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Major Changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) – Effective July 1, 2025
Major Changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) – Effective July 1, 2025
Major Changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) – Effective July 1, 2025
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has undergone significant regulatory changes with the implementation of the Working for Workers Seven Act. These reforms, introduced by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, grant the province greater control over its immigration program and aim to better align with Ontario’s evolving labour market needs.
Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the new rules and program changes that came into effect on July 1, 2025:
New Authority to Return Applications:
As of July 1, the OINP has the legal authority to return submitted applications before a provincial nomination is issued.
Returned applications will receive a full refund of the application fee.
The program will notify applicants (or their authorized representatives) when an application is returned.
Reasons for application returns may include:
Exhaustion of nomination allocation (i.e., Ontario has used up its federal nomination quota),
Lack of alignment with Ontario’s urgent labour market needs, or
Program integrity risks (e.g., potential fraud, misrepresentation, or other concerns).
This change allows Ontario to focus resources on high-quality applications that meet pressing economic and labour force priorities.
Mandatory In-Person Interviews for Employers and Applicants
As part of a broader effort to enhance program oversight and integrity, the OINP will now require in-person interviews for both:
Foreign national applicants, and
Employers supporting applications under employer-driven streams
Accommodations will be available for individuals who cannot attend in person due to extenuating circumstances.
This measure is expected to:
Increase transparency in the recruitment process
Ensure employers are genuinely offering positions
Verify the authenticity of job offers and qualifications
Reduced Education Requirements for Early Childhood Educators
A notable change has been introduced for individuals applying under the following enhanced streams:
Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream
French-Speaking Skilled Worker (FSSW) Stream
For applicants using NOC 42202 – Early Childhood Educators and Assistants:
The minimum education requirement has been waived, if the applicant is a registered member of the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE).
Membership with the CECE confirms that the applicant is “job-ready” in Ontario and meets professional licensing standards.
This change aims to address ongoing labour shortages in early childhood education and to streamline access for qualified professionals already meeting provincial regulatory requirements.
Employer Portal Fully Launched – Transition to Employer-Led Model Complete
The OINP has now fully transitioned its Employer: Job Offer streams (Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills) to a new Employer Portal. This move shifts responsibility to employers for initiating the application process on behalf of foreign nationals.
Important Note: All existing Expressions of Interest (EOIs) submitted through the previous system have been withdrawn.
Employers must now submit a new EOI via the Employer Portal in order to sponsor a foreign worker.
The new system promotes a more transparent and streamlined process, ensuring employers are actively involved from the start of the application.
New Flexibility to Create or Remove Streams Based on Labour Market Needs:
With the new legislation, the Ontario government now has the power to:
Introduce new OINP streams when needed to fill labour gaps, or
Remove existing streams that no longer align with provincial priorities
This enhanced flexibility enables Ontario to respond more quickly to real-time shifts in the labour market, ensuring the program remains relevant and targeted.
What These Changes Mean for Applicants and Employers?
For Applicants: Expect stricter screening and prioritization of high-impact applications.
Ensure your profile aligns with current job market needs and that your employer is ready to participate through the new portal.
If you’re an ECE and licensed in Ontario, you may benefit from fewer educational barriers when applying.
For Employers: You must now take a proactive role in submitting EOIs on behalf of candidates.
Ensure your business and job offer meet OINP requirements and be prepared for in-person interviews as part of the process.
