Ontario Workforce Priority Stream 2026: Who Can Apply?

Last Updated on: 3rd October 2026, 02:25 pm

Quick Answer: Who Can Apply in 2026?

Ontario’s new Workforce Priority Stream has three main applicant categories:

• Foreign workers with an eligible Ontario job offer in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation
• Foreign workers with an eligible Ontario job offer in a TEER 4 or 5 occupation
• Eligible self-employed physicians who meet Ontario’s medical registration and publicly funded healthcare requirements

For applicants using a job offer, both the worker and the Ontario employer must meet the applicable program requirements. The employer must also participate through the OINP Employer Portal.

Applicants generally register an Expression of Interest (EOI) after the employer creates the qualifying job offer. Ontario may then issue an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Registering an EOI does not mean the applicant has been approved or will receive an invitation.

Ontario introduced the Workforce Priority Stream as part of its 2026 OINP redesign. The previous eight OINP streams were removed, and the EOI portal for the new stream opened on August 4, 2026. Applicants reviewing older Ontario immigration information should therefore check whether it still applies under the redesigned program.

Who Can Apply for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream in 2026?

Eligibility depends heavily on the TEER category of the job offer, work history, language ability, education and, where applicable, professional licensing.

The rules for a TEER 0–3 applicant are not identical to those for a TEER 4–5 applicant. Ontario also has separate requirements for qualifying self-employed physicians.

TEER 0–3 Workers with an Ontario Job Offer

Those workers can be eligible for Ontario’s Workforce Priority TEER 0 – 3 stream if their employment position in Canada falls within NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 and meets all other requirements of the stream.

It is necessary to note that employment should be sponsored by an eligible Ontario business and the applicant should meet the requirements of one of the possible experience routes.

In the case of many candidates already holding that employment position, one possible route of obtaining the permanent residency in Canada is at least six consecutive months of paid and full-time work experience in this employment position during the last 12 months before the application.

Ontario considers this employment to be full-time if there are not less than 30 paid hours per week and not less than 780 paid hours in a year.

There can be a different requirement for recent Ontario graduates moving from study permits to permanent residency.

To use this provision, the person must have graduated from an eligible Ontario institution within the previous three years with a qualifying credential, such as:

• A postsecondary degree or diploma requiring at least two years of full-time study
• An Ontario College Graduate Certificate
• A master’s degree
• A PhD degree

For this three-month route, Ontario states that the qualifying employment must include at least 390 paid hours and at least 30 paid hours per week.

There is also a work-experience route based on at least two years of qualifying paid experience within the previous five years. Depending on the occupation, this may be experience in the same NOC as the employment position or one of the specific related occupations recognized by the regulation.

Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that any two years of skilled work experience will qualify. The occupation and employment history need to fit Ontario’s specific rules.

Where Ontario or federal law requires a licence or other professional authorization to perform the offered job, the applicant must hold that authorization. Under the regulation, meeting the applicable mandatory licensing requirement can also affect how the normal work-experience and education requirements apply.

What Language Level Is Required for TEER 0–3 Applicants?

For most TEER 0–3 occupations, applicants who are required to provide a language test need at least Canadian Language Benchmark 6 in all four abilities:

• Reading
• Writing
• Listening
• Speaking

For specified skilled-trades occupations, the minimum is CLB 5 in all four abilities.

Ontario accepts approved English or French language tests. Test results used for the application must generally be dated within the two years before the application is submitted.

An important exception applies to certain recent Ontario graduates. A person who graduated within the previous three years with an eligible Ontario credential may use that credential to satisfy this particular language eligibility requirement without submitting a language test.

This does not mean every Ontario graduate is exempt from all language-related considerations. For example, language ability can separately affect EOI scoring, so applicants should distinguish between minimum stream eligibility and points awarded in the selection system.

What Education Is Required for TEER 0–3 Applicants?

For most applicants under TEER 0-3, Ontario demands at least a Canadian post-secondary educational degree or diploma including one year of full-time study, or an equivalent international qualification.

In the case where international education is being considered, the applicant will need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) verifying the Canadian equivalence. In this regard, the regulation demands the relevant ECA to be within five years from the time of application.

There are exemptions regarding occupation and licensing, hence the applicant needs to refer to the particular rule regarding his NOC.

TEER 4–5 Workers

The redesigned stream also includes workers in NOC TEER 4 and TEER 5 occupations.

An applicant in this category must generally have at least nine months of cumulative, paid, full-time work experience in the specific employment position described in the job offer.

That experience must:

• Have been gained during the two years before the application
• Be in the employment position the employer is seeking approval for
• Match the relevant employer and employment location
• Include at least 1,170 paid hours for qualifying full-time employment

Unlike the TEER 0–3 rules, the TEER 4–5 pathway is especially tied to experience in the actual job-offer position. Applicants should not assume unrelated experience in the same broad industry will satisfy this requirement.

TEER 4–5 applicants must also demonstrate at least CLB 4 in all four language abilities.

The minimum education requirement is generally a Canadian secondary-school diploma or its equivalent. Applicants relying on foreign education may need an ECA to establish Canadian equivalency.

These requirements make it important to identify the correct NOC code and TEER category before starting the application. A job title by itself is not enough. The occupation should accurately reflect the duties performed in the position.

Can Self-Employed Physicians Apply Without an Ontario Job Offer?

Yes. Eligible self-employed physicians have a specific exception allowing them to apply to the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream without an employer job offer.

To qualify under this category, the physician must be or intend to be self-employed and must hold an eligible certificate of registration while remaining a member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

The eligible registration classes currently include:

• A certificate authorizing independent practice
• A certificate authorizing academic practice
• A provisional certificate of registration

The physician must also be eligible to receive payment for publicly funded healthcare services under Ontario’s Health Insurance Act, commonly associated with OHIP billing eligibility.

Applicants in this category must still receive an Invitation to Apply and prove the qualifications and EOI factors that formed the basis of that invitation.

This exception is specific to qualifying physicians. Other self-employed professionals or people working under contractual arrangements without a genuine employer-employee relationship are generally not eligible simply because they are self-employed.

What Job Offer and Employer Requirements Must Be Met?

What Makes an Ontario Workforce Priority Job Offer Eligible?

The Ontario job offer must generally be for a full-time and permanent position.

Under the OINP Employer Guide:

• Full-time means at least 1,560 hours per year and at least 30 paid hours per week
• Permanent means the position has no predetermined end date
• Seasonal and contract-based positions do not meet the permanent-employment requirement

The position must also be genuinely necessary to the employer’s business. Ontario describes this as being urgently necessary, meaning the role should fit the employer’s existing business activities and be required to maintain or grow the operation.

The job must be located in Ontario and cannot adversely affect a labour dispute. The Workforce Priority Stream can cover jobs across NOC occupations, provided the applicant meets the applicable TEER and other eligibility requirements.

What Wage Must the Employer Offer?

The offered wage must meet the OINP wage requirement for the region where the applicant will work or report to work.

For most applicants, the base wage must meet or exceed the applicable regional median wage for the occupation.

A different threshold may apply to certain recent Ontario graduates with a TEER 0–3 job offer, who may qualify using the applicable low-wage level.

If the applicant is already employed in the position, the job-offer wage must also be at least equal to what the employer currently pays that worker.

OINP does not count bonuses, commissions, vacation pay, piece-work payments or non-financial benefits toward the required hourly base wage. These amounts can be offered in addition to salary or hourly pay, but they cannot be used to make an otherwise insufficient base wage qualify.

What Requirements Must the Ontario Employer Meet?

An employer participating in the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream must generally:

• Have been actively operating for at least three years
• Maintain an Ontario business location where the applicant will work or report to work
• Have no applicable outstanding orders under Ontario’s Employment Standards Act or Occupational Health and Safety Act
• Meet the required gross annual revenue threshold
• Employ the required number of full-time Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• Meet applicable recruitment requirements

The exact revenue requirement depends on the job location.

If the applicant will work or report to work in the Greater Toronto Area, including Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel or York, the employer must generally have at least $1 million in gross annual revenue in its most recently completed fiscal year.

For several other Ontario areas, including Ottawa, Waterloo, Hamilton, Simcoe, Middlesex and Niagara, the current threshold is generally $500,000.

For qualifying locations outside the specified areas, Ontario now provides a lower threshold based on revenue in the two most recently completed fiscal years.

How Many Canadian or Permanent Resident Employees Must the Employer Have?

As for a job in the GTA region, the requirement for the employer is usually at least five full-time employees being Canadian citizens or permanent residents who report for work at the corresponding location.

When the job is outside the GTA region, then the general requirement is that there are at least three full-time Canadian citizens or permanent resident employees at the location.

The requirement is applied to the employer at the moment of the submission of the employment-position application.

When Does the Employer Need to Recruit Canadians or Permanent Residents?

Ontario may require an employer to show that it made reasonable efforts to recruit a Canadian citizen or permanent resident before offering the position to the foreign worker.

This requirement generally applies where the applicant is:

• Living outside Canada
• Visiting Canada
• Working in a province or territory outside Ontario

An employer may not need to provide recruitment evidence where the applicant is already authorized to work in Ontario or where the employer has a positive LMIA for the same position and NOC.

How Does the Employer Portal Work?

For applicants using a job offer, the employer starts the process.

The employer must first register its business in the OINP Employer Portal and create the job offer. Once the offer is submitted, the applicant receives a job offer ID.

The applicant must then use that ID to register an Expression of Interest.

Ontario currently requires the applicant to register the EOI within 30 calendar days of the employer submitting the job offer.

If Ontario later issues an Invitation to Apply, the employer must submit its application for approval of the employment position before the applicant can submit the nomination application.

This employer process does not apply to eligible self-employed physicians who qualify without a job offer.

How Does the Ontario Workforce Priority EOI and Invitation Process Work?

Step-by-Step Ontario Workforce Priority Application Process

For most applicants with an Ontario job offer, the process works as follows:

1. Confirm that the applicant meets the correct TEER 0–3 or TEER 4–5 eligibility rules.
2. Confirm that the employer and employment position meet OINP requirements.
3. The employer registers in the Employer Portal.
4. The employer submits the job offer.
5. The applicant receives a job offer ID.
6. The applicant registers an EOI within the required timeframe.
7. Ontario assigns the EOI a score.
8. Ontario may issue an Invitation to Apply.
9. The employer submits an application for approval of the employment position.
10. The applicant submits the OINP nomination application and supporting evidence.
11. Ontario assesses both the applicant and employment position.
12. If Ontario issues a nomination, the applicant proceeds to the federal permanent residence stage with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

IRCC, not Ontario, makes the final decision on whether permanent resident status is granted.

This economic immigration route is different from family-based pathways such as sponsoring spouse in Canada or Canada Family Sponsorship.

How Is the Ontario Workforce Priority EOI Scored?

Ontario assigns points using several employment, education, language and regional factors.

Current scoring factors include matters such as:

• NOC TEER category
• NOC occupational category
• Job-offer wage
• Ontario work experience
• Canadian earnings history
• Immigration status
• Highest education level
• Canadian education
• Official-language ability
• Ability in both official languages
• Location of the job or physician practice

Does a Toronto Job Offer Receive Regionalization Points?

Ontario awards additional EOI points based on where the applicant will work.

Current regionalization points are:

• Northern Ontario — 15 points
• Eastern Ontario — 10 points
• Central Ontario outside the GTA — 10 points
• Southwestern Ontario — 10 points
• GTA outside Toronto — 5 points
• Toronto — 0 points

For this purpose, the GTA outside Toronto includes Durham, Halton, Peel and York.

What Happens After an Invitation to Apply?

If an applicant receives an ITA, strict deadlines apply.

The employer currently has 14 calendar days from the invitation date to submit the application for approval of the employment position.

The applicant has 17 calendar days from the invitation date to complete and pay for the nomination application.

Applicants should therefore coordinate closely with their employer after receiving an invitation.

What Can Cause Ontario Workforce Priority Eligibility or Application Problems?

The Job Offer Does Not Meet OINP Requirements

A job offer may create problems if it is:

• Temporary
• Seasonal
• Contract-based
• Below the required number of paid hours
• Below the required wage level
• Not genuinely required by the employer
• Connected to an affected labour dispute

Ontario requires a qualifying job offer to be full-time and permanent, with the required base wage.

The Employer Does Not Meet OINP Requirements

Problems may also arise where the employer:

• Has not been actively operating for at least three years
• Does not meet the revenue requirement
• Does not have enough Canadian citizen or permanent resident employees
• Does not have a qualifying Ontario business location
• Has outstanding employment or workplace-safety orders
• Does not provide required recruitment evidence
• Misses the employer application deadline

The applicant’s nomination cannot be approved unless Ontario also approves the employment position.

The Wrong NOC or TEER Category Is Used

The NOC code determines which TEER pathway applies and can affect:

• Work-experience requirements
• Language requirements
• Education requirements
• EOI scoring
• Licensing requirements

Applicants should identify the NOC based primarily on the actual job duties, not simply the job title.

For example, two people with similar job titles may have different NOC classifications if their day-to-day duties are materially different.

Using the wrong NOC can therefore affect both eligibility and the accuracy of the EOI. Applicants who need help reviewing their immigration pathway or NOC classification may consider speaking with an immigration consultant in Toronto.

The Work Experience Does Not Meet the Required Rule

Work experience requirements differ significantly between TEER 0–3 and TEER 4–5 applicants.

Potential issues include:

• Experience falls outside the permitted time period
• Experience was not completed before the application was submitted
• Hours do not meet the applicable full-time requirement
• TEER 4–5 experience was not gained in the required employment position
• The employer or work location does not match where the rule requires it
• An applicant assumes unrelated experience qualifies simply because it is in the same industry

Ontario specifically requires applicants to show that the relevant work experience was completed by the application date.

Language, Education or Licensing Evidence Is Insufficient

Applications may also face problems where an applicant:

• Does not meet the applicable CLB requirement
• Uses an expired language test
• Does not provide a required ECA
• Uses an education credential below the required level
• Does not hold a mandatory Ontario or federal licence
• Cannot show that a foreign credential is equivalent to the required Canadian education

The exact requirement depends on the applicant’s TEER category and occupation, so applicants should verify the rule that applies to their specific position rather than relying on general OINP information.

EOI Claims Cannot Be Supported

An applicant who receives an ITA must be able to prove the qualifications and scoring factors claimed in the Expression of Interest.

This can include evidence relating to:

• Employment
• Wage
• Work location
• Ontario work experience
• Education
• Language ability
• Canadian earnings
• Immigration status
• Other EOI scoring factors

Ontario specifically states that invited applicants must provide documents supporting the EOI factors that formed the basis of the invitation.

The information provided by the employer and applicant should therefore remain consistent.

Any material change to the employment arrangement, including the job duties, wage, hours or term of employment, must be reported to OINP.

Applicants who are unsure how the Ontario program applies to their circumstances can also seek guidance from an Immigration Consultant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need a Job Offer for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream?

Most applicants need a qualifying Ontario job offer from an eligible employer.

Can TEER 4 and TEER 5 Workers Apply?

Yes. The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream includes eligible workers in TEER 4 and TEER 5 occupations.

What CLB Score Is Required for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream?

The required language level depends on the applicant’s pathway.

For many TEER 0–3 occupations, the minimum is CLB 6 in all four abilities.

Certain occupations can qualify with CLB 5.

For TEER 4–5 applicants, the minimum is generally CLB 4.

Can Someone With a Job in Toronto Qualify?

Yes.

A qualifying job in Toronto can be used for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream if the applicant, employer and position meet all applicable requirements.

Toronto currently receives zero EOI regionalization points, but this does not make a Toronto job offer ineligible.