you can register an Expression of Interest which stays on in the selection pool for twelve months. You will get an Invitation to Apply if and when the government of Ontario chooses your profile from a general selection or a targeted draw for a specific occupation or region.
If selected, your employer has fourteen calendar days to respond to an offer of position, and you have seventeen calendar days to apply for your nomination, complete payment, and submit your application for nomination.
When the province of Ontario approves the file, you will be nominated to obtain the nomination certificate. You then have six months in which to submit the application to IRCC to claim Canada PR, the biometrics, a medical check-up, and wait for the official Notification of your PR status and your Confirmation of Permanent Residence.
| Stage | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Employer registration & job offer approval | Employer must be active in Ontario for 3+ years and meet revenue thresholds |
| Expression of Interest (EOI) | Free to register; stays valid for 12 months |
| Invitation to Apply (ITA) | Issued through general or targeted draws; no fixed schedule |
| OINP nomination application fee | Around CAD $1,500 (some sources note higher fees for GTA-based positions) |
| Apply to IRCC after nomination | Must be submitted within 6 months of your nomination |
| Federal PR processing fee | CAD $990 processing fee + CAD $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee per applicant |
| Federal PR processing time | Roughly 6 months if linked to Express Entry; longer for base (non-Express Entry) applications |
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FAQs
No. All previously existing eight streams like Human Capital Priorities, Skilled Trades, and Masters and PhD Graduate streams have been discontinued on 25 June 2026 by Ontario. Now, the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is the only province stream of designation that a person needs to follow.
Yes, on either TEER 0-3 or 4-5 pathway, a full-time permanent job offer by an eligible Ontario employer is required unless you’re on a self-employed physician pathway.
Majority of TEER 0-3 occupations will need CLB 6 (few specific will require CLB 5) and TEER 4-5 occupations will need CLB 4. Language test should be in English or French.
The cost to register an Expression of Interest is free. If you receive an invitation, the OINP nomination application fee is approximately CAD $1,500 (some provinces charge a bit more). Once nominated, you’ll have to pay the federal PR fee to the IRCC which is CAD $990 process plus CAD $600 RPR fee.
There is no particular time frame – once you are nominated you get six months to officially submit your application to IRCC. There is a processing time by the federal government which is about 6 months if the application is submitted as part of Express Entry, or longer for a base or non-Express entry application.
Even if you have an active Express Entry profile, and are eligible on the TEER 0-3 pathway to have Ontario nominate you through the Express Entry system. If nominated through this channel, you are granted 600 points to your CRS score and thus likely to be issued an IT A in the next federal draw.
