OINP Redesigned: Ontario Workforce Priority Stream Replaces All 8 Former Streams

• GenesisLink
• June 26, 2026
• Stream Watch

Effective June 26, 2026, Ontario amended O. Reg. 422/17 to remove all eight former OINP streams and introduce the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream. EOI system closed. What changes, what stays the same, and what immigration professionals need to know now.

Effective June 26, 2026, Ontario has restructured the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program from the ground up. Ontario Regulation 422/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 has been amended — removing all eight former OINP streams and replacing them with a single new framework: the Ontario Workforce Priority stream.

This is the most significant structural change to Ontario's business immigration program in years. Here is what changed, what remains in effect for existing files, and what immigration professionals should be tracking now.

What Changed on June 26, 2026

Ontario's amendment to O. Reg. 422/17 removes the following eight streams that had governed OINP nominations since 2017:

1. Foreign Worker
2. International Student with a Job Offer
3. In-Demand Skills
4. Master's Graduate
5. PhD Graduate
6. Human Capital Priorities
7. French-Speaking Skilled Worker
8. Skilled Trades

In their place, Ontario has introduced the Ontario Workforce Priority stream as the program's new operational framework.

The Expression of Interest (EOI) system is now closed to new submissions. The province will not issue further invitations to apply under any of the former eight streams. The E-Filing Portal is expected to reopen later this summer, at which point the new stream's application process will be accessible.

What This Means for Applications Already in the System

Ontario has been explicit on this point. All applications submitted under the former OINP framework will be assessed according to the eligibility requirements that were in place at the time of application. There is no retroactive adjustment to the criteria.

If a client submitted an application under the Foreign Worker stream before June 26, 2026, that file continues to be evaluated against Foreign Worker stream requirements. The same applies to every other former stream. The regulatory amendment does not alter the assessment standard for files that were in the system before today's changes took effect.

This is a critical distinction for immigration professionals managing files in progress. The program architecture has changed; the assessment standard for existing files has not.

The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream: What We Know Now

The province has not yet published the full eligibility criteria for the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. The E-Filing Portal remains closed while Ontario finalizes the rollout of the new framework.

What is confirmed:

• The stream replaces all eight former OINP categories under a single consolidated framework
• The EOI system that governed the former streams is closed — no new expressions of interest will be accepted under the old program architecture
• The E-Filing Portal is expected to reopen later this summer with the new stream active
• The Ministry of Immigration has directed practitioners to monitor the program updates page for further announcements

Based on the regulatory structure, the Ontario Workforce Priority stream is expected to consolidate employer-driven and human capital criteria under a single pathway — aligning Ontario's nomination program more directly with provincial labour market needs. Full criteria will be available when the portal reopens.

Regulatory Reference

The amendments were made to Ontario Regulation 422/17 (General) under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015. This regulation governs eligibility requirements, approval processes, administrative penalties, and internal review procedures for the OINP. The June 26, 2026 amendment represents the most recent change to the regulation, superseding the prior consolidated version (last amended by O. Reg. 375/25, in force from January 1, 2026).

Immigration professionals who need to assess transitional files should reference the version of O. Reg. 422/17 in force at the time each application was submitted — Ontario's commitment to assess existing applications under the rules in place at time of filing is based on this principle.

What to Do Now

For active OINP files submitted before June 26: No action required on eligibility criteria. Continue processing under the stream requirements that applied when the application was filed. Monitor the OINP updates page for any procedural changes Ontario may announce during the transition period.

For clients who had not yet submitted an EOI: The EOI system is closed. New OINP applications are not possible until the portal reopens with the Ontario Workforce Priority stream active. Clients in this position should evaluate whether federal pathways — C11 Significant Benefit Work Permit, ICT Intra-Company Transfer, or other PNP provincial streams — are available and appropriate for their situation while Ontario completes its rollout.

For the portal reopening: Ontario has indicated a summer 2026 timeline. GenesisLink will publish updated analysis as soon as the Ontario Workforce Priority stream criteria are released.

Stay Current

Ontario's redesign reflects a broader national trend toward consolidating and simplifying PNP stream architecture — a shift observed across multiple provinces in 2025 and 2026. The Ontario Workforce Priority stream, once its criteria are published, will be the framework shaping OINP nominations for the foreseeable future.

GenesisLink is monitoring the program updates page and will publish a full breakdown of the new stream's eligibility requirements, business documentation standards, and positioning strategy as soon as Ontario releases the portal and criteria.

Source: Ontario Regulation 422/17 (General) under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015, as amended June 26, 2026. Ontario Ministry of Immigration program announcement, June 26, 2026.