The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is a key pathway for individuals seeking permanent residency in Canada, especially those with skills and experience aligned with Ontario’s labour market needs. Through regular draws, the OINP identifies and nominates candidates who can contribute to the province’s economy. This page covers the latest OINP draw, why it matters, who was targeted, and major program updates.
Understanding The OINP Draws
OINP draws are selection rounds where Ontario invites eligible candidates—either from the Express Entry system or from the OINP Expression of Interest (EOI) system—to apply for a provincial nomination. Draws may target different streams, including:
- Human Capital Priorities Stream: Targets skilled workers with strong education, work experience, and language ability.
- French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream: Targets French-speaking candidates who also have strong English ability.
- Skilled Trades Stream: Targets candidates with experience in eligible skilled trades occupations.
- Employer Job Offer Streams: Includes Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills categories, each requiring a valid job offer from an Ontario employer.
Importance Of OINP Draws
OINP draws play a direct role in Ontario’s workforce planning because they:
- Address Labour Market Needs: By selecting candidates in occupations that Ontario employers need right now.
- Support Economic Growth: By helping businesses hire talent that strengthens key sectors.
- Strengthen Community Diversity: By welcoming candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and professional profiles.
Latest OINP Draw: April 23, 2026
On April 23, 2026, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted a targeted draw under its Employer Job Offer streams, issuing 2,102 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to agriculture-related and other priority occupations who may qualify for the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream.
| Stream | Invitations Issued | EOI Score | Date Profiles Created |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream (Eastern Ontario) |
318 | 63 and above | July 2, 2025 – April 21, 2026 |
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream (Northern Ontario) |
57 | 60 and above | July 2, 2025 – April 21, 2026 |
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream (Southwestern Ontario) |
194 | 60 and above | July 2, 2025 – April 21, 2026 |
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream (Central Ontario : excluding GTA) |
128 | 60 and above | July 2, 2025 – April 21, 2026 |
OINP Draw: April 15, 2026
On April 15, 2026, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted a targeted draw under its Employer Job Offer streams, issuing 1,334 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to to agriculture-related and other priority occupations who may qualify for the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream.
| Stream | Invitations Issued | EOI Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills stream | 1,334 | 35 and Above |
Candidates must have a job offer in one of the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes:
|
On April 08, 2026, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted a targeted draw under its Employer Job Offer streams, issuing 146 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to Francophone candidates who may qualify for the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream.
| Stream | Invitations Issued | EOI Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream | 146 | 35 and Above |
Candidates must currently reside in Canada with a valid work or study permit and have an official language score of CLB 5 or higher in French. |
This round continued Ontario’s employer-driven immigration strategy, selecting candidates who held valid job offers under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker and Employer Job Offer: International Student streams. The province emphasized skilled trades and other high-demand occupations facing labour shortages across Ontario.
Previous OINP Employer Job Offer Draws
March 25, 2026
| Stream | Invitations Issued | EOI Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Employer Job Offer: International Student |
1,404 | 32 and Above | Targeted draw focused on skilled trades and other high-demand occupations. Candidates were required to hold valid job offers under the Employer Job Offer streams. Ontario continued its employer-driven approach to address labour shortages across the province. |
December 10 & 11, 2025:
| Stream | Invitations Issued | EOI Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker (Priority Occupations) | 1,180 | 38 and above | Targeted draw for healthcare professionals, skilled trades, early childhood educators, and transport occupations; preference given to candidates with job offers outside the GTA. |
| Employer Job Offer: International Student | 520 | 72 and above | Invitations issued to graduates working in healthcare, technology, engineering, and business management occupations across Ontario. |
| Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills | 240 | 35 and above | Targeted draw for candidates in construction, manufacturing, warehousing, and support occupations, including roles aligned with regional labour market needs. |
October 09, 2025:
| Stream | Invitations Issued | EOI Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker (Priority Occupations) | 1,024 | 36 and above | Targeted draw for healthcare, early childhood educators, and skilled trades occupations; candidates with job offers outside the GTA. |
| Employer Job Offer: International Student | 451 | 70 and above | Invitations issued to graduates in healthcare, technology, and business management occupations. |
| Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills | 205 | 33 and above | Targeted draw for candidates in construction, manufacturing, and support occupations under the Regional Immigration Pilot. |
September 03, 2025:
| Stream | Invitations Issued | CRS Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker (Priority Occupations) | 1,893 | 42 | Targeted draw for priority occupations; applicants currently residing in Canada. |
| Employer Job Offer: International Student | Included in total | 63 | Invitations issued to International Student stream within the same draw. |
September 02, 2025:
| Stream | Invitations Issued | CRS Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker | 2,643 | 41 | Targeted occupations in healthcare and NOC 42202 (Early Childhood Educators & Assistants). |
August 28, 2025:
| Stream | Invitations Issued | CRS Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker (Northern Ontario) | 94 | 53 | Targeted invitations to candidates with job offers in Northern Ontario. |
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker – REDI | 57 | 45 | Regional Economic Development Initiative under Employer Job Offer. |
June 06, 2025:
| Stream | Invitations Issued | CRS Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker | 32 | 36 | Targeted draw for candidates with job offers in Greater Sudbury region. |
June 03, 2025:
| Stream | Invitations Issued | EOI Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer streams: candidates in Eastern Ontario | 334 | 85 | Foreign Worker, International Student, or In-Demand Skills stream with a job offer in Eastern Ontario. |
| Employer Job Offer streams: candidates in Northern Ontario | 391 | 56 | Foreign Worker, International Student, or In-Demand Skills stream with a job offer in Northern Ontario. |
| Regional Economic Development Through Immigration (REDI) | 411 | 32 | REDI pilot under the Employer Job Offer. |
Recent Program Updates Affecting OINP
In 2025, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) saw notable changes due to federal adjustments in immigration allocations and new initiatives designed to respond to regional labour shortages.
Reduced Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Allocations
In October 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a reduction in overall admissions allocations to Canada’s PNPs. This change contributed to slower provincial nomination activity, including within Ontario.
Launch Of The Regional Economic Development Through Immigration (REDI) Pilot
To address labour shortages in rural and northern Ontario, Ontario introduced the REDI pilot program in early 2025. The initiative focuses on attracting skilled immigrants to selected regions and supports nominations through the OINP Employer Job Offer streams.
Practical Strategies For Applicants
- Explore Open Streams: Review Employer Job Offer and graduate pathways if they match your profile.
- Strengthen Your Profile: Improve language scores, gain qualifying work experience, and secure an eligible job offer in a targeted occupation.
- Track Official Updates: Monitor OINP announcements for stream criteria changes, intake pauses, and targeted draw priorities.
Conclusion
Ontario’s draw patterns reflect broader national policy shifts and local labour market realities. While allocations and priorities can change, opportunities remain for candidates who align with targeted streams and employer needs.
Staying informed and building a strong, job-offer-backed profile can improve your chances of receiving an invitation through Ontario’s nomination system. You can also review related updates here: Canada Immigration Legal Rights .
