The numbers
On March 18, 2026, Ontario issued a total of 1,243 invitations to apply through its Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), a significant uptick in activity after a year of stagnation. This increase comes as the province’s nomination allocation for 2026 stands at 14,119, reflecting a 31% increase from 10,750 nominations in 2025.
The recent draws included the reinstatement of the Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams, which had been inactive throughout 2025, leaving many international graduates without a pathway to permanent residence. Specifically, the March 18 draws saw 582 invitations issued under the Masters Graduate stream and 525 invitations under the PhD Graduate stream.
In addition to the graduate streams, the OINP also included the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream for physicians and three streams under the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot. The REDI pilot is particularly noteworthy as it targets candidates with job offers in rural Ontario regions, addressing local employers’ struggles to fill positions amid a critical healthcare staffing shortage, with over 2.3 million Ontarians lacking a family doctor.
The absence of Masters and PhD Graduate stream draws throughout 2025 created significant uncertainty for thousands of international graduate students in Ontario. This uncertainty was compounded by the disruptions in other OINP streams, notably when Ontario returned all Skilled Trades Stream applications in November 2025. The recent announcements have provided a much-needed lifeline for these graduates.
However, the OINP is on the brink of significant changes, with a redesign expected to eliminate the Masters and PhD Graduate streams entirely by May 30, 2026. This overhaul will also implement substantial legal changes to the Ontario Immigration Act, granting the Minister the authority to create or remove OINP selection streams. The planned modifications indicate a shift in the immigration landscape within Ontario, raising questions about the future of these streams.
In February 2026, Canada issued 25,722 PR invitations across all programs, with Ontario contributing over 3,200 OINP invitations. The OINP has been actively issuing invitations throughout early 2026, including 1,825 invitations on February 2 and 1,404 skilled trades invitations on February 18, showcasing the province’s commitment to attracting skilled labor.
As the OINP prepares for its upcoming changes, details remain unconfirmed regarding the specifics of the new streams and whether these changes will be permanent or if new categories will accommodate similar applicant profiles. Observers are keenly watching how these developments will unfold and impact Ontario’s immigration strategy moving forward.
