On This Page You Will Find
- What the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is
- Who can apply
- Employer and applicant requirements
- How to apply
- Work experience, language and education requirements
- Self-employed physician eligibility
- How the Expression of Interest system works
- What happens after nomination
- Frequently asked questions
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is an employer-driven immigration pathway under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) that helps skilled foreign workers obtain permanent residence in Canada.
Unlike some Ontario immigration streams that target specific occupations or sectors, the Workforce Priority Stream is open to eligible workers across a broad range of occupations. Applicants must have a qualifying job offer from an eligible Ontario employer and meet the stream’s work experience, language, education and legal status requirements.
The stream also includes a dedicated pathway for eligible self-employed physicians. Recognising that many doctors practise independently rather than as employees, Ontario allows qualifying physicians to apply without a traditional job offer, provided they meet the province’s licensing requirements.
Applications are assessed jointly by Ontario and the employer. Before a worker can apply, the employer must register the employment position through the OINP Employer Portal. Eligible candidates then submit an Expression of Interest and may be invited to apply for provincial nomination.
Successful applicants receive an Ontario nomination, allowing them to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. A provincial nomination is an important step, but IRCC makes the final decision on every permanent residence application.
Streams Closed By Ontario
The Workforce Priority Stream forms the centrepiece of Ontario’s redesigned OINP, replacing the previous system of eight separate immigration streams:
- Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream
- Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream
- Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream
- Human Capital Priorities Stream
- French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
- Skilled Trades Stream
- Masters Graduate Stream
- PhD Graduate Stream
Who Can Apply For Workforce Priority?
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is designed for skilled foreign workers who have secured a permanent, full-time job offer from an eligible Ontario employer and intend to live and work permanently in the province.
For most applicants, eligibility depends on both the worker and the employer meeting Ontario’s program requirements. A qualifying job offer alone is not enough. Applicants must also receive an Invitation to Apply through Ontario’s Expression of Interest system before submitting a nomination application.
Eligible self-employed physicians follow a different pathway and can apply without a job offer if they satisfy Ontario’s medical licensing requirements.
Applicant Requirements
To qualify under the Workforce Priority Stream, applicants must generally:
- Have a qualifying full-time permanent job offer from an eligible Ontario employer, unless applying as a self-employed physician.
- Meet the work experience requirements for their occupation.
- Meet the required English or French language standard.
- Meet the minimum education requirement.
- Hold any professional licence required for their occupation.
- Have legal temporary resident status if applying from within Canada.
- Demonstrate an intention to settle permanently in Ontario.
- Receive an Invitation to Apply before submitting an application.
Applicants are responsible for providing documents supporting every claim made in their Expression of Interest. Ontario may refuse an application if information cannot be verified or does not match the documents submitted.
Employer Requirements
Ontario employers also play a central role in the application process.
To participate in the Workforce Priority Stream, employers must generally:
- Have operated an active business in Ontario for at least three years.
- Maintain a business location in Ontario where the applicant will work.
- Meet the program’s minimum revenue and staffing requirements.
- Comply with Ontario employment legislation.
- Offer a permanent, full-time position that meets the stream’s wage requirements.
- Register the employment position through the OINP Employer Portal.
If Ontario does not approve the employer or the employment position, the applicant cannot receive a provincial nomination, regardless of whether they meet the individual eligibility requirements.
How To Apply
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream follows a structured application process involving both the employer and the applicant.
Unlike many provincial immigration pathways, applicants cannot begin the process on their own. The employer must first register the employment position through the OINP Employer Portal before the worker can register an Expression of Interest.
Step 1: Employer Registers The Job Offer
The process begins when an eligible Ontario employer submits details of the employment position through the OINP Employer Portal.
Once the position has been registered, the employer receives a Job Offer ID. This unique number allows the foreign worker to register an Expression of Interest under the Workforce Priority Stream.
Applicants have 30 calendar days to use the Job Offer ID to create their Expression of Interest.
Step 2: Register An Expression Of Interest
The Expression of Interest (EOI) is not an application for provincial nomination. Instead, it places eligible candidates into Ontario’s selection pool.
When registering an EOI, applicants provide information about factors including:
- Work experience
- Occupation
- Education
- Language ability
- Employment in Ontario
- Canadian earnings
- Regional location within Ontario
Ontario assigns points based on these factors and periodically invites the highest-ranking candidates to apply, taking labour market priorities into account.
Step 3: Receive An Invitation To Apply
Candidates selected from the Expression of Interest pool receive an Invitation to Apply from Ontario.
Strict deadlines apply at this stage.
The employer must submit its application for approval of the employment position within 14 calendar days of the invitation being issued. The applicant must then submit a complete nomination application within 17 calendar days. The applicant cannot submit their application until the employer has completed its portion of the process.
Step 4: Ontario Assesses The Application
Ontario assesses the employer’s application and the applicant’s nomination application together.
Applicants must provide documents supporting every claim made in their Expression of Interest, including work experience, education, language proficiency and, where applicable, professional licensing.
If Ontario is satisfied that both the employer and applicant meet all program requirements, it issues a provincial nomination. The nominee can then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
Work Experience Requirements
Applicants must meet different work experience requirements depending on the TEER category of the job offer.
TEER 0 To 3 Occupations
Applicants with job offers in TEER 0 to 3 occupations qualify if they meet one of the following pathways:
- At least six months of consecutive paid full-time work experience in the approved position during the previous 12 months.
- At least three months of consecutive paid full-time work experience in the approved position if they graduated from an eligible Ontario post-secondary institution within the previous three years.
- At least two years of cumulative paid work experience in the same occupation during the previous five years.
- Holding a valid professional licence where licensing replaces the standard work experience requirement.
Applicants in regulated occupations must maintain any required professional licence throughout the nomination process. However, transport truck drivers and bus or transit operators must still complete the required work experience even if they hold the necessary licence.
TEER 4 And 5 Occupations
Applicants with job offers in TEER 4 or 5 occupations must have at least nine months of cumulative paid full-time work experience in the approved position during the previous two years.
Ontario only counts qualifying work experience completed before the application is submitted. Future employment cannot be used to satisfy the minimum requirement.
Language And Education Requirements
Applicants must also meet minimum language and education requirements. The standard depends on the TEER category of the job offer.
Language Requirements
Applicants can demonstrate proficiency in either English or French using an approved language test.
The minimum language requirements are:
| Occupation | Minimum Language Requirement |
|---|---|
| TEER 0 to 3 | CLB 6 |
| Eligible skilled trades | CLB 5 |
| TEER 4 and 5 | CLB 4 |
Ontario accepts the following language tests:
- IELTS General Training
- CELPIP General
- PTE Core
- TEF Canada
- TCF Canada
Recent graduates from eligible Ontario post-secondary institutions may qualify for an exemption from the language testing requirement under certain circumstances. Test results must generally be less than two years old when an application is submitted.
Education Requirements
Most applicants in TEER 0 to 3 occupations must hold at least a one-year Canadian post-secondary credential or an equivalent foreign qualification supported by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
Applicants in TEER 4 and 5 occupations generally require a Canadian secondary school diploma or an equivalent foreign credential.
Different education requirements apply to certain occupations, including skilled trades, nurse aides and other regulated professions. Applicants educated outside Canada will usually need an ECA confirming that their qualifications are equivalent to Canadian standards.
Self-Employed Physicians
The Workforce Priority Stream includes a dedicated pathway for eligible self-employed physicians, recognising that many doctors work as independent practitioners rather than traditional employees.
Unlike most applicants, eligible physicians do not need a qualifying job offer from an Ontario employer.
To qualify, physicians must:
- Hold an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) billing number that allows them to provide publicly funded medical services.
- Hold an eligible certificate of registration from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).
- Remain in good standing with the CPSO throughout the application process.
Physicians begin the process by registering an Expression of Interest directly with the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. If invited to apply, they must submit a complete application within the prescribed deadline.
Eligible physicians who also qualify under a federal Express Entry program may choose to receive their provincial nomination through Express Entry.
Expression Of Interest Scoring System
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream uses an Expression of Interest (EOI) system to rank eligible candidates.
Submitting an Expression of Interest does not guarantee an invitation to apply. Instead, candidates receive points across several categories, with Ontario periodically inviting applicants who best match the province’s labour market priorities.
If you receive an Invitation to Apply, you must provide documents supporting every scoring factor claimed in your Expression of Interest. Meeting the minimum score alone is not enough – applicants must also satisfy every eligibility requirement for the stream.
Employment And Labour Market Factors
A significant portion of the EOI score comes from employment-related factors.
Ontario awards points based on:
- The TEER category of the occupation.
- The broad occupational category.
- The hourly wage.
- Ontario work experience.
- Canadian earnings history.
- Current legal status in Canada.
Together, these factors help Ontario prioritise candidates already making a strong contribution to the provincial labour market.
TEER Category
Higher-skilled occupations receive more points.
| TEER Category | Points |
|---|---|
| TEER 0 or 1 | 9 |
| TEER 2 or 3 | 6 |
| TEER 4 | 0 |
| TEER 5 | 0 |
Occupational Category
Certain occupational groups receive additional priority.
| Occupational Category | Points |
|---|---|
| Category 3 | 10 |
| Category 7 | 8 |
| Category 2 | 6 |
| Categories 0, 1, 4, 8 and 9 | 4 |
| Categories 5 and 6 | 2 |
Hourly Wage
Ontario rewards higher-paying job offers.
| Hourly Wage | Points |
|---|---|
| $40 or more | 15 |
| $35 – $39.99 | 12 |
| $30 – $34.99 | 10 |
| $25 – $29.99 | 8 |
| $20 – $24.99 | 5 |
| Under $20 | 0 |
Higher wages generally indicate higher-skilled employment and stronger labour market demand.
Ontario Work Experience
Ontario also places considerable value on candidates who have already established themselves in the provincial workforce.
Applicants currently working in the approved job offer position receive the highest scores.
| Ontario Work Experience In Job Offer Position | Points |
|---|---|
| More than 24 months | 18 |
| 13 – 24 months | 15 |
| 6 – 12 months | 12 |
| Less than 6 months | 0 |
Applicants who are not yet eligible for points based on their current job offer position may instead receive points for broader Ontario work experience.
| Other Ontario Work Experience | Points |
|---|---|
| More than 24 months | 12 |
| 13 – 24 months | 9 |
| 6 – 12 months | 6 |
| Less than 6 months | 0 |
Self-employed physicians receive equivalent points based on the length of their medical practice in Ontario.
Canadian Earnings History
Ontario also considers previous Canadian employment income using Canada Revenue Agency Notices of Assessment issued within the previous five years.
| Annual Earnings | Points |
|---|---|
| $70,000 or more | 8 |
| $50,000 – $69,999 | 6 |
| $30,000 – $49,999 | 4 |
| Under $30,000 | 0 |
This factor rewards applicants with an established employment history in Canada.
Legal Status
Applicants already working legally in Canada receive additional points.
| Status | Points |
|---|---|
| Valid work permit | 10 |
| Valid study permit | 5 |
| No valid work or study permit | 0 |
Although legal status contributes to the EOI score, applicants applying from within Canada must also maintain valid status to remain eligible for nomination.
Education Factors
Education contributes significantly to the overall EOI score.
Ontario awards points based on both the applicant’s highest qualification and the number of Canadian post-secondary credentials.
Applicants educated outside Canada must normally provide an Educational Credential Assessment confirming Canadian equivalency.
Highest Educational Credential
| Qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctorate or professional medical degree | 10 |
| Master’s degree | 8 |
| Bachelor’s degree or post-bachelor certificate | 6 |
| College diploma, trades certificate or Ontario College Graduate Certificate | 5 |
| Less than college or trades credential | 0 |
Canadian Education
Applicants with Canadian study experience receive additional points.
| Canadian Credentials | Points |
|---|---|
| More than one | 10 |
| One | 5 |
| None | 0 |
These additional points reflect Ontario’s focus on retaining international graduates who have already studied in Canada.
Language And Regional Factors
Language ability remains an important selection factor.
Applicants receive points according to their lowest Canadian Language Benchmark score across reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Candidates who demonstrate proficiency in both English and French can receive additional points.
Ontario also rewards applicants willing to work outside Toronto by assigning higher scores to positions located elsewhere in the province.
This regionalisation policy supports labour market needs across Northern, Eastern, Central and Southwestern Ontario while encouraging immigration beyond the Greater Toronto Area.
What Happens After Nomination?
An Ontario nomination allows successful applicants to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. While a provincial nomination is a significant milestone, IRCC makes the final decision on every permanent residence application.
Applicants must submit their permanent residence application within the timeframe specified by IRCC and continue to meet the conditions of their nomination throughout the process.
Express Entry Candidates
Applicants in TEER 0 to 3 occupations who qualify under one of the federal Express Entry immigration programs can choose to receive their Ontario nomination through Express Entry.
Once the nomination is accepted, applicants receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, effectively guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence in a subsequent Express Entry draw.
Applicants must maintain a valid Express Entry profile and continue meeting the eligibility requirements of the relevant federal program until permanent residence is granted.
Maintaining Your Nomination
After nomination, both the applicant and employer must continue meeting the requirements of the Workforce Priority Stream.
Applicants should notify the OINP if there are significant changes to their circumstances, including changes to their employment or immigration status. Employers must also report significant changes to the approved job offer where required.
Ontario may verify that the conditions of nomination continue to be met before permanent residence is granted. If eligibility is no longer maintained, the nomination may be withdrawn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream?
The stream is open to skilled foreign workers with a qualifying full-time permanent job offer from an eligible Ontario employer. Eligible self-employed physicians can also apply through a separate pathway without a job offer, provided they meet Ontario’s licensing requirements.
Do I need an Express Entry profile?
Not necessarily. The Workforce Priority Stream operates independently of Express Entry. However, applicants who qualify under a federal Express Entry program may choose to receive their Ontario nomination through Express Entry and benefit from an additional 600 CRS points.
What language score do I need?
The minimum language requirement depends on the occupation. Most applicants in TEER 0 to 3 occupations require CLB 6, eligible skilled trades require CLB 5, and TEER 4 and 5 occupations generally require CLB 4 in English or French.
Can my employer submit an application without me?
No. The employer and applicant each have responsibilities under the Workforce Priority Stream. The employer must first register the employment position through the OINP Employer Portal, after which the applicant can register an Expression of Interest and, if invited, submit a nomination application.
Does an Ontario nomination guarantee permanent residence?
No. A provincial nomination allows an applicant to apply for permanent residence, but Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada makes the final decision after assessing all admissibility and eligibility requirements.