Ontario Announces New Nomination Allocation for 2026

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has officially announced its provincial nomination allocation for 2026, confirming an increase in nominations compared to the previous year.

As part of the Canada immigration levels plan 2026-2028, the federal government has allocated 14,119 nomination spaces to Ontario, allowing the province to select eligible candidates across its eight OINP streams.

This expanded allocation reflects Ontario’s ongoing demand for skilled workers, international graduates, and in-demand professionals to support economic growth and address labour shortages.

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Federal PR Targets Drive Higher OINP Nominations in 2026

Ontario's increase in OINP nomination spaces for 2026 is primarily the result of the federal government’s expanded permanent residence (PR) admissions targets under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

As part of the Canada multi-year immigration levels plan, the federal government significantly raised the PNP admission target to 91,500 in 2026. This compares with 55,000 the previous year, allowing provinces and territories to nominate more candidates to meet regional labour market demand and help enhance provincial economic conditions.

This policy shift enabled Ontario to receive 14,119 nominations for 2026, representing a substantial increase over its 2025 allocation.

However, despite the growth, Ontario’s nomination levels have not fully recovered to their 2024 peak, when the province was allocated a much higher number of nominations. The increase reflects Ottawa’s continued reliance on provincial programs to address skills shortages, support economic development, and better align immigration selection with local workforce priorities.

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Recent Updates to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

The Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) has introduced several important changes heading in this year. It reflects the federal policy shift and Ontario's evolving labour market priorities.

These updates are aiming to strengthen program integrity, improve employer compliance, and better target in-demand occupations.

Key recent changes to the OINP include:

• Expansion of eligibility for self-employed internationally trained physicians under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream, particularly those with provisional licences and OHIP billing privileges
• Temporary suspension of the Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream in late 2025, with pending applications returned due to compliance and enforcement concerns
• Introduction of broader regulatory authority allowing Ontario to return or pause applications before nomination issuance under specific circumstances
• Launch of a new electronic Employer Portal to enhance employer oversight in Employer Job Offer streams
• Reduced education requirements for early childhood educators and assistants under select streams

These changes signal Ontario’s continued effort to align its immigration program with federal priorities and to address provincial workforce needs more effectively.

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Source: ontario.ca

Tags: Ontario nomination allocation 2026 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program OINP nomination allocation Ontario PNP 2026 update OINP invitation allocation 2026 Ontario immigration Canada PR through OINP