Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OINP): Who Qualifies and What It Costs
The Ontario Workforce Priority stream is the OINP route for skilled workers, and you enter it by invitation: you register an Expression of Interest (EOI) and wait to be invited. You need a full-time, permanent Ontario job offer, unless you are a self-employed physician. The application fee is CAD 1,500 outside the GTA and CAD 2,000 inside it.
Estimate your ranking with our OINP points calculator.
Last updated: 26 October 2026
since 1991
Workforce Priority at a glance: three pathways side by side
| Requirement | TEER 0 to 3 job offer | TEER 4 to 5 job offer | Self-employed physician |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job offer | Yes. Full-time and permanent, from an Ontario employer | Yes. Full-time and permanent, from an Ontario employer | No job offer and no employer rules |
| Language | CLB 6 in all four skills, or CLB 5 for listed skilled trades. No test for eligible Ontario graduates of the last 3 years | CLB 4 in all four skills | No minimum listed. Language still earns EOI points |
| Experience | 6 months full-time in the job offer position in the last 12 months, or 2 years in the same NOC within 5 years, or a required licence. 3 months for recent Ontario graduates | 9 months full-time (1,170 hours in a 12-month period) in the exact job within the last 2 years | No separate rule. Over 24 months of Ontario practice earns 18 points |
| Education | Post-secondary credential of at least one full-time year. High school for listed skilled trades | High school diploma or equivalent | OHIP billing number and good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario |
| Age | No age rule listed by Ontario | ||
| Selection | EOI score. The highest scores are invited, and your EOI is valid for 12 months | ||
| Express Entry | Optional nomination, worth 600 CRS points | Not offered | Optional nomination |
| Fees | EOI is free. Application fee CAD 1,500 outside the GTA, CAD 2,000 inside | EOI is free. Application fee CAD 1,500 outside the GTA, CAD 2,000 inside | Application fee CAD 1,500 outside the GTA, CAD 2,000 inside, by practice address |
| Deposit | None | ||
| Work permit support letter | Yes, with the nomination | Yes, with the nomination | No |
GTA means the City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel and York. Source: Ontario.ca, Ontario Workforce Priority stream (checked October 2026).
What is the Ontario Workforce Priority stream?
The Ontario Workforce Priority stream is the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) stream that nominates skilled workers for permanent residence. It runs by invitation. You register an EOI, Ontario scores it, and the highest scores are invited to apply.
Your employer goes first. The employer submits the job offer in the Employer Portal, and then you register your EOI. Ontario lists three pathways: TEER 0 to 3 job offers, TEER 4 to 5 job offers and self-employed physicians.
Four mistakes that cost applicants time and money
These four gaps are easy to avoid when you know about them.
- Registering late: you have 30 calendar days from your employer submitting the job offer to register your EOI.
- Picking a weak employer: the employer needs 3 years in business and premises in Ontario. Check this before you pay for tests.
- Counting the wrong experience: TEER 4 to 5 needs 9 months in the exact job, with the same employer and location.
- Missing the 17-day window: after an invitation your employer has 14 days and you have 17. The fee is non-refundable once processing starts.
We check the employer first, then your documents, then your score. That order stops you paying for steps you cannot use.
Why workers choose this stream
- No EOI fee: registering costs nothing, and the application fee is due only after an invitation
- Express Entry option: TEER 0 to 3 workers and physicians can ask for nomination through Express Entry, worth 600 CRS points
- Low language bar for TEER 4 to 5: CLB 4 in all four skills
- Recent Ontario graduates: 3 months of experience and no language test
- No deposit: Ontario asks for none
- Clear scoring: Ontario publishes every EOI factor, so you can estimate your score
Is the Workforce Priority stream right for you?
An honest answer before you spend money on tests and fees.
A good fit if you have
- A full-time, permanent Ontario job offer from an employer with 3 years in business (physicians: an OHIP billing number and good standing with the CPSO)
- Recent experience in the role: 6 months to 2 years, depending on your pathway
- CLB 6 (CLB 5 for listed skilled trades) or CLB 4 for TEER 4 to 5, unless you are an eligible Ontario graduate
- A credential that fits your pathway
- Time to meet the 30, 14 and 17 day deadlines
Consider another route if
- You have no Ontario job offer and are not a self-employed physician
- You are self-employed or a contractor (not eligible)
- Your employer is the Ontario Public Service (not accepted)
- You are a physician with a postgraduate education licence (use the job offer pathway)
- You hold a TEER 4 to 5 job offer and want Express Entry nomination (not offered)
Every other OINP stream is closed. If you relied on one, use this stream with a new job offer, or look at federal Express Entry. See the Ontario PNP overview or compare all provinces.
Workforce Priority eligibility requirements
You must meet your pathway’s rules and prove every claim with documents. Here is what Ontario and IRCC check.
Language proficiency
CLB 6 in all four skills for TEER 0 to 3, CLB 5 for listed skilled trades and CLB 4 for TEER 4 to 5. Your test must be within 2 years. Graduates of an eligible Ontario institution within the last 3 years may skip the test for TEER 0 to 3.
Education
TEER 0 to 3 needs a post-secondary credential of at least one full-time year, or a high school diploma for listed skilled trades. TEER 4 to 5 needs a high school diploma or equivalent. A foreign credential needs an ECA less than 5 years old.
Work experience
TEER 0 to 3: 6 months full-time in the job offer position in the last 12 months, or 2 years in the same NOC within 5 years, or a required licence. Truck and bus or transit drivers (NOC 73300 and 73301) must have the 6 months. TEER 4 to 5: 9 months in the exact job within 2 years.
Job offer
A full-time, permanent Ontario job in a TEER 0 to 5 occupation. Your employer submits it in the Employer Portal first, and you get a job offer ID. Self-employed professionals and contractors are not eligible.
Employer and status
The employer must have 3 years in business, premises in Ontario and enough revenue and Canadian employees (lower revenue applies in rural areas under 150,000 people). If you apply from inside Canada you need legal status, and maintained status is allowed.
Not sure you qualify?
Answer 8 questions to see which provinces fit your profile.
The three Workforce Priority pathways
TEER 0 to 3 job offer
For management jobs and jobs that need a degree, diploma or apprenticeship. You can ask for nomination through Express Entry, which adds 600 CRS points.
TEER 4 to 5 job offer
For intermediate and support jobs. You need CLB 4, a high school diploma and 9 months in the exact job. Express Entry nomination is not offered.
Self-employed physicians
For physicians with an OHIP billing number who are in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. You need no job offer, and you start with a webform to register your EOI. Physicians do not get a work permit support letter.
Compare other routes
Need a different route? These pages cover Ontario, the other provinces and the federal options.
How to get nominated through the Workforce Priority stream
Three steps from your job offer to your Ontario nomination.
Your employer submits the job offer
Your employer registers and submits the job offer in the Employer Portal. You get a job offer ID and have 30 calendar days to register your EOI. Physicians start with a webform instead.
Register your EOI and wait for an invitation
Ontario scores your EOI and invites the highest scores. Your EOI stays valid for 12 months. Your language test must be within 2 years, so book it before you register.
Apply, get nominated, then apply to IRCC
After an invitation your employer applies within 14 days and you apply and pay within 17 days. If Ontario nominates you, you apply to IRCC for permanent residence within 6 months. With a job offer you also get a work permit support letter.
Costs and fees
What you pay as a single applicant. IRCC fees can change, so we confirm every amount in your consultation.
Which Canadian province wants you?
Answer 8 questions and see which of Canada’s 9 skilled-worker PNP streams fit your profile, based on current provincial criteria. You can also see every stream on the PNP map.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
35+ years of hands-on immigration experience and 25,000+ successful cases. 3rd generation in the immigration industry. Our team includes Rijah Amir, also a licensed RCIC, so every file gets a second expert review.
Licensed expert guidance
Advice from CICC-licensed RCICs, not sales staff or unlicensed agents.
A strategy built for your profile
We identify the fastest realistic pathway for you, not a template.
Application accuracy
Documentation review that prevents costly errors and refusals.
Timely updates
We track every draw, policy shift and IRCC announcement for you.
End-to-end support
From eligibility checks to landing, we guide every step.
Proven track record
2026 Canadian Choice Award winner, trusted since 1991.
What our clients say
Real reviews from clients we have guided to Canada and beyond.
Ontario Workforce Priority FAQs
Is the Ontario Workforce Priority stream open?
Yes, it takes applications by invitation. You register an Expression of Interest (EOI), and Ontario invites the highest-scoring profiles to apply. Ontario.ca shows it as the one active OINP stream for skilled workers.
Do I need a job offer for the Ontario Workforce Priority stream?
Yes, unless you are a self-employed physician. The job must be full-time, permanent and in Ontario, and your employer submits it before you register your EOI. Physicians with an OHIP billing number and good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario apply without one.
How much does the Ontario Workforce Priority stream cost?
The application fee is CAD 1,500 if your job is outside the GTA and CAD 2,000 if it is inside (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel or York). Registering an EOI is free and there is no deposit. The application fee is non-refundable once processing starts.
What language level do I need?
TEER 0 to 3 needs CLB 6 in all four skills, listed skilled trades need CLB 5, and TEER 4 to 5 needs CLB 4. Your test must be within 2 years. Graduates of an eligible Ontario institution within the last 3 years need no test for TEER 0 to 3.
How much work experience do I need?
TEER 0 to 3 needs 6 months full-time in the job offer position, or 2 years in the same NOC, or a required licence. Recent Ontario graduates need 3 months. TEER 4 to 5 needs 9 months (1,170 hours) in the exact job within the last 2 years.
How does Ontario choose who gets invited?
Ontario scores every EOI out of 132 points, states no minimum score and invites the highest scores. Points come from your job’s TEER level and wage, Ontario experience, earnings, status, education, language and where in Ontario the job is. Estimate your score with our OINP points calculator.
Can I be nominated through Express Entry?
Yes for TEER 0 to 3 job offers and for self-employed physicians, if you choose it. A nomination adds 600 CRS points. TEER 4 to 5 workers cannot be nominated through Express Entry and apply to IRCC outside it.
What deadlines apply to the Ontario Workforce Priority stream?
You must register your EOI within 30 calendar days of your employer submitting the job offer. After an invitation, your employer applies within 14 calendar days and you apply and pay within 17 calendar days. Line up your documents early so you can meet each one.
