Ontario kicked off 2026 with a strong start in its immigration efforts, issuing a total of 1,825 invitations to apply for provincial nomination through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). These were the province's first draws of the year, all conducted on February 2, 2026, and focused exclusively on the Employer Job Offer streams. The selections targeted critical sectors like healthcare, early childhood education, and regional economic needs, helping address workforce shortages in key areas.
The draws considered candidates whose profiles in the Expression of Interest system were created between July 2, 2025, and January 28, 2026. All invitations fell under three main Employer Job Offer categories: Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills. These streams require a valid full-time, permanent job offer from an Ontario employer, aligning with specific eligibility criteria and National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes.
In the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream, Ontario issued 777 invitations across three targeted draws. One draw invited 129 candidates working as physicians, with a minimum score of 33. These targeted specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine, surgeons, and general practitioners and family physicians. Another draw focused on health occupations and early childhood educators and assistants, issuing 634 invitations to those scoring 36 or higher. Occupations included nursing coordinators and supervisors, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, nurse aides, and early childhood educators. A smaller draw under the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot issued 14 invitations with a minimum score of 44.
The Employer Job Offer: International Student stream saw the largest volume, with 1,041 invitations. A major draw targeted health occupations and early childhood educators, issuing 1,015 invitations to candidates scoring 56 or above. This covered similar healthcare roles as above, plus additional positions like licensed practical nurses, nurse aides, pharmacy assistants, social and community service workers, and early childhood educators. A REDI-targeted draw issued 26 invitations with a minimum score of 69.
Finally, the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream issued 7 invitations through a REDI-targeted draw, requiring a minimum score of 34. This focused on roles such as home support workers, material handlers, machine operators in mineral and metal processing, plastics processing, and food and beverage processing.
The REDI pilot plays a key role in several of these draws. It helps employers in smaller, rural, and northern communities—specifically Lanark County, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton, and Thunder Bay—attract skilled talent where local hiring falls short. REDI operates within the existing Employer Job Offer streams without additional criteria; candidates simply need a qualifying full-time job offer in one of the designated regions to be considered in these targeted selections.
Candidates who received an invitation have 60 days to submit a complete application to the OINP. If approved for provincial nomination, they can then apply directly to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence. These draws highlight Ontario's ongoing priority on filling essential roles in healthcare and education while supporting regional growth.
Overall, the 1,825 invitations demonstrate the province's commitment to strategic immigration in 2026, prioritizing in-demand professions and underserved areas to strengthen the economy and communities. Prospective applicants in eligible occupations should ensure their profiles are up to date and monitor for future rounds, as targeted draws continue to offer pathways to permanent residency for skilled workers with job offers in Ontario.
