Canada’s Ontario opens new permanent residence programme for foreign workers

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A province in Canada, Ontario has opened the application process for its new Workforce Priority Stream, giving eligible foreign workers a new pathway to permanent residence through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.

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The province announced that, effective August 4, 2026, eligible foreign nationals can now register an Expression of Interest through Ontario’s e-Filing Portal, linked to a qualifying job offer from an eligible Ontario employer.

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In a post obtained from Canada Visa’s X handle on Wednesday, according to the OINP, the new stream features three pathways: one for higher-skilled workers, one for lower-skilled workers, and another for self-employed physicians who are registered to practise in Ontario and are eligible to bill the province’s public health insurance plan, OHIP.

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The province said that eligible foreign nationals must create an EOI linked to a qualifying job offer created by an eligible employer in the OINP Employer Portal to be considered for nomination.

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Although the Workforce Priority Stream was launched on June 26, 2026, candidates were unable to enter the selection pool until the online portal opened this week.

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Ontario said candidates with active EOIs will be ranked under a points-based scoring system introduced on July 20, 2026, with invitations to apply issued through periodic draws.

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“Once submitted, an EOI remains valid for up to 12 months,” the province said, adding that candidates who do not receive an invitation within that period must register a new EOI to remain under consideration.

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The province also said invited candidates will have 17 calendar days to submit a complete application, while employers must apply for approval of the employment position within 14 calendar days of the invitation.

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Successful job-offer nominees will receive a provincial support letter that can be used to apply for a federal work permit while their permanent residence application is being processed.

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Ontario noted that successful applicants under the higher-skilled worker stream and the self-employed physician stream may also qualify to apply through the Enhanced Provincial Nominee Program linked to Express Entry, potentially benefiting from faster permanent residence processing.

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The Workforce Priority Stream is the first immigration pathway introduced under Ontario’s overhaul of the OINP after the province closed all previous streams on May 30, 2026.

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Ontario said additional pathways, including a Priority Healthcare Worker Stream, an Entrepreneur Stream and an Exceptional Talent Stream, will be introduced during the second phase of the program’s modernisation.

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