Ontario Plans Big Changes to Its Immigration Program

Dec 5, 2025 / 3 min readIshita Soni

What This Proposal Is About

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) helps the province bring skilled workers and entrepreneurs for permanent residence.
However, with 8 separate streams, the system is complicated.
Therefore, the government now wants to simplify everything into 4 main streams, and this will happen in two phases.

Phase 1: Updating Employer Job Offer Streams

In the first phase, Ontario plans to combine the 3 current Employer Job Offer streams into one improved stream with two tracks.
As a result, the process will be easier for both employers and applicants.

A. TEER 0–3 Track (Skilled Workers)

This track focuses on high-skilled jobs, especially for people already in Canada.
To qualify, applicants must meet these criteria:

• Wage Requirement

  • The job offer must pay at least the median wage.
  • However, recent Ontario graduates may qualify even with a low wage offer.

• Work Experience

You must meet one of the following:

  1. 6 months of Ontario experience in the same job with the same employer, OR
  2. 2 years of experience in the same job anywhere in the last 5 years, OR
  3. A valid license for that profession.

• Education

  • If you already have 6 months of Ontario experience, then no education requirement applies.
  • Otherwise, you must have a post-secondary credential + ECA.

B. TEER 4–5 Track (Entry-Level & Intermediate Jobs)

This track supports employers who struggle to find workers for essential roles.
Additionally, it focuses on occupations where there is a labour shortage.

To qualify:

  • You must meet a minimum language level, and
  • You need 9 months of Ontario experience in the job with the same employer.

Furthermore:

  • Ontario may create a pathway for construction workers, where union support could replace the need for a job offer.
  • The province may also choose candidates based on region, occupation, or employer needs, making the system more flexible.

Phase 2: Three New Streams

During the second phase, Ontario will remove old streams and launch three new ones to better match the province’s priorities.
Consequently, applicants will have clearer and more targeted options.

Priority Healthcare Stream

This stream is for high-skilled healthcare professionals.

Key points:

  • You don’t need a job offer.
  • You only need valid professional registration in Ontario.
  • It may also include recent graduates completing their registration.

Overall, this aims to solve Ontario’s ongoing healthcare worker shortage.

B. Entrepreneur Stream

This pathway supports newcomers who want to invest or run a business.

It applies to individuals who:

  • Have already started or purchased a business in Ontario, and
  • Are actively operating it.

Therefore, this stream encourages more jobs and stronger economic growth.

C. Exceptional Talent Stream

This stream attracts people with extraordinary achievements, especially in:

  • Science
  • Technology
  • Innovation
  • Academia
  • Creative fields

In particular, candidates must show strong accomplishments like:

  • Impactful research
  • Awards
  • Innovations
  • Creative contributions

Because of this, the assessment will be more qualitative, focusing on overall impact.

Public Feedback Requested

Ontario wants public input to improve the proposal.
Specifically, they are asking for thoughts on:

  1. Strengths of the new approach
  2. Potential risks
  3. Suggestions to improve the application process
  4. Anything else Ontario should consider

Feedback on the Employer Portal

Ontario also launched a new Employer Portal, and they want improvement suggestions.

A. Overall Experience

  • Was it easy to use?
  • If not, which parts were confusing or time-consuming?

B. Accessibility

  • Were instructions clear?
  • For example, were language options or screen-reader support needed?

C. Technical Issues

  • Did you face slow pages or errors?
  • If yes, how did it affect you?

Important Dates

  • Posted: December 2, 2025
  • Feedback Due: January 1, 2026

Expected Benefits

If approved, the proposal will:

  • Simplify the OINP system
  • Improve access for applicants with job offers
  • Support healthcare professionals
  • Create a pathway for entrepreneurs
  • Allow targeted draws that respond to labour needs

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive advice on any of your questions regarding Immigration Get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Global. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).

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