Ontario opened its 2026 provincial immigration selections by issuing 1,825 invitations in a single round. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held six draws on February 2 and invited candidates under its Employer: Job Offer streams. The selections focused on physicians, healthcare workers, early childhood educators and assistants, and candidates linked to regional economic development.
These were the province’s first OINP draws of the year. Ontario considered profiles created between July 2, 2025, and January 28, 2026, and applied different score cut-offs across streams and targeted occupations.
Healthcare, education and regional roles in focus
Under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream, Ontario issued 129 invitations to physicians with a minimum score of 33. Another 14 invitations went to candidates selected under the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot with a cut-off score of 44. A separate draw under the same stream issued 634 invitations to health occupations and early childhood educators and assistants, with a minimum score of 36.
The Employer Job Offer: International Student stream accounted for the largest share of invitations. Ontario issued 1,015 invitations to candidates in health occupations and early childhood education with a minimum score of 56. A REDI-focused draw under this stream issued 26 invitations, with a higher cut-off score of 69. The Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream issued seven invitations to REDI candidates with a minimum score of 34.
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What the REDI pilot and next steps mean
The REDI pilot operates within Ontario’s existing employer job offer streams and is aimed at supporting employers in smaller, rural, and northern regions. Eligible job offers must be located in Lanark County, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton, or Thunder Bay. The pilot does not have a separate application process, and candidates are selected through targeted draws.
Candidates who received an invitation must submit a complete application to the OINP within 60 days. Those who obtain a provincial nomination can then apply to the federal government for permanent residence in Canada.
These were the province’s first OINP draws of the year. Ontario considered profiles created between July 2, 2025, and January 28, 2026, and applied different score cut-offs across streams and targeted occupations.
Healthcare, education and regional roles in focus
Under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream, Ontario issued 129 invitations to physicians with a minimum score of 33. Another 14 invitations went to candidates selected under the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot with a cut-off score of 44. A separate draw under the same stream issued 634 invitations to health occupations and early childhood educators and assistants, with a minimum score of 36.The Employer Job Offer: International Student stream accounted for the largest share of invitations. Ontario issued 1,015 invitations to candidates in health occupations and early childhood education with a minimum score of 56. A REDI-focused draw under this stream issued 26 invitations, with a higher cut-off score of 69. The Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream issued seven invitations to REDI candidates with a minimum score of 34.
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
What the REDI pilot and next steps mean
The REDI pilot operates within Ontario’s existing employer job offer streams and is aimed at supporting employers in smaller, rural, and northern regions. Eligible job offers must be located in Lanark County, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton, or Thunder Bay. The pilot does not have a separate application process, and candidates are selected through targeted draws.Candidates who received an invitation must submit a complete application to the OINP within 60 days. Those who obtain a provincial nomination can then apply to the federal government for permanent residence in Canada.