The June 2026 OINP redesign in one paragraph
Ontario rewrote the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program in mid-2026. Nine former streams — including the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker, Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills, International Student, Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams — were closed and their legal basis revoked. A single new stream, the Ontario Workforce Priority (OWP) stream, now handles employer-driven and graduate nominations, with TEER 0–3 and TEER 4–5 categories.
TL;DR
- Nine OINP streams closed in May–June 2026; their regulations were revoked.
- The Ontario Workforce Priority (OWP) stream is the only open OINP route.
- OWP has TEER 0–3 and TEER 4–5 categories under one employer job offer framework.
- EOIs, job offers and applications under closed streams were automatically withdrawn or closed.
- Ontario’s 2026 allocation rose to 14,119 nominations.
Which streams closed
The nine closed streams were:
- Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker
- Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills
- Employer Job Offer: International Student
- International Student (non-job-offer)
- Masters Graduate
- PhD Graduate
- Foreign Worker (In-Demand Skills predecessor)
- Job Offer category under the former Employer Job Offer streams
- Regional / targeted sub-categories tied to the above
Our closed streams archive keeps the full list with dates and source links, and our former stream pages (Foreign Worker, In-Demand Skills, Student) now carry closed-stream notices instead of application instructions.
What the OWP stream looks like
The OWP stream consolidates the old employer job offer framework into one stream with two categories. The TEER 0–3 category covers skilled occupations — management, professional and technical jobs — while the TEER 4–5 category covers intermediate and support occupations, replacing the old In-Demand Skills stream. Both require a genuine, full-time job offer from an Ontario employer, a minimum wage tied to the occupation, and a minimum period of accumulated work experience with the offering employer.
Scoring is now more granular: points for TEER level, hourly wage, annual earnings (with a new $80,000+ top bracket added in October 2026), Ontario work experience with the employer, education, language ability, and job location — northern and rural offers earn extra points.
What happened to EOIs and applications already in the system
Three groups were affected:
- EOIs in the pool under a closed stream: automatically withdrawn. A new EOI under OWP is required.
- Registered job offers under closed streams: withdrawn with the stream. Employers can re-register offers under OWP.
- Applications in progress before the deadline: Ontario closed the processing of applications under the old streams; check your status through the OINP portal and our stranded-applicant guide for options.
What graduates should do now
The Masters Graduate and International Student streams were among the most popular routes and their closure is the biggest change in the redesign. Graduates now reach a nomination through a job offer — OWP with an employer, or through Express Entry after PGWP experience. Our student stream successor page and the study-permits guide map the current options.
Is the OINP foreign worker stream closed?
Yes. The Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream closed in June 2026 when its regulation was revoked. Its function — employer job offers for workers outside TEER 0–3 — moved into the Ontario Workforce Priority stream.
Is the OINP international student stream closed?
Yes. The International Student stream and the Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams all closed in June 2026. Graduates now use the OWP stream with a job offer, or federal Express Entry routes.
What replaced the closed OINP streams?
The Ontario Workforce Priority (OWP) stream is the only open OINP stream. It has TEER 0–3 and TEER 4–5 categories under one employer job offer framework.
Can I still apply to a closed stream if I was in the pool?
No. EOIs and job offers under closed streams were automatically withdrawn. You need a new employer job offer and a new EOI under the OWP stream.
Related pages
- Closed OINP streams archive
- Stranded EOIs & grandfathering
- Ontario Workforce Priority stream
- OINP student stream — closed, what now
Official sources
- Ontario — OINP program page (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Ontario — 2026 OINP updates (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Ontario Regulation 422/17 (accessed 2026-10-29)
