OWP STREAM: ONTARIO WORKFORCE PRIORITY STREAM
Build Your Career and Future in Ontario with the new OWP stream
Understanding Ontario’s New OINP 2.0 Immigration System
EB-5 OWP Stream, officially known as the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, is the central pathway introduced through Ontario’s major 2026 immigration program redesign.
These significant OINP changes, sometimes informally described as OINP 2.0, replaced eight former Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program streams with a more streamlined, employer-focused immigration system.
The new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream provides pathways for foreign workers with job offers in occupations across all National Occupational Classification levels, from TEER 0 to TEER 5. It also creates a separate pathway for eligible self-employed physicians who may qualify without a traditional employer-sponsored job offer.
The OWP Stream is intended to help Ontario employers retain experienced workers, address difficult-to-fill positions and connect qualified foreign nationals with a pathway toward Canadian permanent residence.
WHAT IS THE OWP STREAM?
EB-5 OWP Stream is an employer-driven immigration pathway under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.
For most applicants, the process begins with a full-time, permanent job offer from an eligible employer in Ontario. The employer must obtain approval for the employment position, after which the candidate can participate in Ontario’s Expression of Interest system.
Candidates are ranked through the OINP Expression of Interest system. Ontario may then invite selected candidates to apply for provincial nomination.
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream has three pathways:
Together, these pathways cover management, professional, technical, skilled trades, essential service and support occupations throughout Ontario.
OINP 2.0: WHAT CHANGED IN 2026?
Ontario introduced the first phase of its OINP redesign in June 2026. The changes came into force on June 25, 2026.
Under the new system, Ontario closed eight former immigration streams and introduced the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream as the province’s principal workforce-based nomination pathway.
The following former OINP streams were closed:
- Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker
- Employer Job Offer: International Student
- Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills
- Master’s Graduate
- PhD Graduate
- Express Entry Human Capital Priorities
- Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker
- Express Entry Skilled Trades
The new OINP 2.0 model places greater emphasis on arranged employment, employer participation, work experience, language ability, education and current Ontario labour market needs.
The redesign is also intended to make it easier for employers in rural and northern Ontario to participate by introducing more flexible business revenue requirements.
ONTARIO WORKFORCE PRIORITY STREAM PATHWAYS
The OWP Stream TEER 0–3 Pathway is designed for internationally trained workers with a full-time, permanent job offer in an occupation classified under TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.
These classifications generally include:
- Management occupations
- Professional occupations
- Technical occupations
- Skilled trades
- Supervisory positions
- Specialized healthcare occupations
Applicants must generally meet at least one of the following work experience requirements:
- Six consecutive months of paid, full-time experience during the previous 12 months in the job-offer position with the Ontario employer
- Three consecutive months of paid, full-time experience during the previous 12 months for an eligible recent Ontario graduate
- Two years of cumulative paid work experience during the previous five years in the same NOC occupation or another specifically permitted related occupation
Applicants generally require a post-secondary degree or diploma and language proficiency at CLB 6. A CLB 5 requirement applies to certain designated occupations.
Different or alternate requirements may apply to recent Ontario graduates, licensed professionals and certain occupations. Applicants who already hold a mandatory professional licence or authorization may be exempt from specified work experience and education requirements.
The OWP Stream TEER 4–5 Pathway is open to foreign workers with a full-time, permanent Ontario job offer in a TEER 4 or TEER 5 occupation.
This pathway can include workers in essential, service, production, support and labour-intensive occupations.
Applicants must generally have:
- At least nine months of cumulative paid, full-time work experience during the previous two years
- Experience in the offered position with the job-offer employer
- A minimum language level of CLB 4
- A Canadian secondary school diploma or its equivalent
The qualifying work experience must generally have been gained while the applicant was lawfully living and working in Ontario.
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream also includes a pathway for eligible self-employed physicians.
Unlike the TEER 0–3 and TEER 4–5 pathways, qualifying physicians are not required to hold a traditional job offer from an Ontario employer.
A physician must generally:
- Be or intend to be self-employed
- Be a member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
- Hold an eligible certificate of registration
- Hold an independent, academic or provisional certificate
- Be eligible to receive payment for publicly funded healthcare services through Ontario’s health insurance system
Eligible physicians must still participate in the OINP selection process and receive an invitation before submitting an application for provincial nomination.
OWP STREAM JOB OFFER REQUIREMENTS
Most applicants under the OWP Stream must have an approved job offer from an eligible Ontario employer.
The employment position must generally be:
- Full-time
- Paid
- Permanent or of an indeterminate duration
- Primarily based in Ontario
- Urgently necessary to the employer’s business
- Within the correct TEER category for the applicant’s pathway
- Paid at or above the applicable wage requirement
A full-time position generally requires at least 30 hours of paid work per week and at least 1,560 paid hours over a 12-month period.
The offered wage will normally need to meet the applicable regional wage published by the Government of Canada Job Bank. Different wage rules may apply to qualifying recent Ontario graduates.
ONTARIO EMPLOYER REQUIREMENTS
The employer plays a central role under the new OINP 2.0 system.
An employer supporting an OWP Stream applicant must generally:
- Have actively operated for at least three years
- Maintain a place of business in Ontario
- Meet the applicable annual revenue requirement
- Employ the required number of Canadian citizens or permanent residents
- Offer a genuine, full-time and permanent position
- Comply with Ontario employment and workplace safety laws
- Submit the position through the OINP Employer Portal
- Obtain approval for the employment position
Revenue requirements depend on where the applicant will work.
Employers in the Greater Toronto Area are subject to a higher revenue threshold. Reduced thresholds apply in other major Ontario regions, while employers in smaller and rural communities may qualify under a lower revenue requirement.
These regional thresholds are intended to improve access to the OWP Stream for employers outside the Greater Toronto Area.
HOW DOES THE OWP STREAM APPLICATION PROCESS WORK?
The complete process is expected to involve both the Ontario employer and the foreign worker.
1. Employer submits the job offer
The employer submits a new job offer and applies for approval of the employment position through the OINP Employer Portal.
2. Candidate registers an Expression of Interest
Once the position has been submitted through the employer system, the eligible candidate can register an Expression of Interest under the appropriate OWP Stream pathway.
3. Ontario ranks the candidate
The candidate’s profile is ranked according to factors established by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.
Registration in the Expression of Interest system does not guarantee an invitation.
4. Ontario issues an invitation to apply
Ontario may conduct general or targeted invitation rounds based on provincial labour market priorities.
Selected candidates receive an invitation to apply for nomination.
5. Candidate submits an OINP application
The candidate must submit a complete application and supporting documentation within the deadline established by Ontario.
6. Provincial nomination
If the application is approved, Ontario issues a provincial nomination certificate.
7. Permanent residence application
The nominee can then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence. Federal admissibility requirements, including medical, security and background checks, continue to apply.
IS THE OWP STREAM OPEN?
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream has been legally introduced, but Ontario has not yet opened the new Expression of Interest system.
The province announced that the OWP Stream EOI system is anticipated to open later in summer 2026. No confirmed opening date has been announced.
Candidates cannot register a new OWP Stream Expression of Interest until Ontario reopens the system.
Employers that previously registered through the OINP Employer Portal will not need to create another employer registration. However, they will need to submit a new job offer and a new application for approval of the employment position when the portal reopens.
WHAT HAPPENS TO OLD OINP EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST?
No further invitations will be issued under the eight former OINP streams.
Expressions of Interest and employer job offers that did not result in an invitation will be automatically withdrawn while Ontario updates its systems.
Candidates who remain eligible under the new requirements will need to create a new Expression of Interest under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream once registration opens.
Applications already submitted following an invitation under a former OINP stream will continue to be assessed according to the requirements that applied when the application was submitted.
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER THE OWP STREAM?
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream may be suitable for:
- Foreign workers currently employed by an Ontario business
- Skilled professionals with a permanent Ontario job offer
- Workers in technical and skilled trades occupations
- Workers in TEER 4 and TEER 5 essential occupations
- Recent graduates already working for an Ontario employer
- Employers seeking to retain proven foreign workers
- Businesses experiencing difficulty filling permanent positions
- Licensed professionals who meet Ontario regulatory requirements
- Eligible self-employed physicians working in Ontario
Because the eligibility rules differ by occupation, work history, education, licensing status and employer location, candidates should carefully assess the correct pathway before registering an Expression of Interest.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
OWP Stream refers to the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, Ontario’s new employer-driven immigration pathway introduced through the 2026 OINP redesign.
OINP 2.0 is an informal term used to describe Ontario’s redesigned immigration system. The official program name is the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, and its new workforce pathway is called the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.
Applicants under the TEER 0–3 and TEER 4–5 pathways generally require a full-time, permanent job offer from an eligible Ontario employer. Qualifying self-employed physicians may apply without a traditional job offer.
Recent Ontario graduates may qualify under the TEER 0–3 Pathway when they have an eligible permanent job offer and meet the applicable requirements. Eligible recent graduates may qualify with three consecutive months of experience in the offered position.
Yes. The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream includes a separate pathway for workers with job offers in TEER 4 and TEER 5 occupations.
he OWP Stream is not described as a federal Express Entry-aligned stream. Ontario closed its former Express Entry Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker and Skilled Trades streams as part of the 2026 OINP changes.
Ontario has stated that the new Expression of Interest system is anticipated to open later in summer 2026. The province has not yet announced a specific opening date.
PREPARE FOR THE NEW OINP 2.0 SYSTEM
The 2026 OINP changes significantly altered how Ontario selects foreign workers for provincial nomination.
Successful participation in the OWP Stream will require coordination between the candidate and the Ontario employer. Job duties, NOC classification, work experience, wages, education, language results and employer eligibility must all align with the new program requirements.
Preparing these elements before the Expression of Interest system opens can help candidates and employers identify potential issues and avoid delays.
联系我们
The new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream introduces important opportunities, but also creates new requirements for candidates and Ontario employers.
Altec Global can help you:
- Determine whether you qualify under the TEER 0–3 or TEER 4–5 Pathway
- Review your Ontario job offer and NOC classification
- Assess your work experience, education and language requirements
- Review whether the employer meets OINP eligibility requirements
- Prepare for the OWP Stream Expression of Interest process
- Organize supporting documentation
- Respond to changes and updates under the new OINP 2.0 system
Contact Altec Global to assess your eligibility and prepare for the opening of the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.