View All Blogs
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) — 2025 Snapshot
July 2, 2025
Ontario's provincial nominee program lets the province select and nominate foreign nationals who meet its labour-market or business needs for permanent residence. It currently operates nine streams, grouped under three broad categories:
| Category | Streams | Quick purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer | Foreign Worker · International Student · In-Demand Skills | Candidates with a valid job offer in Ontario that meets wage/skill requirements. |
| Human Capital | Masters Graduate · PhD Graduate (non-Express Entry) Human Capital Priorities · Skilled Trades · French-Speaking Skilled Worker (Express Entry-linked) | Targets recent Ontario grads or Express Entry profiles with specific work experience, education (and, in some cases, French ability). |
| Business | Entrepreneur | For those buying or starting a business in Ontario. |
Official stream list: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-immigrant-nominee-program-oinp
What's new (live 2 July 2025): the Employer Portal
| Before 2 Jul 2025 | From 2 Jul 2025 onward |
|---|---|
| Applicant-led — the candidate created an Expression of Interest (EOI) first, then uploaded employer forms. | Employer-led — the employer must 1️⃣ create a profile in the new Employer Portal, 2️⃣ register the job offer and pay the position-approval fee, 3️⃣ generate a Position ID. Only after that can the candidate file an EOI referencing this Position ID. |
Key rollout details (Gov't of Ontario & industry bulletins):
- Temporary blackout 20 Jun – 2 Jul 2025: no new EOIs accepted; all existing EOIs withdrawn 21 – 22 Jun.
- Applies to all three Employer Job Offer streams.
- Secure employer uploads mean candidates no longer handle sensitive company documents.
- Source: Ontario Employer Portal guide — https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-use-employer-portal-ontario-immigrant-nominee-program
Why the change matters
- Stronger employer accountability — responsibility for complete, truthful job-offer data now sits with HR/management.
- Clearer paper trail — the portal ties job offer, fee payment and candidate's EOI together in one record.
- Processing efficiency — direct uploads and auto-population should shorten overall processing once employers adapt.
Next steps for candidates seeking an OINP job-offer nomination
Secure an eligible job offer first.
- Full-time, permanent and at/above prevailing wage (or median wage for the International Student stream).
- Criteria:
- Foreign Worker stream — https://www.ontario.ca/page/oinp-employer-job-offer-foreign-worker-stream
- International Student stream — https://www.ontario.ca/page/oinp-employer-job-offer-international-student-stream
- In-Demand Skills stream — https://www.ontario.ca/page/oinp-employer-job-offer-demand-skills-stream
Coach your employer through the new portal.
- Share Ontario's Employer Portal user guide: https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-use-employer-portal-ontario-immigrant-nominee-program
- HR must create a My Ontario account, add business details, upload documents and pay the position-approval fee (C$600 or C$2,000 depending on employer size/location).
- Once they receive a Position ID, ask them to share it with you.
Register (or re-register) your EOI.
- Log in to the OINP e-Filing portal, enter the Position ID, and submit your EOI.
- EOIs stay active for 12 months. If invited, you have 14 days to file the full application and pay the applicant fee (C$1,500 – 2,000 depending on stream).
Prepare your own documents early.
- Reference letters, résumé, licences, language tests, proof of education, proof of legal status in Canada, etc.
- Employers now upload their docs directly, so coordinate deadlines.
If you're a recent grad or Express Entry candidate.
- Masters Graduate, PhD Graduate and the three Express Entry-linked streams are not affected by the Employer Portal. Continue as usual.
Practical tips & cautions
- Communicate early. Many Ontario employers are unfamiliar with the portal; send them screenshots or the FAQ.
- Watch blackout periods. Scheduled maintenance halts EOIs; monitor https://www.ontario.ca/page/2025-ontario-immigrant-nominee-program-updates.
- Confirm job-offer validity. If processing drags on, ensure the employer will keep the offer open; the portal now shows real-time status.
- Processing times were 90 – 150 days for Employer streams pre-portal; Ontario expects gradual improvement once the initial backlog clears.
Bottom line
The July 2025 Employer Portal makes OINP's job-offer streams truly employer-driven. For candidates, that means:
- Land a qualifying job offer first.
- Ensure HR is ready to open the position in the portal and pay the fee.
- Only then create (or recreate) your EOI and wait for an invitation.
Stay proactive with your prospective employer — and keep backup options such as the Masters/PhD or Express Entry-linked streams — to keep your Ontario PR plans on track in 2025.
At Immime — we're building tools that empower you to take control of your immigration journey.