Since the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has received an increased number of slots compared to the last, it has released its nomination allocation for the year. The federal government has given the OINP a total of 14,119 nominations to be distributed to the nominees among its 8 provincial immigration streams for 2026. These details have been released on February 6, 2026 on Ontario’s OINP updates webpage. The OINP has not yet announced any priority sectors and occupations for the year or a per-stream nomination distribution, as of now.
When compared to previous levels, how does the OINP’s 2026 nomination compare?
In comparison to the 10,750 nominations OINP received from the federal government in 2025, its 14,119 nominations for 2026 represents 31% increase approximately. Seeing levels go from 55,000 the year prior to 91,500 in 2026, it can be ascribed to the raise in the immigration department’s permanent residence (PR) admissions target among Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) this year.
The nomination slots of the provinces and territories will probably increase in comparison to the initial allocations in the beginning of 2025, due to the increased PR admission spaces. For instance, authorities such as Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon and British Columbia have already declared their nominations for the year.
Ontario did not get any boost to its provincial nomination allocation in 2025, instead it was the same as its initial nominations of 10,750 throughout the year, differing from other provinces and territories. Ontario’s nomination levels remain considerably lower than in 2024 (21,500), even though its number of slots was raised this year in contrast to last year. The OINP has only retrieved around 67% of its nomination levels in 2024.
What has changed recently with OINP?
Due to several changes to Ontario’s provincial immigration program, it has been in the limelight throughout 2025.
Qualification changes for self-employed physicians:
The eligibility for the Employer Job Offer was widened by the OINP in January 2026. In order to make the pathway to PR easier for eligible physicians, the Foreign Worker stream is planning to add self-employed internationally trained physicians having provisional certificates from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario with an OHIP billing number. It lets them count periods of self-employment without a job offer for 3 streams as it changed qualification requirements for self-employed physicians in February 2025.
Adjournment of its Express Entry Skilled Traded Stream:
Once the OINP identified “systemic compliance and enforcement concerns relating to the stream” in November 2025, it demanded for instant adjournment of its trade-targeted stream and returned pending applications.
Greater authority to return or pause applications:
In July 2025, Ontario introduced new regulations permitting the province to return applications before issuing a nomination, with application fees refunded. Later, by the end of October, the province expanded the list of circumstances under which applications could be suspended or sent back prior to nomination. 13 additional factors were introduced (with one removed), including considerations such as Ontario’s capacity to provide sufficient housing and healthcare services, an applicant’s language ability, educational background, employment status, and projected labour market demands within the province.
Launch of a new electronic Employer Portal:
Also in July 2025, Ontario shifted to an employer-driven intake model for its Employer Job Offer streams. Applications must now be initiated through a newly introduced online Employer Portal, meaning candidates can no longer submit applications independently under these streams.
Eased education criteria for early childhood educators and assistants:
Effective July 2025, Ontario revised the qualification requirements for early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202). Applicants under the Human Capital Priorities Stream and the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream are no longer required to hold a Canadian bachelor's degree (or an equivalent credential) to be eligible.
Implementation of possible in-person interviews:
As part of the July updates, Ontario announced that it may conduct face-to-face interviews with both employers and applicants when necessary to address concerns regarding the authenticity and credibility of certain applications.
Proposed restructuring of OINP streams:
Ontario has put forward plans for a significant restructuring of its immigration pathways. The first phase would combine the 3 existing Employer Job Offer streams into a single stream with different categories. In a subsequent phase, the province intends to replace most current streams with 3 new focused pathways targeting healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, and individuals with exceptional talent. These proposed reforms were introduced in late 2025 and are anticipated to take effect in 2026 or later, subject to final regulatory approval.
As Ontario expands its OINP nomination numbers for 2026 while simultaneously tightening oversight and reshaping its immigration framework, applicants are facing a system that is both opportunity-rich and highly regulated. Croyez Immigration supports candidates and employers by interpreting these ongoing changes, determining the most suitable provincial pathways, and ensuring applications meet the latest eligibility and compliance standards. With shifting stream structures, employer-driven processes, and increased scrutiny, Croyez Immigration offers strategic guidance to help clients stay prepared, responsive, and competitive in securing Ontario provincial nominations in 2026 and the years ahead.
