Blog Details

• Admin

Ontario announces major changes to OINP streams

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is undergoing a significant overhaul in how applications are handled under its Employer: Job Offer streams. Starting July 2, 2025, foreign nationals will no longer be able to apply directly to these streams. Instead, Ontario will shift to a new employer-led application model designed to streamline oversight, improve data security, and ensure employers are more actively involved in the immigration process.

Previously, the OINP’s Employer: Job Offer streams followed an applicant-led process. That meant foreign nationals with a valid job offer could independently initiate an Expression of Interest (EOI) and request their employers to complete the supporting “Application for Approval of an Employment Position.”

However, beginning July 2, 2025, the process will become employer-led. Employers must first submit job offer details to the Ontario government through a new online Employer Portal only after this step can a foreign national register an EOI.

This change applies to all three subcategories under the OINP’s Employer: Job Offer category:

• Foreign Worker Stream – For skilled workers with a job offer in Ontario.
• International Student Stream – For international graduates with a job offer from an Ontario employer.
• In-Demand Skills Stream – For workers in high-demand occupations such as personal support workers, construction labourers, and truck drivers.

Timeline of Implementation

Ontario has released a phased transition plan for these changes:

June 20 – July 2: The OINP will not accept any new EOIs under the Employer: Job Offer streams.

June 21 – June 22: All existing EOIs will automatically expire and be removed from the OINP system.

June 27 – June 29: The entire OINP online application system will be temporarily unavailable.

July 2: The new Employer Portal goes live, allowing employers to register and submit job offers.

From this point forward, candidates must work closely with their employers to be considered for nomination. EOIs submitted after July 2 will be valid for 12 months and will be eligible for future draws conducted by the province.

Foreign nationals who already had active EOIs before the transition will need to resubmit their EOIs in coordination with their employers. These changes emphasise the employer's commitment to the immigration process and create a more collaborative approach.

What should the employers do?

Employers in Ontario seeking to hire foreign nationals will need to:

• Register on the new OINP Employer Portal starting July 2.
• Submit all required information about the employment position (e.g., job title, duties, wages, business details).
• Coordinate closely with potential hires to ensure all documentation is aligned for the candidate's EOI submission.

This employer-led system allows the province to vet and validate employers more thoroughly before candidates enter the selection pool, potentially minimising fraudulent activity and increasing the overall integrity of the program.

Ontario’s move to an employer-led application model under the OINP Employer: Job Offer streams is a bold yet necessary shift toward a more robust, transparent, and fraud-resistant immigration system. For employers, it offers an opportunity to actively shape the future of their workforce. For foreign nationals, it provides a clearer, albeit more collaborative, pathway to permanent residence.

As the province continues to fine-tune its immigration strategy, the July 2 portal launch marks a turning point that both reflects and anticipates the dynamic needs of Ontario’s economy and population. Employers and applicants alike must prepare to embrace this new era of provincial immigration with diligence, cooperation, and adaptability.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, at +1 778 239 7861 or +1 647 453 7660 with RCIC # R413239, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need.