Looking for the new OINP scoring factors? Ontario replaced eight older streams with the Ontario Workforce Priority stream and published updated EOI points in July 2026.
If you still have notes based on old OINP EOI points, Human Capital Priorities draws, or the Masters Graduate stream, those plans are outdated. Ontario redesigned the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) in 2026.
The province closed eight older streams, launched the Ontario Workforce Priority stream (OWPS), and on July 20, 2026 released a new Expression of Interest scoring grid. Your old competitive score may not mean the same thing under the new system.
This guide covers what changed, what advice is now outdated, a clear old vs new points comparison, and how to prepare while Ontario’s EOI portal is closed. When you are ready, estimate your profile with our free OINP Points Calculator (updated for the July 2026 factors).
Quick reality check: Scoring factors are not the same as eligibility. You must still meet pathway requirements (job offer rules, language, education, and work experience). Always confirm details on Ontario.ca or with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).
What happened to OINP in 2026?
Ontario’s redesign rolled out in phases:
- Late June 2026: Regulation changes took effect. Eight legacy streams were removed and replaced by the Ontario Workforce Priority stream.
- EOI system closed: No new invitations under the old streams. Uninvited EOIs and old job offers are being withdrawn while platforms update (see Ontario’s 2026 OINP updates).
- July 20, 2026: Official OWPS scoring factors went live — job-offer candidates can score up to 130 EOI points.
- Next: The EOI system is expected to reopen later in summer 2026. Until then, you can prepare documents and model your score — you cannot register a new OWPS EOI yet.
Ontario has also signaled more streams later (such as Priority Healthcare, Entrepreneur, and Exceptional Talent). Those are not open yet. For now, OWPS is the pathway that matters.
Streams and advice that are no longer valid
A lot of 2024–early 2026 content is now misleading. Treat these as retired for new applicants:
| Old OINP approach | Status in mid-2026 |
|---|---|
| Human Capital Priorities (Express Entry NOI) | Retired — do not wait for HCP NOIs under the old model |
| French-Speaking Skilled Worker / Skilled Trades EE streams | Retired |
| Masters Graduate / PhD Graduate (no job offer) | Retired |
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker, International Student, In-Demand Skills | Replaced by OWPS job-offer pathways |
| Field of study points (STEM/health vs arts) | Removed from EOI scoring |
| Ontario study-location points | Removed from EOI scoring |
| “6 months with employer = +3 tenure points” | Replaced by a much larger Ontario work-experience ladder (up to 18 points) |
If an article, YouTube video, or consultant still ranks you using September 2025 EOI tables, ask for an OWPS recalculation.
The three Ontario Workforce Priority pathways
OWPS is one stream with three pathways:
1. TEER 0–3 job offer
For higher-skilled occupations with a full-time, permanent Ontario job offer. Minimum language is typically CLB 6 (CLB 5 for listed trades), plus education and work-experience rules that depend on your situation.
2. TEER 4–5 job offer
For lower-skilled occupations with a qualifying job offer. Requirements are different (for example, language often starts at CLB 4, and work experience is measured differently). Confirm TEER with our NOC Finder.
3. Self-employed physician
For physicians who can bill OHIP and meet College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario registration rules. No employer job offer is required. Wage scoring does not apply; Ontario medical practice experience is scored instead.
Bottom line for most foreign workers: a qualifying Ontario employer is now central. Former “no job offer” Ontario options are largely gone for new filings.
Old vs new OINP scoring: what actually changed?
Below is a practical comparison between the previous employer EOI model (commonly used through 2025 / early 2026) and the July 2026 OWPS grid. Exact legacy point values varied by stream, but these are the shifts candidates feel most.
Point values that moved
| Factor | Previous (typical) | New OWPS (July 2026) | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOC TEER 0 or 1 | 10 | 9 | Slightly less weight on skill level alone |
| NOC TEER 2 or 3 | 8 | 6 | TEER alone won’t carry a weak profile |
| Hourly wage $40+ | 10 | 15 | Pay matters more |
| Hourly wage $30–$34.99 | 7 | 10 | Mid wages also gained |
| Ontario job tenure | 0 or +3 (6+ months) | up to 18 | Biggest winner — time in the job-offer role |
| Canadian earnings history | +3 if $40k+ | up to 8 (tiered to $70k+) | Stronger reward for proven Canadian income |
| Work vs study permit | Both often 10 | Work 10 / Study 5 | Students score lower on status |
| Language (CLB 9+) | 10 | 15 | Strong English/French pays more |
| Language (CLB 6) | 0 | 4 | CLB 6 now earns points (still meet pathway minimums) |
| Northern Ontario job | 10 | 15 | Regionalization boosted |
| Outside GTA (non-North) | 8 | 10 | Still valuable vs Toronto |
| GTA except Toronto | 3 | 5 | Small bump |
| Field of study | up to 12 | 0 (removed) | STEM/health bonus is gone |
| Study location in Ontario | up to 10 | 0 (removed) | Where you studied no longer scores |
Occupational category reshuffle
Ontario still scores the first digit of your NOC (broad category), but priorities shifted:
- Category 3 (Health) — 10 points (still top)
- Category 7 (Trades / transport) — 8 points (up)
- Category 2 (Natural & applied sciences) — 6 points (down from the old top tier)
- Categories 0, 1, 4, 8, 9 — 4 points
- Categories 5 and 6 — 2 points
A software role that used to sit in a high-scoring bundle may now trail a comparable health or trades profile on this factor alone.
How the new EOI grid is structured (up to 130 points)
Job-offer candidates are scored across four buckets:
- Employment / labour market — TEER, broad category, wage, Ontario work experience, Canadian earnings, temporary status
- Education — highest credential + number of eligible Canadian credentials
- Language — lowest CLB across four skills + one or two official languages
- Regionalization — where you will work (or practice, for physicians)
Ontario work experience (the make-or-break factor)
If you have 6+ months in the job-offer position:
- Over 24 months — 18
- 13–24 months — 15
- 6–12 months — 12
If you have less than 6 months in that position, Ontario switches to a lower ladder for other Ontario work experience (max 12). Arriving with a brand-new job offer and no Ontario history is much harder under OWPS than under the old +3 tenure model.
Language tip
Points use your lowest CLB among reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Convert IELTS, CELPIP, or French results with our CLB Converter before you estimate. To claim two official languages, you generally need at least CLB 6 in all four skills on both tests.
Who gains and who loses under the new system?
Often stronger now:
- Workers already employed in Ontario in the same role as the job offer (especially 1–2+ years)
- Higher-wage offers ($35–$40+/hr)
- Jobs outside Toronto — especially Northern Ontario
- Candidates with CLB 8–9+
- People with solid Canadian tax history ($50k–$70k+ years)
Often weaker now:
- Profiles that relied on field-of-study or Ontario study-location points
- Study-permit holders (5 points vs 10 for a work permit)
- Fresh offers with little or no Ontario work history
- Candidates waiting for retired no-job-offer streams
Want a second opinion on other provinces? Compare pathways with the PNP Score Calculator or model British Columbia separately with the BC PNP Calculator.
How to estimate your new OINP score (step by step)
- Confirm your NOC and TEER with the NOC Finder — TEER decides both eligibility pathway and points.
- Gather facts employers will enter: hourly wage, work location, and occupation.
- Map Ontario experience honestly: months in the exact job-offer role vs other Ontario jobs.
- Pull language results and CRA Notices of Assessment (last five years).
- Run the updated OINP Points Calculator for TEER 0–3, TEER 4–5, or physician pathway.
- Pair it with federal strategy: an Ontario nomination linked to Express Entry still adds roughly 600 CRS points. Check your federal standing with the CRS Score Calculator and recent Express Entry draw results.
Not sure you are Express Entry–eligible yet? Use the Express Entry Eligibility Checker first, then come back to provincial scoring.
What you should do while the EOI system is closed
- Employers: Review OWPS employer and job-offer rules. Portal accounts may carry over, but a new job offer / position approval will be needed under the new stream.
- Workers already in Ontario: Staying in the job-offer role longer can unlock the 12 / 15 / 18 experience bands.
- Language: Book or retake tests if your lowest skill is capping you at CLB 6–7.
- Documents: Keep ECA reports, CRA NOAs, and work records ready — invitations will move faster than document chasing.
- Ignore outdated checklists that still feature HCP, Masters Graduate, or field-of-study EOI points.
Browse all free tools on our immigration tools hub while you prepare.