Ontario has launched its 2026 immigration season with six targeted draws under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), issuing a total of 1,825 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination on February 2, Maple News reports.
The first selection round of the year focused on candidates under the Employer Job Offer streams. These included foreign workers, international students, and individuals with in-demand skills, with a special emphasis on healthcare professionals, early childhood educators, and applicants in regions prioritized through the Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI).
A significant majority of invitations—1,015—were issued to international students with experience in healthcare and early childhood education roles. Another 634 invitations went to foreign workers in those same categories, reinforcing Ontario’s focus on critical skills to support its labour market and public services.
Healthcare professionals received dedicated attention in one of the draws, with 129 ITAs targeting physicians under roles such as general practitioners, surgeons, and specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (NOC codes 31100, 31101, and 31102).
The REDI stream, aimed at attracting talent to Ontario’s underrepresented economic regions, accounted for several invitations across different categories. This included 14 ITAs for foreign workers, 26 for international students, and 7 for candidates in the in-demand skills stream—highlighting the province’s continued effort to distribute economic opportunity more evenly.
Minimum scores for eligibility ranged from 33 to 69, depending on the category and draw. All profiles considered were created between July 2, 2025, and January 28, 2026.
The Employer Job Offer stream represents a key route for skilled individuals who have secured a full-time job offer in Ontario and wish to settle in the province. These early draws suggest the province is strategically aligning its immigration targets with regional development goals and workforce shortages, particularly in healthcare and education.
As 2026 unfolds, applicants eligible under key occupations should remain alert for more such targeted draws. Maple News will continue to monitor and report on updates from Ontario and other provincial immigration programs.