New OINP Requirements 2026: What the New Ontario Workforce Priority Stream Scoring Grid Means for TEER 0-3, TEER 4-5, and Recent Ontario Graduates
By Anne Lui, founder and principal consultant of Hopeway Immigration
If you’ve been tracking the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) this year, you already know June 26, 2026 was a turning point: all eight of OINP’s former nomination streams closed, replaced by a single new pathway — the Ontario Workforce Priority (OWP) Stream. On July 20, 2026, Ontario published the full eligibility criteria and scoring grid for this new stream, giving employers and candidates their first complete look at how the revamped OINP requirements actually work.
At Hopeway Immigration and Services Inc., we’ve spent the past several weeks mapping these changes against the old framework for our clients across various streams under OINP and Express Entry. This article breaks down exactly what changed for the three groups we’re asked about most: TEER 0-3 workers, TEER 4-5 workers, and recent Ontario graduates — plus the new OINP scoring grid and the documents you’ll need to gather now, before the Expression of Interest (EOI) system reopens later this summer.
What Changed: OINP’s Phase 1 Redesign
Effective June 25-26, 2026, amendments to Ontario Regulation 422/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 eliminated OINP’s eight former streams — Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker, In-Demand Skills, and International Student; Master’s Graduate; PhD Graduate; and the Express Entry-aligned Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, and Skilled Trades streams. In their place, Ontario introduced the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, covering job offers in every NOC TEER category (0 through 5) along with a no-job-offer pathway only for self-employed physicians.
Ontario has described this as Phase 1 of a two-phase redesign intended to streamline permanent residence pathways for candidates with arranged Ontario employment, raise the bar on language and education requirements, and give rural and northern employers more flexible revenue thresholds. The OWP Stream’s EOI system is expected to reopen later in August 2026; candidates whose EOIs or job offers were not invited under the old streams will need to register a fresh EOI once it does.
Old vs. New: Eligibility Requirements Compared
The table below lines up the former OINP streams against their closest equivalents under the new OWP Stream for the three applicant profiles we’re asked about most often.
| Requirement | Former Streams (closed June 26, 2026) | New OWP Pathway | What Changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEER 0-3 Workers | Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream — job offer in a TEER 0-3 occupation | Ontario Workforce Priority Stream — TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 pathway, open to occupations in these TEER levels | No change in occupational coverage — the pathway continues to cover the same TEER 0-3 scope |
| Work experience | 2 years cumulative full-time experience in the same occupation, within the last 5 years (gained in Canada or abroad) | One of: 6 months consecutive with the job-offer employer (last 12 months); 2 years cumulative in the NOC in last 5 years; or licence exemption | A faster 6-month consecutive-experience option was added alongside the 2-year cumulative option |
| Language | No minimum language requirement to qualify | CLB 6 minimum (CLB 5 for listed skilled trades), unless exempt as a recent Ontario graduate | A mandatory language requirement now applies for the first time — previously there was none |
| Education | No minimum education requirement to qualify | Post-secondary degree/diploma (1+ year full-time) for most occupations; secondary diploma accepted for listed skilled trades | A mandatory education requirement now applies for the first time — previously there was none |
| TEER 4-5 Workers | Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream — job offer in a TEER 4-5 occupation | Ontario Workforce Priority Stream — TEER 4-5 pathway, open to occupations in these TEER levels | No change in occupational coverage — the pathway continues to cover the same TEER 4-5 scope |
| Work experience | 9 months cumulative, paid, full-time experience in Ontario within the past 3 years | 9 months cumulative, paid, full-time experience in the job-offer position, within the past 2 years | Same 9-month minimum, but the qualifying window was tightened from 3 years to 2 |
| Language | CLB 4 minimum — a mandatory eligibility requirement, not just an EOI scoring factor | CLB 4 minimum in all four abilities — a mandatory eligibility requirement | Unchanged |
| Education | Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent (ECA required for foreign credentials) — a mandatory eligibility requirement | Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent | Unchanged |
| Recent Ontario Graduates | Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream (open to graduates of eligible institutions across Canada); Master’s Graduate and PhD Graduate streams (required graduation from an eligible Ontario institution specifically, and did not require a job offer) | Folded into the TEER 0-3 pathway as a reduced-experience track for recent graduates of eligible Ontario institutions — a job offer is now required in every case | Eligibility narrowed from Canada-wide institutions (International Student Stream) to Ontario institutions only, and a job offer is now required even for Master’s/PhD graduates, who previously did not need one |
| Work experience | International Student Stream: none required beyond the job offer itself | 3 months consecutive, paid, full-time experience with the job-offer employer, within the last 12 months | A minimum work-experience period now applies to graduates for the first time |
| Language / education | Graduation with an eligible credential was the core qualifying credential; a language test was not mandatory and was only taken to claim additional EOI scoring points | A post-secondary degree/diploma (2+ years), Ontario College Graduate Certificate, Master’s or PhD from an eligible Ontario institution within the last 3 years exempts you from the CLB and standard education tests; taking a language test remains optional and is only used to claim extra scoring points | The graduate credential exemption and the optional (scoring-only) nature of the language test both carry forward unchanged; what’s new is the 3-year time limit and the Ontario-only institution requirement |
Note: the OWP Stream is genuinely new, not a renaming exercise — the comparisons above map each new pathway to the closed stream it most resembles so you can see where the bar moved. Some occupations carry additional or alternate criteria under Ontario Regulation 422/17, so always confirm your specific NOC code with a licensed consultant before relying on this table.
The New OINP Scoring Grid: How Points Are Awarded
Unlike the old system, where scoring varied stream by stream, the OWP Stream uses one unified scoring grid across four categories. Every EOI is scored, and — if invited to apply — you must document every factor you claimed points for.
Employment / Labour Market Factors
NOC TEER category
Prepopulated in the EOI if applying with a job offer or as a self-employed physician.
- NOC TEER 0 or 1 — 9 points
- NOC TEER 2 or 3 — 6 points
- NOC TEER 4 — 0 points
- NOC TEER 5 — 0 points
NOC broad occupational category
Prepopulated in the EOI if applying with a job offer or as a self-employed physician.
- Occupational Category 3 — 10 points
- Occupational Category 7 — 8 points
- Occupational Category 2 — 6 points
- Occupational Category 0, 1, 4, 8, 9 — 4 points
- Occupational Category 5, 6 — 2 points
Hourly wage
Prepopulated in the EOI if applying with a job offer. Not applicable for self-employed physicians.
- $40 per hour or higher — 15 points
- $35 to $39.99 per hour — 12 points
- $30 to $34.99 per hour — 10 points
- $25 to $29.99 per hour — 8 points
- $20 to $24.99 per hour — 5 points
- Less than $20 per hour — 0 points
Ontario work experience — job-offer applicants
- Over 24 months working in the job-offer position — 18 points
- 13 to 24 months working in the job-offer position — 15 points
- 6 to 12 months working in the job-offer position — 12 points
- Less than 6 months working in the job-offer position, or not currently working in the position — 0 points
If you have less than 6 months of experience in the job-offer position, points are instead based on your overall Ontario work experience:
- Over 24 months working in Ontario — 12 points
- 13 to 24 months working in Ontario — 9 points
- 6 to 12 months working in Ontario — 6 points
- Less than 6 months working in Ontario, or not currently working in Ontario — 0 points
Ontario work experience — self-employed physicians
- Over 24 months (2+ years) cumulative medical practice in Ontario — 18 points
- 13 to 24 months cumulative medical practice in Ontario — 15 points
- 6 to 12 months cumulative medical practice in Ontario — 12 points
- Less than 6 months cumulative medical practice in Ontario — 0 points
Canadian work experience: earnings history
Based on a Notice of Assessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency in the last 5 years.
- $70K or more in earnings in a year — 8 points
- $50K to $69,999 — 6 points
- $30K to $49,999 — 4 points
- Under $30K in earnings in a year — 0 points
Legal status in Canada
- Valid work permit — 10 points
- Valid study permit — 5 points
- Without a valid work or study permit — 0 points
Education
Highest level of education
A Canadian credential or an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required.
- Doctorate or degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry — 10 points
- Master’s degree — 8 points
- University certificate or diploma above a bachelor level — 6 points
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent — 6 points
- Ontario College Graduate Certificate — 5 points
- University certificate or diploma below a bachelor level — 5 points
- College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma (not an Ontario College Graduate Certificate) — 5 points
- Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma — 5 points
- Less than a college or trade certificate — 0 points
Number of Canadian education credentials
The credential must be a post-secondary credential from an eligible Canadian institution that takes at least one year to complete on a full-time basis.
- More than one Canadian credential — 10 points
- One Canadian credential — 5 points
- No Canadian credential — 0 points
Language
Official language ability (English or French)
Points are based on your lowest CLB level across all four language abilities — reading, writing, listening and speaking.
- CLB 9 or higher — 15 points
- CLB 8 — 12 points
- CLB 7 — 8 points
- CLB 6 — 4 points
- CLB 5 or lower — 0 points
Knowledge of official languages
To receive points for 2 official languages, you must score at least CLB 6 across all four abilities in both tests.
- 2 official languages — 10 points
- 1 official language — 5 points
Regionalization
Location of work location in job offer
Determined by the work location entered by your employer (or, for self-employed physicians, your OHIP billing address).
- Northern Ontario — 15 points
- Eastern Ontario — 10 points
- Central Ontario, outside the GTA — 10 points
- Southwestern Ontario — 10 points
- Inside the GTA (except Toronto) — 5 points
- Toronto — 0 points
Candidates in a TEER 0-3 job offer (or physicians) who indicate they want an Express Entry-linked nomination and accept it receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System points once nominated — effectively guaranteeing an Express Entry invitation in the next round.
Documents to Prepare for Each Applicant Category
Under the OWP Stream, every scoring factor you claim in your EOI must be backed by documentation if you’re invited to apply — an incomplete document package gets an application returned, with the fee refunded but the file lost. Here’s what each of the three groups should start assembling now, split between the documents needed to meet the minimum eligibility bar and the documents that help maximize your score.
TEER 0-3 Workers
To meet eligibility
- Full-time, permanent job offer letter from your Ontario employer, matching the NOC and TEER category on file
- Proof of the qualifying work experience path you’re using: 6 months of pay stubs/reference letters with the job-offer employer, or 2 years of employment records in the same NOC over the past 5 years
- Valid licence or professional authorization, if your occupation requires one under Ontario or federal law
- CLB 6 (or CLB 5 for listed skilled trades) test results from an approved test taken within 2 years of applying — unless exempt as a recent graduate
- Post-secondary credential (1+ year full-time) plus an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if it was earned outside Canada
- Proof of legal status in Canada, if applying from within the country
To score more points
- Employment contract or pay records showing your hourly wage, ideally $40/hour or higher
- Records evidencing longer Ontario tenure in the job-offer position (13-24 months or 24+ months, rather than the 6-month minimum)
- CRA Notices of Assessment for the last several years, to support the Canadian earnings-history factor
- Second and third language test results, if you’re also proficient in French or English, to claim the two-official-languages bonus
- Additional Canadian post-secondary credentials beyond your first
TEER 4-5 Workers
To meet eligibility
- Full-time, permanent job offer letter for a TEER 4 or 5 position
- Employment records showing 9 months of cumulative, paid, full-time experience in the job-offer position within the last 2 years
- CLB 4 test results across all four language abilities, from an approved test taken within 2 years of applying
- Canadian secondary school diploma or an ECA confirming equivalency for a foreign credential
- Proof of legal status in Canada, if applying from within the country
To score more points
- Wage documentation showing pay above the $20-25/hour bracket where possible
- Evidence of a job offer location outside Toronto — particularly Northern, Eastern, Central, or Southwestern Ontario — for regionalization points
- CRA Notices of Assessment supporting Canadian earnings history
- Records of Ontario work experience beyond the 9-month minimum, since longer tenure scores higher
Recent Ontario Graduates
To meet eligibility
- Proof of graduation, within the last 3 years, from an eligible Ontario institution with a 2+ year post-secondary degree/diploma, Ontario College Graduate Certificate, Master’s, or PhD
- Full-time, permanent job offer letter (the graduate exemption reduces the experience bar, but does not remove the job-offer requirement)
- Employment records showing 3 months of consecutive, paid, full-time experience with the job-offer employer, within the last 12 months
- Valid licence or authorization, if your job-offer occupation requires one
- Proof of legal status in Canada — typically a study or post-graduation work permit
To score more points
- Transcripts or credential documents for any additional Canadian post-secondary credentials
- Wage and tenure documentation, since graduates are scored on the same wage, Ontario-experience, and earnings-history factors as other TEER 0-3 applicants
- Language test results even though they’re not required for eligibility — a strong CLB score still adds points on the language factor
- Job-offer location details if working outside Toronto, to claim regionalization points
Why Work With an OINP Immigration Consultant
The scoring grid above rewards preparation: wage level, Ontario tenure, earnings history, and regional location can each swing your EOI score by 10-18 points, often the difference between an invitation and a missed cycle. And because every claimed factor must be documented after invitation, a mis-scored EOI or an incomplete document package can cost you months while the new system is still finding its footing.
Hopeway Immigration and Services Inc. is led by licensed RCIC-IRB consultant Anne Lui and works daily with Express Entry, OINP, and family sponsorship files across Ontario. We’re actively reviewing client NOC classifications and EOI strategies against the new OWP Stream requirements ahead of the EOI system’s reopening this summer.
Book Your Consultation Today
Whether you’re a TEER 0-3 professional, a TEER 4-5 essential worker, or a recent Ontario graduate trying to make sense of the revamped OINP requirements and the new scoring grid, getting your NOC classification, work-experience path, and documentation right from the start matters more than ever under the redesigned program.
Contact Hopeway Immigration and Services Inc. today to book a consultation and get your Ontario Workforce Priority Stream strategy in place before the EOI system reopens.
Hopeway Immigration and Services Inc.
Unit 201, 5255 Yonge Street, North York, ON M2N 6P4
Phone: (437) 430-1230 | Email: consultant@hopewayimmigration.com
This article reflects OINP program information published by the Government of Ontario as of July 20, 2026, and is provided for general informational purposes. It is not legal advice. Regulatory requirements may change; please consult a licensed immigration consultant or refer to ontario.ca for the most current OINP eligibility criteria before making any application decisions.
