Ontario issues more than 1,800 invitations in first OINP draws of 2026

Ontario has started 2026 with targeted immigration draws under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
On February 2, 2026, the province issued 1,825 invitations to apply (ITAs) across six draws.

These selections focused on employer-supported candidates, especially in healthcare, early childhood education, and regional communities.
This update is most relevant for applicants with valid Ontario job offers under the Employer Job Offer streams.

What happened in Ontario’s first OINP draws of 2026

Ontario conducted six targeted draws under its Employer Job Offer categories:

• Foreign Worker stream

• International Student stream

• In-Demand Skills stream

All draws considered EOI profiles created between July 2, 2025, and January 28, 2026.

Summary of draw results

Occupations targeted in these draws

Physicians (Foreign Worker stream)

Ontario invited candidates in the following NOC occupations:

• NOC 31100 – Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine

• NOC 31101 – Specialists in surgery

• NOC 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians

Healthcare and early childhood education

Other targeted draws focused on:

• Healthcare occupations

• Early childhood educators and assistants

These occupations continue to be priority areas due to ongoing labour shortages in Ontario.

What is the REDI pilot under the OINP?

The Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot is part of Ontario’s effort to support smaller and rural communities.

Key points to understand:

• REDI is not a separate immigration stream

• It operates within existing Employer Job Offer streams

• Candidates must have a full-time job offer in one of these regions:

  • Lanark County

  • Leeds and Grenville

  • Sarnia–Lambton

  • Thunder Bay

There are no extra application steps for REDI. Selection happens through targeted draws.

If your job offer is outside these regions, REDI does not apply.

What invited candidates must do next

If you received an invitation from Ontario:

1. Submit a complete OINP application within 60 days

2. Meet all stream-specific requirements

3. Wait for Ontario’s nomination decision

After receiving a provincial nomination, candidates may apply for permanent residence through the federal government, managed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

You should always review official instructions before submitting documents.

Official government sources (recommended reading)

For accurate and updated information, refer to:

• Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP):
  https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-immigrant-nominee-program-oinp

• Employer Job Offer streams overview:
  https://www.ontario.ca/page/oinp-employer-job-offer-streams

• IRCC permanent residence process:
  https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada.html

Reality check for applicants

• An invitation is not permanent residence

• A valid job offer is mandatory for these streams

• Scores and targeting can change without notice

• Regional pilots like REDI apply only to specific locations

These draws benefit applicants who already have strong employer support in Ontario.
If you do not have a qualifying job offer, other immigration pathways may be more appropriate.

Before making decisions, always confirm eligibility using official provincial and federal guidelines.