Ontario Introduces New Scoring System for Permanent Residence Pathways
Ontario has introduced the official scoring system for its new Workforce Priority Stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). This guide explains how candidates earn points based on work region, occupation, education, language skills, work experience, and other factors, along with the complete process for obtaining permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Rohit Grewal
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has released the official scoring criteria that will be used to rank candidates applying for provincial nomination through its newly introduced immigration pathways.
Candidates with the highest scores will receive priority invitations to apply under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWPS). Those who receive an invitation can then pursue Canadian permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Applicants under the OWPS job offer pathways can earn a maximum of 130 points, based on several selection factors outlined below.
Work Region (Maximum 15 Points)
Applicants are awarded points depending on the Ontario region where they will be employed.
Region | Points | Census Divisions |
Northern Ontario | 15 | Muskoka, Haliburton, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Manitoulin, Sudbury, Greater Sudbury/Grand Sudbury, Timiskaming, Cochrane, Algoma, Thunder Bay, Rainy River, Kenora |
Eastern Ontario | 10 | Frontenac, Hastings, Kawartha Lakes, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Lennox and Addington, Northumberland, Ottawa, Peterborough, Prescott and Russell, Prince Edward, Renfrew, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry |
Central Ontario (Outside GTA) | 10 | Dufferin, Grey, Simcoe, Waterloo, Wellington |
Southwestern Ontario | 10 | Brant, Bruce, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Essex, Haldimand-Norfolk, Hamilton, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Oxford, Perth |
Outside Toronto (Within GTA) | 5 | Durham, Halton, Peel, York |
Toronto | 0 | City of Toronto |
Occupation Skill Level (Maximum 9 Points)
Points are assigned according to the candidate's occupation under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) system.
NOC TEER | Points | Description |
TEER 0 | 9 | Management occupations |
TEER 1 | 9 | Occupations generally requiring a university degree |
TEER 2 | 6 | Supervisory occupations or jobs usually requiring a college diploma or apprenticeship of two years or more |
TEER 3 | 6 | Occupations generally requiring a college diploma, apprenticeship of less than two years, or at least six months of on-the-job training |
TEER 4 | 0 | Occupations generally requiring secondary school or several weeks of job training |
TEER 5 | 0 | Occupations requiring short-term work demonstration |
Compensation (Maximum 15 Points)
Applicants receive points based on the hourly wage offered by their employer.
Hourly Wage | Points |
$40 or more | 15 |
$35–$39.99 | 12 |
$30–$34.99 | 10 |
$25–$29.99 | 8 |
$20–$24.99 | 5 |
Below $20 | 0 |
Occupational Category (Maximum 10 Points)
Additional points are awarded based on the broad occupational category.
Occupational Category | Points |
Health | 10 |
Trades, transport, equipment operators and related occupations | 8 |
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations | 6 |
Legislative and senior management; Business, finance and administration; Education, law, social, community and government services; Natural resources, agriculture and related production; Manufacturing and utilities | 4 |
Arts, culture, recreation and sport; Sales and service | 2 |
Ontario Work Experience
The scoring for Ontario work experience depends on whether the applicant is currently employed in the job offer position.
Candidates Working in the Job Offer Position
Work Experience | Points |
More than 24 months | 18 |
13–24 months | 15 |
6–12 months | 12 |
Other Candidates
Ontario Work Experience | Points |
More than 24 months | 12 |
13–24 months | 9 |
6–12 months | 6 |
Less than 6 months | 0 |
Canadian Income Tax History
Applicants can receive points based on the highest annual income reported during the previous five years.
Annual Income | Points |
$70,000 or more | 8 |
$50,000–$69,999 | 6 |
$30,000–$49,999 | 4 |
Below $30,000 | 0 |
Income is determined using the applicant's Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Notice of Assessment.
Education Level (Maximum 10 Points)
Applicants can receive points based on their highest completed educational qualification.
Highest Education Level | Points |
Doctoral degree | 10 |
Degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or optometry | 10 |
Master's degree | 8 |
University certificate or diploma above a bachelor's degree | 6 |
Bachelor's degree or equivalent | 6 |
Ontario College Graduate Certificate | 5 |
University certificate or diploma below a bachelor's degree | 5 |
College, CEGEP, or other non-university certificate or diploma | 5 |
Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma | 5 |
Education below a college or trade certificate | 0 |
Canadian Educational Credentials (Maximum 10 Points)
Candidates are also awarded points for post-secondary education completed in Canada.
Canadian Post-Secondary Credentials* | Points |
Two or more credentials | 10 |
One credential | 5 |
None | 0 |
*To qualify, the credential must have been earned from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution through a full-time program lasting at least one year.
Official Language Proficiency (Maximum 15 Points)
Applicants receive points based on their highest official language score, provided they meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level in all four language abilities—reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Minimum CLB Score (Across All Four Abilities) | Points |
CLB 9 or higher | 15 |
CLB 8 | 12 |
CLB 7 | 8 |
CLB 6 | 4 |
CLB 5 or below | 0 |
Language results must come from an approved immigration language test completed within the previous two years.
Bilingual Official Language Ability (Maximum 10 Points)
Additional points are available for candidates who demonstrate proficiency in both of Canada's official languages.
Official Languages Meeting Minimum CLB 6 | Points |
English and French | 10 |
One official language | 5 |
Temporary Resident Status (Maximum 10 Points)
Applicants can also earn points according to their current temporary resident status in Canada.
Temporary Resident Status | Points |
Valid work permit | 10 |
Valid study permit | 5 |
Neither | 0 |
Applicants without a work permit or study permit must still maintain legal immigration status to qualify under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.
Ontario Work Experience for Self-Employed Physicians
Self-employed physicians are not assessed using the hourly wage category. Instead, Ontario evaluates their cumulative medical practice experience in the province.
Ontario Medical Practice Experience | Points |
24 months or more | 18 |
13–24 months | 15 |
6–12 months | 12 |
Less than 6 months | 0 |
New OWPS Resources Published
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream scoring criteria were published on the OINP website when the new webpage became available on July 20, 2026.
The webpage also includes lists of eligible Ontario and Canadian post-secondary institutions that apply to both education eligibility and scoring requirements. In addition, the OINP released a separate document checklist for applicants under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream on the same date.
Pursuing Permanent Residence Through the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream
Applicants interested in obtaining Canadian permanent residence through the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWPS) must complete several steps in the provincial nomination process.
The application process is as follows:
Create an eligible Expression of Interest (EOI) profile in Ontario's online EOI system.
Be selected by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) and receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for provincial nomination.
Submit a complete provincial nomination application to the OINP.
Receive a provincial nomination from Ontario.
Apply to the Government of Canada for permanent residence under the Provincial Nominee Program.
Receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) from the federal government and complete the landing process as a Canadian permanent resident.
Ontario Workforce Priority Stream Pathways
To qualify for provincial nomination through the OWPS, foreign nationals must meet the eligibility requirements of one of the stream's three pathways.
The available pathways include:
TEER 0–3 Pathway – Designed for workers employed in higher-skilled occupations.
TEER 4–5 Pathway – Intended for workers in lower-skilled occupations.
Self-Employed Physicians Pathway – Available to physicians who are eligible to bill through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).
Expression of Interest (EOI) Requirement
To be considered for nomination, eligible applicants must have an active Expression of Interest (EOI) profile in Ontario's online system.
For candidates applying through the job offer pathways, the employer is responsible for initiating the creation of the EOI.
At present, Ontario's online EOI system remains closed. However, according to the OINP, it is expected to reopen later during the summer.
Once the system becomes available again, Ontario is expected to resume invitation rounds and begin issuing Invitations to Apply under the new Workforce Priority Stream.
Ontario's Provincial Immigration Program Overhaul
The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is currently the only newly introduced immigration stream for which Ontario has published complete eligibility requirements as part of its provincial immigration program overhaul in 2026.
Ontario officially closed all of its previous provincial immigration pathways on May 30, 2026.
The province later released the complete eligibility requirements for the three OWPS pathways on June 26, 2026.
Additional Immigration Streams Planned
Ontario has also confirmed plans to introduce three more immigration streams during the next phase of its immigration program reforms:
Priority Healthcare Stream
Entrepreneur Stream
Exceptional Talent Stream
At the time of writing, no official launch dates have been announced for these streams.
The Priority Healthcare Stream will be intended for individuals working in healthcare occupations and is expected to allow eligible applicants to qualify without requiring a job offer.
The Exceptional Talent Stream will target foreign nationals who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in areas including:
Scientific innovation
Academic research
Literary arts
Creative and performing arts
Existing Applications Continue Under Previous Rules
Applicants who submitted provincial nomination applications before Ontario retired its previous immigration pathways will continue to have their files assessed according to the eligibility criteria that were in effect when their applications were received.
Ontario First Announced the Changes in 2025
Ontario originally announced its plan to modernize and restructure its provincial immigration program in December 2025.
The launch of the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, together with the publication of its scoring system and eligibility requirements, represents the first major phase of that overhaul. Additional immigration streams are expected to follow once the province announces their official launch dates.
Rohit Grewal
COO & Co-Founder