Ontario Workforce Priority Stream Requirements & Application Process
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is part of the redesigned Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) and provides a pathway to permanent residence for eligible foreign workers with qualifying full-time and permanent job offers in Ontario. Different requirements apply to TEER 0–3 and TEER 4–5 occupations, including work experience, language, education, wage and employer criteria. The stream also includes a separate pathway for eligible self-employed physicians who may qualify without a job offer. Depending on the applicant’s category and federal eligibility, nomination may lead to permanent residence through either Express Entry or the non-Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program process.
Ontario Workforce Priority Stream Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream depends mainly on the TEER category of the applicant’s job offer. Applicants must receive an invitation to apply through the OINP Expression of Interest system and meet all applicable requirements when they submit their application.
TEER 0–3
Applicants must generally meet one of the following:
- at least 6 consecutive months of paid, full-time work experience in the offered position within the previous 12 months
- at least 3 consecutive months in the offered position for an eligible recent Ontario graduate who completed a qualifying Ontario credential within the previous three years.
- at least 2 years of qualifying work experience within the previous 5 years in the same NOC or certain permitted related occupations
- the mandatory Ontario or federal licence or authorization required for the occupation
Language requirements are generally CLB 6 for occupations outside Ontario’s listed skilled trades and CLB 5 for listed skilled-trades occupations. However, an eligible recent Ontario graduate may satisfy the language requirement through an eligible Ontario credential obtained within the previous three years and may not need to provide a language test result.
Applicants generally need at least a one-year Canadian post-secondary credential or equivalent. A secondary school credential may be sufficient for listed skilled-trades occupations, while a mandatory Ontario licence or authorization may satisfy the education requirement for certain regulated occupations. Foreign education generally requires a valid ECA. Special occupation-specific requirements may also apply.
TEER 4–5
Applicants must generally have:
- at least 9 months of cumulative, paid, full-time work experience in the offered position with the job-offer employer, gained within the 2 years before the application is submitted.
- CLB 4 or higher in all four language abilities
- a Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent
Foreign education generally requires a valid ECA.
Other Requirements
Applicants applying from inside Canada must have valid temporary resident status or maintained status where applicable. They must also intend to live and work in Ontario.
Self-Employed Physicians
Eligible self-employed physicians may qualify without an employer or job offer. They must generally:
- be eligible to bill for publicly funded health services through OHIP
- be a member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
- hold an eligible certificate of registration
This exception is specific to eligible physicians and does not generally apply to other self-employed professionals.
Job Offer and Employer Requirements
Except for eligible self-employed physicians, applicants need a qualifying full-time and permanent job offer from an eligible Ontario employer. The position can be in any NOC occupation and at any location in Ontario, provided that the applicant, employer and job meet all applicable OINP requirements.
Job Offer Requirements
The position must generally:
- be full-time and permanent
- be located in Ontario
- be urgently necessary to the employer’s business
- meet the applicable wage requirement
- not adversely affect a labour dispute
The offered wage must generally meet or exceed the applicable Job Bank median wage for the occupation and region. A different wage threshold may apply to eligible recent Ontario graduates. If the applicant is already working in the position, the offered wage generally cannot be lower than their current wage.
Employer Requirements
The employer must generally:
- have been actively operating for at least 3 years
- have business premises in Ontario where the applicant will work or report to work
- meet the applicable annual revenue requirement
- employ the required number of Canadian citizens or permanent residents
- comply with applicable employment standards and occupational health and safety requirements
- complete recruitment efforts where required
Employers generally need at least 5 qualifying employees at a GTA location or 3 outside the GTA. Revenue requirements also vary depending on where the applicant will work or report to work.
Recruitment evidence may be required depending on the applicant’s location and work authorization. It is generally not required where the applicant is already authorized to work in Ontario or where the employer has a valid positive LMIA for the same position.
Additional requirements may apply to certain employers and transportation occupations.
Expression of Interest and Application Process
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream uses an Expression of Interest (EOI) system as part of the OINP application process. Registering an EOI is not the same as applying for nomination and does not guarantee an invitation to apply.
Step 1 — Employer Submits the Job Offer
For applicants applying with a job offer, the employer begins the process through the OINP Employer Portal and submits the employment position.
The applicant then receives a job offer ID.
Step 2 — Applicant Registers an EOI
The applicant must register an Expression of Interest within 30 calendar days after the employer submits the job offer.
Ontario assigns the EOI a score and places it in the applicable selection pool. An EOI can remain in the selection pool for up to 12 months, unless it is withdrawn or otherwise becomes invalid.
EOI scoring may consider factors such as:
- NOC TEER category
- occupation
- wage
- Ontario work experience
- Canadian earnings history
- education
- language ability
- legal status in Canada
- location of employment or medical practice
EOI scoring is separate from eligibility. Applicants must still meet all mandatory stream requirements and provide evidence supporting any points claimed.
Step 3 — Invitation to Apply
Ontario may issue invitations based on EOI scores and program priorities.
Receiving an invitation allows the applicant to apply for nomination but does not guarantee approval.
Step 4 — Submit the Applications
After an invitation is issued:
- the employer has 14 calendar days to submit the application for approval of the employment position
- the applicant has 17 calendar days from the invitation date to submit the nomination application
The applicant cannot submit the nomination application until the employer has submitted the employment-position application.
Eligible self-employed physicians do not require an employer or employment-position application. They must contact the OINP to begin the EOI registration process and, if invited, submit their application within 17 calendar days.
All information provided in the EOI and application must remain accurate and be supported by documentation.
Express Entry and Permanent Residence
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream can lead to permanent residence through either an Express Entry or non-Express Entry route, depending on the applicant’s category and federal eligibility.
Express Entry
Applicants with qualifying TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations, including eligible self-employed physicians, may request nomination through Express Entry.
To use this option, the applicant must independently qualify for at least one federal Express Entry program and maintain a valid Express Entry profile throughout the OINP process. The Express Entry option does not currently apply to TEER 4–5 applicants.
If Ontario approves the nomination, the applicant has 30 calendar days to accept it in their Express Entry account. Once accepted, the nomination adds 600 CRS points. After receiving a federal Invitation to Apply, the applicant has 60 calendar days to submit the permanent residence application.
If the Express Entry profile expires or lapses after nomination, the applicant may need to restart the OINP process.
Non-Express Entry
Applicants who do not use the Express Entry option proceed through the applicable non-Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program process after receiving an Ontario nomination.
After Nomination
A successful applicant may receive:
- a nomination approval letter
- a nomination certificate
- a work permit support letter, where applicable
Applicants using the non-Express Entry route must generally apply to IRCC for permanent residence within 6 months of nomination. IRCC makes the final decision on permanent residence.
Where nomination is based on an approved Ontario job offer, the applicant must continue to meet the conditions of the nomination. Changes to the employer, position, duties, wage or working hours must be reported to the OINP.
Documents Required for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream
The documents required depend on the applicant’s pathway, employment, education, immigration status and the information claimed in the Expression of Interest. Applicants should follow the current OINP document checklist when preparing their application.
Applicant Documents
Depending on the applicant’s pathway and circumstances, required documents include the following. Some documents apply only where relevant.
- Applicant Consent Form
- passport, photograph and Canadian immigration-status documents
- education credentials and transcripts
- Educational Credential Assessment, where required
- valid English or French language test results, where required
- employment reference letters and proof of work experience
- pay slips and Canadian tax documents, where applicable
- professional licence or authorization, where required
- current resumé
- documents supporting EOI points claimed
- evidence of the intention to live and work in Ontario
Self-Employed Physicians
Eligible self-employed physicians generally need:
- Certificate of Registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
- proof of OHIP billing number registration
- supporting documents for any EOI factors claimed
Employer Documents
The employer submits supporting documents separately through the OINP Employer Portal. Depending on the circumstances, these may include:
- signed job offer
- required consent documents
- employment letter, where applicable
- recruitment evidence, where required
- positive LMIA, where applicable
- collective agreement, where applicable
- business, financial and employee records
- occupation-specific documents, where required
Depending on the employer’s circumstances, the OINP may also require detailed evidence of business activity, Ontario premises, annual revenue, employee headcount and recruitment efforts.
Mandatory documents must be submitted with the application. The OINP may request additional documents from the applicant or employer during processing if more information is needed to assess eligibility. But applicants should avoid submitting unnecessary non-mandatory documents. Documents that are not in English or French must be accompanied by the required translation.
