Ontario Unveils Three New Permanent Residence Pathways: What It Means for Skilled Workers in Canada
Have Questions?
Our immigration specialists can help you understand your options and take the next step with confidence.
Ontario has fundamentally redesigned its provincial immigration program, closing its existing permanent residence categories and launching a new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream as of May 30, 2026. This streamlined structure creates clearer permanent residence pathways for foreign workers already contributing to Ontario’s labor market, but it also changes how employers and applicants must prepare.
If you have a job offer in Ontario or you are an Ontario employer looking to retain key foreign talent, these changes directly affect your options. In this guide, we explain the three new pathways under the Workforce Priority Stream (TEER 0–3, TEER 4–5, and self‑employed physicians), the updated employer requirements, and how the new Expression of Interest (EOI) system will work once it reopens later this summer.
As licensed immigration professionals, we help both workers and employers understand where they fit in the new framework and build complete, regulation‑compliant applications.
Use this article to get oriented, then connect with us for a tailored assessment of your TEER category, job offer, and eligibility under Ontario Regulation 422/17.
Ontario Introduces a New Workforce Priority Stream
Within the general changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), Ontario introduced a new Workforce Priority Stream, which replaced a number of former immigration streams.
The Workforce Priority Stream includes three different pathways:
- TEER 0-3 pathway
- TEER 4-5 pathway
- Self-Employed Physicians pathway
Although these pathways are officially in effect, interested candidates must wait until Ontario reopens its Expression of Interest (EOI) system later this summer before they can submit new profiles.
TEER 0–3 Pathway: Eligibility Criteria Explained
The TEER 0–3 pathway is designed for foreign workers who have obtained employment in jobs where post-secondary education, apprenticeship training, and professional skills are usually required.
These applicants must meet certain criteria to be eligible for this pathway, including requirements related to employment, language skills, education, licensure, and work experience.
1. Valid Full-Time Job Offer
Applicants should get a full-time permanent job offer from an eligible employer in Ontario.
The job position offered should fall under one of the below-mentioned National Occupation Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) levels.
- TEER 0
- TEER 1
- TEER 2
- TEER 3
Apart from that, the employment offer should meet all eligibility criteria set forth by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.
2. Language Requirement or Ontario Graduate Eligibility
Applicants must be able to demonstrate English or French communication skills.
They can prove their communication skills in one of the following two ways:
- Attain the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level for their occupation, which is either CLB 6 or CLB 5, depending upon their occupation; or
- Be a graduate of an eligible post-secondary institution in the province of Ontario.
Either of these two options will be sufficient for fulfilling the language and graduate eligibility criteria.
3. Licensing or Education and Work Experience
In addition to meeting the above-mentioned job offer and language eligibility criteria, applicants should also meet one of the following criteria.
Option 1 – Professional Licensing
If you are working in a regulated occupation, you should have the required Ontario license or authorization for your occupation.
Option 2 – Education and Work Experience
Those applicants who are not applying through professional licensing should meet both the education and work experience criteria.
4. Education Requirement
Applicants generally need to possess a post-secondary diploma or degree obtained through a program lasting at least one academic year on a full-time basis.
Educational credentials earned outside Canada are acceptable if they are supported by a valid Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) confirming equivalency to Canadian standards.
However, there are some special circumstances in Ontario regarding certain occupations.
Nurse Aide Exception
Applicants who will be receiving a job offer in the occupation of Nurse aide, orderly, and patient service associate (NOC code 33102) would be eligible to fulfill the education requirement through a 1-year college certificate in Ontario.
Exception for Skilled Trades
If applicants are working in any one of the following skilled trade occupations, then they would be eligible through a high school diploma or its equivalent.
The occupations are in the categories of:
- Technical trades
- General trades
- Natural resources and agriculture
- Process control operations
- Aircraft production (excluding specific sub-groups)
- Cooks
- Chefs
Applicants qualifying through these skilled trade occupations may also satisfy the language requirement with CLB 5, where applicable.
5. Work Experience Requirement
Applicants must choose one of two available work experience requirements.
Requirement 1: Occupational Work Experience
At least two years of equivalent full-time work experience should be accumulated within the last five years.
It is expected that the work experience is obtained in the same occupation as advertised in the Ontario job offer. However, in some cases, work experience in related occupations may also be considered under certain exceptions established by the province.
Requirement 2: Employer-Specific Work Experience
Instead of two years of occupational work experience, applicants may satisfy the work experience requirement by working for the Ontario employer offering the permanent position.
They should satisfy one of the following conditions:
- Working full time for six consecutive months in the last year for the same employer; or
- Working full-time for three consecutive months for those applicants who have graduated recently from an Ontario post-secondary institution.
This work experience should be gained while being legally present in Ontario.
Understanding Full-Time and Part-Time Work Experience
Ontario defines full-time employment as working at least 30 hours per week in a single position.
The part-time work experience is allowed under certain circumstances.
Examples include:
- An applicant who works more than one job concurrently for at least 30 hours per week can be awarded full work experience.
- An individual working 15 or more hours per week in one job can be credited with reduced work experience, in which two years of part-time experience equals one year of full-time experience.
Who Qualifies as a Recent Ontario Graduate?
The following qualifications can be used by applicants who have graduated from the approved Ontario post-secondary institutions in the last three years:
- Diploma/degree of a minimum duration of two years.
- Ontario graduate certificate.
- Master’s degree.
- Doctoral (Ph.D.) degree.
Recent graduates benefit from reduced work experience requirements under the TEER 0–3 pathway.
Occupation-Specific Work Experience Exemptions
Work experience from other related occupations is also considered for certain professions in Ontario.
These include the following:
Pharmacy Assistants
If an applicant is offered a job as a Pharmacy Technical Assistant or a Pharmacy Assistant, they can meet the work experience eligibility criterion based on their prior work experience as a licensed pharmacist.
Nurse Aides
When an applicant applies for employment as a Nurse Aide, Orderly, or Patient Service Associate, they may use prior work experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse.
Engineering Technicians
Persons working in technical engineering jobs can rely on prior professional engineering experience in specified engineering occupations.
Applicants must still possess any professional licenses or certifications legally required to perform their job duties in Ontario.
TEER 4–5 Pathway
Ontario has also created a pathway for workers employed in occupations that typically require a secondary school diploma and on-the-job training.
The following qualifications can be used by applicants who have graduated from the approved Ontario post-secondary institutions in the last three years:
1. Secure a Permanent Full-Time Job Offer
An applicant should have a permanent full-time job offer from an eligible Ontario employer.
A job offer should:
- Be for a TEER 4 or TEER 5 occupation under Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC);
- Have wages not lower than the median wages for the given occupation in the given region.
An employer must meet all the criteria of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
2. Employer-Specific Work Experience
Candidates must demonstrate at least recent work experience with the same employer for the permanent position.
Specifically, they must have accumulated:
- A minimum of nine months of cumulative work experience within the past two years.
- Work experience should be acquired in the same occupation and from the same employer whose job offer serves as a qualification.
Such a criterion ensures that the applicant already has relevant experience and is well integrated into the work environment.
3. Education Requirement
Applicants must possess at least one of the following:
- A Canadian secondary school diploma; or
- An equivalent credential earned outside Canada.
Foreign educational qualifications may require an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to confirm Canadian equivalency where applicable.
4. Language Proficiency
To meet the criteria of the TEER 4-5 pathway, the applicants should prove basic competency in English or French.
The applicants are supposed to have a CLB Level 4 proficiency at least in each of the following language competencies:
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
Language competency will assist in the proper integration of the newcomers into the Ontario community.
Dedicated Pathway for Self-Employed Physicians
Given the need for health professionals in Ontario, the province has also established an immigration pathway for self-employed physicians.
Whereas other immigration pathways are employer-based, this pathway enables eligible physicians to immigrate to Canada based on their professional qualifications and ability to practice medicine in Ontario.
Below are the eligibility requirements for this pathway.
Ontario Medical License
Applicants should hold a license to practice medicine in Ontario and maintain their standing with the regulatory body in Ontario.
Eligible physicians must have a current certificate of registration as either of the following:
- Independent practitioner
- Academic practitioner
- Provisional practitioner
Only physicians registered in Ontario in any of the above categories may qualify under this pathway.
Eligibility to Bill Through OHIP
In addition to the above licensing criteria, physicians should be eligible to bill for medical services through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).
It shows that they are authorized to offer covered medical services in Ontario.
Ontario medical licensing criteria are set out by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, while the Province of Ontario sets OHIP billing criteria.
Employer Eligibility Requirements
For a foreign worker’s job offer to qualify under Ontario’s Workforce Priority Stream, certain business and operational requirements must be met by the employer.
Such requirements aim at ensuring that only those employers who have legitimate businesses are participating in this process.
Business Must Be Established in Ontario
Eligible employers must:
- Maintain an active place of business within Ontario.
- Have continuously operated their business for at least three years before submitting the application.
Minimum Revenue Requirements
Employers must meet minimum annual revenue thresholds based on where their business operates.
Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
Businesses located within the GTA must report at least:
- CAD $1 million in gross annual revenue during their most recently completed fiscal year.
Major Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs)
Businesses operating in designated major CMAs outside the GTA must demonstrate:
- CAD $500,000 in gross annual revenue for their latest completed fiscal year.
Outside the GTA and Major CMAs
Employers located elsewhere in Ontario must have generated at least:
- CAD $250,000 in each of their two most recently completed fiscal years.
This approach recognizes the different economic conditions across Ontario while maintaining consistent employer standards.
Minimum Number of Canadian or Permanent Resident Employees
It is also necessary to have a minimum number of employees who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents and work full-time at the foreign worker’s place of employment.
The minimum number of employees required is:
- 5 full-time employees for business establishments located within the GTA.
- 3 full-time employees for business establishments located outside the GTA.
Labor Law Compliance
Eligible employers must not have any unresolved compliance issues or outstanding orders under Ontario’s key employment and labor legislation.
Maintaining compliance with provincial labor standards is an essential requirement for participating in the OINP.
Job Offer Requirements
Even if both the employer and applicant meet the program criteria, the job offer itself must also satisfy several conditions.
A job offer that is eligible for the program must be:
- Full-time.
- Permanent, not fixed-term.
- Represent a genuine and immediate business need.
- In the province of Ontario, except where an exception relating to transportation exists.
- Match or exceed the applicant’s current wage if they are already employed by the same employer.
Wage Requirements
Ontario mandates that employers provide market-competitive wages based on the prevailing labor market conditions at the time.
Typically, the minimum wage must be:
- Not less than the median wage in the region where the job exists for the particular occupation.
But applicants who qualify as recent Ontario graduates under the TEER 0-3 stream are eligible to receive wages that match or exceed the provincial low-wage cut-off for their occupation.
The wage that applies is determined by the federal Job Bank wages, which can be found on the date the application is filed.
In case current regional wage information is not available, Ontario can use past regional wage information or national wage information.
Recruitment Expectations
Ontario may also require employers to demonstrate that they made genuine efforts to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents before offering the position to a foreign national.
If requested by the program director, employers must show that reasonable recruitment efforts were unsuccessful before seeking provincial nomination for an international worker.
Ownership Restrictions
To ensure the program’s integrity, applicants or their immediate families are not permitted to own or control the employer’s business.
However, an exception can be made if the ownership was solely because of the payment received as salary from the employer, which does not exceed 10% of the firm’s total equity.
Special Exemption for Transportation Occupations
Certain transportation occupations receive additional flexibility regarding where work is performed.
The exemption applies only to:
- Transport truck drivers (NOC 73300)
- Bus drivers, subway operators, and other transit operators (NOC 73301)
To qualify, employers must also:
- Hold a valid Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration (CVOR) certificate.
- Maintain an Excellent or Satisfactory safety rating under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
Labor Dispute Protection
Ontario also assesses whether approving a nomination could negatively affect an ongoing labor dispute.
Applications may be refused if approving the position is considered likely to interfere with labor negotiations or impact the employment of workers involved in a labor dispute.
How the New Expression of Interest (EOI) System Will Work
Although Ontario’s Workforce Priority Stream has been officially launched, there are no immediate steps to be taken by those who meet eligibility requirements to apply under this stream. Foreign nationals should first enter Ontario’s newly redesigned EOI system, which Ontario expects to launch later in the summer.
Once the EOI system becomes available, both applicants and employers will have specific responsibilities to complete before an application can move forward.
Creating a New Expression of Interest
Those seeking to apply to the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream program must submit their new Expressions of Interest via the OINP portal after the system is updated.
Profiles created in the older OINP system cannot be used in the new system. Everyone who meets the requirements needs to sign up once more.
Employer’s Role in the Application Process
The employers also have a crucial role to play in the new process.
To facilitate a qualifying foreign worker, the employer needs to:
- Provide a new job offer using the Employer Portal.
- Apply for the job offer approval.
- Associate the approved job offer with the EOI profile of the applicant.
An employer who already has an existing registration in the Employer Portal does not have to create a new one. However, they must submit a new job offer for every worker applying under the redesigned program.
Receiving an Invitation to Apply
Submitting an Expression of Interest does not guarantee provincial nomination.
Ontario will review eligible profiles in the EOI pool and invite selected candidates to apply.
Only applicants who receive an official Invitation to Apply (ITA) can move forward.
After receiving an invitation, candidates must submit all required documents by the deadline. Ontario will then review the application and decide whether the applicant meets all eligibility requirements.
Ontario’s Immigration Overhaul: The Bigger Picture
The introduction of the Workforce Priority Stream is the first step in Ontario’s strategy to modernize its immigration system.
The government of Ontario discontinued all its existing permanent residence categories on May 30, 2026, after introducing a new structure designed to respond to its changing labor market demands.
This is a result of new regulations introduced in December 2025, but the first step will focus on workers employed in Ontario who qualify under these categories.
All the eligibility criteria for the new categories have been included in the most recent amendment of Ontario Regulation 422/17 (General).
More Immigration Streams Are on the Way
Ontario has stated that the Workforce Priority Stream is just the tip of the iceberg.
Phase two of the reform of the provincial immigration program will launch three additional channels to attract professionals, entrepreneurs, and internationally renowned individuals.
Even though there is no information about the launch dates for these streams, they are expected to open in the future.
Understanding Canada’s TEER Classification System
Canada organizes occupations using the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system, which groups jobs according to the level of Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) required to perform them.
The new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream uses these TEER categories to determine eligibility for different immigration pathways.
| TEER Level | General Description |
|---|---|
| TEER 0 | Management occupations and executive positions. |
| TEER 1 | Occupations that typically require a university degree. |
| TEER 2 | Jobs that generally require a college diploma, supervisory responsibilities, or an apprenticeship of two years or more. |
| TEER 3 | Occupations usually requiring a college diploma, an apprenticeship of less than two years, or at least six months of on-the-job training. |
| TEER 4 | Jobs that generally require a secondary school diploma and several weeks of workplace training. |
| TEER 5 | Occupations requiring only short-term work demonstrations or minimal formal training. |
Understanding your occupation’s TEER category is essential, as it determines which Ontario immigration pathway you may qualify for.
Final Thoughts
Ontario’s Workforce Priority Stream is only the first phase of a broader modernization of the OINP, with additional pathways for professionals, entrepreneurs, and internationally recognized individuals expected in the future.
For now, the key to taking advantage of the new system is understanding your TEER classification, confirming that your job offer and employer meet the updated criteria, and being ready when the redesigned EOI portal reopens later this summer.
If you are:
- A foreign worker with an Ontario job offer who wants a clear plan to permanent residence; or
- An Ontario employer who needs to retain skilled staff under the new rules,
- we can review your situation against the TEER 0–3 and TEER 4–5 pathways, check employer and wage requirements, and help you prepare a strong profile before invitations resume.
- Book a consultation or contact us online to schedule a detailed OINP Workforce Priority assessment and get step-by-step guidance for your next application.
Email us at connect@duveraimmigration.com
FAQs
When will Ontario begin accepting applications under the new Workforce Priority Stream?
Applications will open once Ontario launches its redesigned Expression of Interest (EOI) system later this summer.
Who can apply under Ontario’s new PR pathways?
Eligible foreign workers with a qualifying Ontario job offer who meet the education, language, and work experience requirements can apply.
Do I need to create a new Expression of Interest (EOI) profile?
Yes. All applicants must submit a new EOI profile, as previous profiles will not be carried over to the new system.