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🇨🇦 2026 OINP Redesign • Former Student Stream Closed • Workforce Priority

OINP International Student Stream 2026: Former Stream Closed, Current Pathway Explained

The former OINP Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream closed on May 30, 2026. Learn the historical student-stream rules and how Ontario's new Workforce Priority Stream applies to graduates and other foreign workers in 2026.

1. OINP International Student Stream 2026 Status: The Former Stream Is Closed

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream historically allowed recent graduates to obtain an Ontario provincial nomination based on a qualifying job offer, without having to satisfy the broader work-experience requirement used by the former Foreign Worker Stream. Ontario officially closed the International Student Stream on May 30, 2026 as part of the OINP redesign. The former eight-stream OINP structure was removed and replaced by the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. Existing applications submitted after an invitation under the former framework continue to be assessed under the requirements that were in effect when those applications were submitted. New graduates should not create a new International Student Stream EOI because Ontario's former EOI system is closed to new registrations.

Key Framework Highlights:
  • CURRENT STATUS: The former Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream closed on May 30, 2026.
  • Ontario's former EOI system is closed to new EOIs under the old streams, and no further invitations are being issued under those former pathways.
  • Historical student-stream information remains useful for applicants who submitted an application under the former framework and for understanding Ontario's previous graduate pathway.
  • The current Workforce Priority Stream is the relevant Ontario employer-backed pathway for new applicants with qualifying Ontario job offers.
  • The new Workforce Priority Stream is not simply a renamed International Student Stream; it has materially different job-offer, work-experience, language, education and employer requirements.
  • Current Workforce Priority pathways cover job offers in all NOC TEER categories, with separate eligibility requirements for TEER 0-3 and TEER 4-5 positions.
Required Action Checklist:
  • ✓Determine whether your OINP application was submitted under the former International Student Stream before the redesign.
  • ✓If you are a new graduate in 2026, review the current Workforce Priority Stream rather than trying to register under the closed student stream.
  • ✓Do not rely on the old 14-day applicant deadline for a new Workforce Priority application.
  • ✓Review the current Ontario requirements for your job-offer NOC and TEER category.
  • ✓Use Ontario's current program pages and regulations before submitting an EOI or nomination application.

2. Former International Student Stream Eligibility: What Applied Before the May 30, 2026 Closure

The former International Student Stream was designed for international graduates with qualifying Ontario job offers. One of its important historical features was that applicants generally did not need the two-year work-experience requirement associated with the former Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream. However, the old stream had specific education, graduation, job-offer, status, wage and employer requirements. These requirements should now be treated as historical rules for existing applications, not as current eligibility rules for new 2026 applicants.

Key Framework Highlights:
  • The old 'zero work experience required' statement should not be carried forward as a current universal OINP graduate rule.
  • A historical student-stream applicant still had to meet the program's job-offer, education, employer, status and other mandatory requirements.
  • The old stream did not mean that any Ontario graduate could obtain a nomination immediately after graduation.
  • A graduate could still have to demonstrate that the job offer and employer satisfied the stream's detailed requirements.
  • Historical draw scores should be retained as dated historical data, not presented as current 2026 cutoffs.
Former RequirementHistorical International Student Stream Rule2026 Status
Work experienceNo prior work-experience requirement in the same sense as the former Foreign Worker Stream.Historical only; current Workforce Priority has its own work-experience rules.
Job offerFull-time, permanent job offer in an eligible Ontario occupation.Historical only.
OccupationGenerally TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation under the former program structure.Historical only; current Workforce Priority can cover TEER 0-5.
EducationEligible postsecondary Canadian credential and applicable program-specific education requirements.Historical only; current Workforce Priority has separate education requirements.
Graduation timingCandidate generally had to apply within the former program's prescribed period following completion of the qualifying credential.Historical only.
WageThe job offer generally needed to meet the applicable low wage level for the occupation and region under the former student stream.Historical only; current Workforce Priority normally uses the median wage with a specific recent-Ontario-graduate exception.
EOICandidate registered an EOI in the former OINP EOI system and waited for a stream invitation.Closed.

3. Current 2026 Pathway for Graduates: Ontario Workforce Priority Stream

New graduates who want to pursue an Ontario employer-backed nomination in 2026 must generally use the Workforce Priority Stream if they have a qualifying Ontario job offer. The current stream is divided by the NOC TEER category of the job offer. TEER 0-3 positions have several alternative work-experience routes, while TEER 4-5 positions have a distinct nine-month experience requirement. Ontario also allows certain recent Ontario graduates in the TEER 0-3 pathway to qualify with only three months of consecutive paid full-time experience in the job-offer position during the previous 12 months. In addition, an eligible recent Ontario graduate may be exempt from the normal language-test requirement if they hold one of the specified qualifying Ontario credentials completed within the previous three years.

Key Framework Highlights:
  • Recent Ontario graduates are specifically recognized in the current TEER 0-3 pathway.
  • A qualifying recent Ontario graduate can use a three-month consecutive work-experience route instead of the normal six-month or two-year alternatives.
  • For TEER 0-3, a qualifying recent Ontario graduate may not need a language test if they graduated from an eligible Ontario institution within the last three years with one of the specified credentials.
  • The current stream is not limited to international students or graduates; it is a broader foreign-worker workforce pathway.
  • A qualifying job offer must generally be full-time, permanent and urgently necessary to the employer's business.
  • Self-employed professionals are generally excluded unless they qualify under the specific self-employed physician category.
Current 2026 PathwayJob OfferExperienceLanguageEducation
Workforce Priority TEER 0-3Full-time, permanent Ontario job offer6 months consecutive in job-offer position in last 12 months; 3-month route for qualifying recent Ontario graduates; 2-year NOC route; or licence/authorization exemptionGenerally CLB 6; CLB 5 for specified skilled trades; certain recent Ontario graduates can be exempt from language testingPostsecondary degree or diploma, subject to occupation-specific requirements
Workforce Priority TEER 4-5Full-time, permanent Ontario job offer9 months cumulative experience in the job-offer position within the last 2 yearsCLB 4Canadian secondary-school diploma or equivalent
Self-employed PhysicianNo conventional job offerPhysician-specific practice requirementsPhysician-specific requirementsMedical education and Ontario registration requirements

4. Current Education and Language Rules for Graduate Applicants

Education and language rules are substantially different from the old International Student Stream. For a TEER 0-3 Workforce Priority job offer, Ontario generally requires a postsecondary degree or diploma, although certain occupations have alternate criteria. The normal language requirement is CLB 6 in English or French across all four abilities, or CLB 5 for specified skilled-trade occupations. A qualifying recent Ontario graduate can be exempt from taking a language test if they graduated from an eligible Ontario institution within the previous three years with a postsecondary degree or diploma of at least two years' full-time duration, an Ontario College Graduate Certificate, a master's degree or a PhD. TEER 4-5 job offers require CLB 4 and at least Canadian secondary school or equivalent.

Key Framework Highlights:
  • The current TEER 0-3 language threshold is higher than the old student-stream minimums in many cases.
  • Ontario accepts approved English and French language tests under its current rules, including IELTS General Training, CELPIP General and PTE Core for English, together with approved French tests.
  • Academic IELTS is not accepted for the current Workforce Priority language requirement.
  • The current language test must be within two years before the OINP application submission date unless the applicant qualifies for a listed Ontario-graduate language exemption.
  • Holding an Ontario credential does not automatically satisfy every education requirement if the job or occupation is subject to a special rule.
Applicant / Job OfferMinimum EducationLanguage RuleImportant Exception
TEER 0-3 standard applicantPostsecondary degree or diploma, subject to occupation-specific criteriaCLB 6 in all four abilitiesCertain skilled trades use CLB 5
Qualifying recent Ontario graduate, TEER 0-3Specified Ontario credential completed within the previous 3 yearsLanguage test may be exempted when the qualifying Ontario credential condition is satisfiedCredential must be from an eligible Ontario institution and meet the specified duration/type rules
TEER 4-5 applicantCanadian secondary-school diploma or equivalentCLB 4 in all four abilitiesOccupation-specific licensing rules may still apply
Self-employed physicianMedical education and professional registrationPhysician-specific professional rulesMust satisfy College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and OHIP-related requirements

5. Current Job Offer, Wage and Employer Requirements for Graduates

A graduate using the current Workforce Priority Stream must have a qualifying Ontario job offer and an eligible employer. The position must generally be full-time, permanent and urgently necessary to the employer's business. The normal wage standard is at least the median Job Bank wage for the occupation and region on the date of application. Importantly for recent graduates, Ontario provides a specific exception in the TEER 0-3 pathway: a qualifying recent Ontario graduate can use the applicable low wage level instead of the normal median wage standard. The employer must separately satisfy Ontario's business-history, revenue, staffing, premises, compliance and labour-market requirements.

Key Framework Highlights:
  • The old statement that the student stream always used a low-wage threshold is historical and should not be used for the current Workforce Priority Stream.
  • The current normal rule is the regional Job Bank median wage.
  • The recent-Ontario-graduate exception is important for graduates whose job offer is below the regional median but still meets the applicable low wage.
  • The employer must initiate the process by submitting the job offer through the Ontario Employer Portal.
  • Employer revenue and staffing requirements vary by location, with lower revenue thresholds available in certain non-GTA and rural locations.
RequirementCurrent 2026 Rule
Job typeFull-time and permanent Ontario position.
Business necessityPosition must be urgently necessary to the employer's business.
Normal wageGenerally at least the median Job Bank wage for the occupation and Ontario employment region.
Recent Ontario graduate exceptionFor a qualifying recent Ontario graduate in a TEER 0-3 position, the applicable low wage level may satisfy the wage requirement.
Current employeeIf the graduate is already working for the employer in the offered position, the offered wage must also be at least the wage currently paid in that position.
Employer historyEmployer must generally have been actively operating for at least three years.
Employer premisesEmployer must have business premises in Ontario where the nominee will work.
Employer complianceEmployer must have no outstanding applicable orders under Ontario employment and occupational-health-and-safety legislation and must meet other program integrity requirements.

6. Current EOI Scoring and Application Workflow for a Graduate with an Ontario Job Offer

The current Workforce Priority EOI process is employer-led. The employer must first submit the job offer through Ontario's Employer Portal. The candidate then receives a job-offer ID and has 30 calendar days to register an EOI. If invited, the employer must submit its employment-position approval application within 14 calendar days, and the candidate must submit the nomination application within 17 calendar days of the invitation, after the employer has submitted its application. EOI points are awarded for factors such as Ontario work experience, Canadian earnings history, legal status, education, language and regional location. These points rank candidates; they do not replace mandatory eligibility requirements.

EOI FactorMaximum / Current TreatmentExample Scoring
Hourly wage15 points maximum$40/hour or more = 15; $35-$39.99 = 12; $30-$34.99 = 10; $25-$29.99 = 8; $20-$24.99 = 5; under $20 = 0.
Ontario work experience in job-offer position18 points maximumOver 24 months = 18; 13-24 months = 15; 6-12 months = 12; less than 6 months or not working in position = 0.
Canadian earnings history8 points maximumBased on CRA Notice of Assessment: $70,000+ = 8; $50,000-$69,999 = 6; $30,000-$49,999 = 4; under $30,000 = 0.
Legal status10 points maximumValid work permit = 10; valid study permit = 5; no valid work or study permit = 0.
Highest education10 points maximumDoctorate or specified professional degree = 10; master's = 8; bachelor's or equivalent = 6; other recognized credentials can receive 5 or 6 depending on category.
Number of Canadian education credentials10 points maximumMore than one Canadian credential = 10; one Canadian credential = 5; none = 0.
Official-language ability15 points maximum through language level and two-language scoringLowest CLB across four abilities: CLB 9+ = 15; CLB 8 = 12; CLB 7 = 8; CLB 6 = 4; CLB 5 or lower = 0; an additional official language can receive separate points when minimum requirements are satisfied.
Regional location15 points maximumNorthern Ontario = 15; Eastern, Central outside GTA and Southwestern Ontario = 10; GTA excluding Toronto = 5; Toronto = 0.
Required Action Checklist:
  • ✓Employer registers and submits the job offer through the Ontario Employer Portal.
  • ✓Candidate receives the job-offer ID by email.
  • ✓Candidate registers the EOI within 30 calendar days of the employer submitting the job offer.
  • ✓Candidate accurately claims only EOI factors that can be proven later.
  • ✓Ontario conducts a general or targeted selection and may issue an invitation.
  • ✓Employer submits the employment-position approval application within 14 calendar days of the invitation.
  • ✓Candidate submits the nomination application within 17 calendar days of the invitation and only after the employer has submitted its application.
  • ✓Pay the applicable current fee and upload the required evidence.
  • ✓If nominated through Express Entry, accept the nomination within 30 calendar days in the federal system.

7. Nomination, Express Entry, Work-Permit Options and What Graduates Should Do in 2026

A graduate who qualifies under the current Workforce Priority Stream does not receive permanent residence directly from Ontario. Ontario first evaluates the provincial nomination application and, if approved, issues the applicable nomination documentation. The nominee then applies to IRCC for permanent residence. If the candidate is eligible for Express Entry and receives an enhanced provincial nomination through an eligible TEER 0-3 pathway, IRCC adds 600 CRS points after the nomination is accepted. The candidate must still satisfy federal Express Entry and admissibility requirements. Graduates should also distinguish the provincial nomination from a federal Bridging Open Work Permit: a nomination alone does not automatically create BOWP eligibility.

Key Framework Highlights:
  • The provincial nomination does not equal permanent residence.
  • IRCC makes the final PR decision.
  • The +600 CRS nomination bonus applies to an eligible enhanced nomination through Express Entry, not to a provincial EOI or ordinary base nomination.
  • A TEER 4-5 nomination does not automatically make the candidate eligible for Express Entry.
  • A graduate who is working in Ontario should track work-permit expiry independently of the OINP timeline.
  • Any material change in employment, wage, hours, duties, employer, status or other nomination condition should be reviewed with Ontario because post-nomination compliance matters.
StageCurrent 2026 Rule
Ontario nominationOntario makes the provincial nomination decision after reviewing the applicant and approved employer position.
Federal PRIRCC makes the final permanent-residence decision and conducts the federal eligibility and admissibility assessment.
Express EntryEligible TEER 0-3 nominees and eligible self-employed physicians can use Express Entry if they meet federal criteria.
Nomination bonusAn accepted qualifying provincial nomination adds +600 CRS points.
Nomination acceptanceExpress Entry candidates have 30 calendar days to accept or refuse the nomination.
Federal PR after ITAAfter an Express Entry ITA, the candidate generally has 60 calendar days to submit the permanent-residence application.
BOWPA nominee may qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit only after satisfying IRCC's separate BOWP requirements; provincial nomination alone is insufficient.

Frequently Asked Questions (6 Verified Answers)

No. Ontario officially closed the Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream on May 30, 2026 as part of the OINP redesign. The former EOI system for the old streams is closed to new registrations. Existing applications submitted under the former framework continue to be assessed under the rules that were in effect when the application was submitted.

The current Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is the relevant employer-backed route for new applicants with qualifying Ontario job offers. The stream has separate TEER 0-3 and TEER 4-5 pathways and a separate self-employed physician category. It is broader than the former student stream and applies to foreign workers generally, not only international graduates.

A qualifying recent Ontario graduate applying for a TEER 0-3 position can use a specific three-month consecutive work-experience route in the job-offer position during the previous 12 months. Other TEER 0-3 routes can use six months of consecutive experience, two years of cumulative NOC experience, or a qualifying licence or authorization. TEER 4-5 positions generally require nine months of cumulative experience in the offered position within the previous two years.

Potentially, yes. Under the current TEER 0-3 Workforce Priority rules, a recent Ontario graduate can be exempt from a language test if they graduated from an eligible Ontario institution within the previous three years with a qualifying credential, including a postsecondary degree or diploma of at least two years' full-time duration, an Ontario College Graduate Certificate, a master's degree or a PhD. Other applicants generally need to meet the applicable CLB requirement.

The normal Workforce Priority rule requires at least the median Job Bank wage for the occupation and Ontario employment region. A specific exception allows a qualifying recent Ontario graduate in a TEER 0-3 position to satisfy the wage rule using the applicable low wage level instead. The wage must still comply with the other job-offer requirements.

Potentially. If the graduate is nominated through an eligible TEER 0-3 pathway and meets the federal Express Entry requirements, Ontario can enter the nomination into Express Entry. After the candidate accepts the nomination, IRCC adds 600 CRS points. A TEER 4-5 nomination does not itself make someone Express Entry eligible.

Official Provincial Government References & Portals

OINP Student Metrics

Former International Student Stream
Closed May 30, 2026
Current Workforce Job-Offer Scope
NOC TEER 0-5
Current EOI Registration Window
30 Days
Current Applicant Deadline
17 Days After Invitation

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