Ontario has officially opened its 2026 provincial immigration cycle with a strong signal to employers and foreign workers alike. On February 2, 2026, the province conducted its first Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program invitation rounds of the year under the Employer Job Offer streams, issuing a total of 1,825 invitations to apply.

These draws covered the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream, International Student Stream, and In-Demand Skills Stream, reinforcing Ontario’s continued focus on employer-led immigration to meet labour shortages across priority sectors.

For candidates working with a certified Canadian immigration consultant, this first round of 2026 offers valuable insight into where Ontario is directing its nomination capacity early in the year.

Breakdown of Ontario’s First OINP Draws of 2026

The February 2 invitations were distributed as follows:

• 777 invitations under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream
• 1,041 invitations under the Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream
• 7 invitations under the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

All draws were issued through Ontario’s Expression of Interest system, which ranks candidates based on factors such as job offer details, occupation, location, and labour market needs.

Targeted occupations included physicians, health professionals, early childhood educators, assistants, and candidates aligned with the Regional Economic Development through Immigration initiative.

Targeted Draws Show Ontario’s Labour Priorities

Ontario did not issue general draws across these streams. Instead, the province focused on specific occupations and regions.

• Under the Foreign Worker Stream, invitations were issued to:
• Physicians with scores of 33 and above
• REDI candidates with scores of 44 and above
• Health occupations and early childhood educators with scores of 36 and above

The International Student Stream followed a similar pattern, with higher minimum scores reflecting Ontario’s emphasis on workforce-ready graduates already integrated into the labour market.

From the perspective of a Regulated Immigration Consultant, these results highlight how employer demand and regional needs are now the dominant drivers of OINP selection.

What This Means for Employers and Candidates

Ontario’s approach in these first draws sends a clear message: employer-supported immigration remains a priority in 2026.

Employers must act quickly once a candidate receives an invitation. For Employer Job Offer streams, employers have 14 calendar days to submit the employment position application, while candidates have 17 calendar days to file their nomination application.

At ImmigCanada immigration consulting services, our team regularly supports employers through this compressed timeline, ensuring compliance while minimizing risk.

Professionals such as Eivy Joy Quito, widely recognized as one of the experienced RCIC in Canada, advise both employers and candidates to maintain updated EOI profiles, accurate job offers, and complete documentation well before invitations are issued. Ontario’s first OINP draws of 2026 confirm that employer-driven immigration remains central to the province’s workforce strategy. With 1,825 invitations issued across Employer Job Offer streams, candidates aligned with priority occupations and supported by employers continue to hold a strong advantage. Working with a certified Canadian immigration consultant can help applicants position themselves correctly before the next round is announced.