Update (October 2026): On June 26, 2026, Ontario redesigned the OINP: the eight former streams described below were removed and replaced by the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream, and the Expression of Interest (EOI) system described here is now closed to new EOI registrations. The information below is kept for historical reference. For the current process, see the official Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program page and the Ontario Workforce Priority stream page.
Ontario has released an Expression of Interest System for two PNPs undergoing the Employer Job proposal categorization.
For two of its provincial immigration programs, Ontario has started a new Expression of Interest (EOI) system.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) EOI system opened in 2021 for the following streams in the Employer Job Offer Category:
- Foreign Worker; and
- International Student.
The EOI system was later extended to the remaining streams (In-Demand Skills, Masters Graduate and Ph.D. Graduate). All eight former streams were removed on June 26, 2026, when the EOI system closed to new registrations.
What is the meaning for future Ontario immigrants?
From 2021 until June 2026, if you desired to register for immigration through one of Ontario’s base Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), you could register an EOI profile at any moment. Previously, you could only register when the OINP opened its online portal. This EOI system is now closed to new registrations.
Later your registration, your profile will be put into a selection pool and given a score based on your answers. Then Ontario will call applicants to apply for a provincial nomination.
An EOI registration does not give you an assurance that you will acquire an invite to apply. The OINP will inform you or your spokesperson if you have been invited.
For up to 12 months or until you obtain an invitation your EOI registration will be valid. You can also select to withdraw your registration. Your EOI will be removed automatically after 12 months period.
The registration is free of cost, but you will have to submit fees together with your application if you are invited to apply.
Getting an invitation does not mean you obtain the provincial nomination. You will have to fulfill all the eligibility requirements of the stream you are applying for at that time.
How to register an Expression of Interest?
Under the former system, creating a profile in the OINP e-Filing Portal was the first step: applicants checked the applicant requirements for their stream, then registered an expression of interest for one or more streams — though only one EOI profile could be registered at any given time. (Under the current Ontario Workforce Priority stream, the employer must first submit the job offer through the OINP Employer Portal, and the applicant registers an EOI within 30 calendar days using the job offer ID.)
At the time you register the details you give should be correct. You can upgrade your profile at any time to keep the information updated.
What are the factors that help to score?
Ontario ranks EOI profiles establish on your response answers. Based on the skill level of your job offer and Canadian work experience points are awarded. To assign points the state utilizes the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.
Depending on which stream you apply for the OINP scoring system is dissimilar. It also takes into get hold your salary, qualification, official language capability, and the region in which you study or work other than skill level and work experience. In addition, at its discretion to greet to labour market needs the state assigns 10 points.
The scoring factors published here reflected the EOI system as it stood in early 2022, based on the former NOC 2016 skill levels (Skill Levels A–D) and NOC types. Ontario later updated its scoring factors for NOC 2021, and on June 26, 2026 the EOI system closed to new registrations as part of the OINP redesign. The current scoring factors for the Ontario Workforce Priority stream are published on the official Ontario Workforce Priority stream page.
Why is Ontario launching an EOI system?
Ontario required a new immigrant selection system for its PNPs that work outside the Express Entry system. Previously, Ontario utilized the first-come-first-served prototype. So as to apply for base PNP, applicants would stand by for a registration to open, and then hurry to register. They were participating with each and every non-Express Entry candidate who desired to immigrate to Ontario.
For new Canadian immigrants considering Ontario is the most famous destination, which was a load of people. Applicants would only have a little window of a time period to register. They would have various browsers open to attempt and turn in their profile. Technical troubles happened. The system was unjust to those with slow internet connections some people stated.
Ontario begins public consultations on how to develop a new EOI system in the fall of 2020. Most other states had executed this selection process by that time.
At the while, an Ontario official stated to CIC News that the state was considering the EOI system to “control intake and the high demand for the program, keeping away unreliability related with stream launches and the recent ‘first-come-first-served’ prototype.”
Ontario endorsed the EOI selection system in the 2021 spring. At the moment by way of the new selection process now applicants can start applying for Ontario PNPs.
