Updated July 2026. Effective May 30, 2026, Ontario revoked the regulatory basis for its previous OINP stream categories, closing all eight former streams as part of the program’s largest structural overhaul in its history.
What the Regulation Change Actually Did
Changes to Ontario Regulation 422/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 removed the eight former OINP streams: Foreign Worker, In-Demand Skills, International Student, Master’s Graduate, PhD Graduate, Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, and Skilled Trades. Their Expression of Interest (EOI) systems closed, and no further invitations are being issued under any of them.
What Replaced Them
In their place, Ontario introduced a single new stream: the Ontario Workforce Priority stream, covering three pathways — TEER 0-3 occupations, TEER 4-5 occupations, and self-employed physicians. Most pathways require a valid Ontario job offer; the self-employed physicians pathway is the only one that doesn’t.
Why Ontario Made This Change
The redesign follows a period of significant strain on OINP, including a roughly 50% cut to Ontario’s federal PNP allocation (from about 21,500 nominations in 2024 to roughly 10,750 in 2025) and internal compliance concerns that led to the earlier suspension of the Skilled Trades Stream specifically. The government has described this as Phase 1 of a broader redesign, with more changes expected to better align the program with Ontario’s labour market needs.
What If You Were Mid-Application Under an Old Stream?
If you had an EOI or application in progress under any of the eight closed streams, that specific pathway is no longer accepting or processing new activity. You’ll need to assess your eligibility under the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream once its EOI system opens (expected later in summer 2026), or look at Ontario’s other PNP options in the meantime.
For the official announcement and current program details, see Ontario.ca’s 2026 OINP updates page.
Related Reading
- 5 New Ontario-OINP Draws On Dec 10 Sent 1,133 PR Invitations
- New ODSP Payments For Ontario Residents Coming This Week
- Ontario Confirms Higher OINP Nomination Allocation for 2026
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