After a two-month pause, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) roared back to life on 10-11 December, issuing 2,049 Invitations to Apply across eight targeted draws. The bulk of invitations—1,133—were sent on 10 December to candidates in the Employer Job Offer streams for foreign workers, international students and in-demand skills. Another 916 invitations followed on 11 December, zeroing in on priority occupations such as early-childhood education, nursing and skilled trades in designated regions.
OINP officials say the restart was delayed while they recalibrated regional quotas to dovetail with Ontario’s new REDI (Regional Economic Development through Immigration) pilot, which channels foreign talent to smaller communities facing acute labour shortages. All invited candidates were already living in Canada, simplifying their transition to permanent residence and ensuring local employers can retain workers whose permits might otherwise expire.
![Ontario Issues 2,049 Provincial Nominations in Back-to-Back Draws]()
For employers and candidates navigating these provincial and federal procedures, VisaHQ offers end-to-end document support and real-time status tracking. Their dedicated Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) streamlines everything from initial work-permit renewals to permanent-residence paperwork, helping HR teams and foreign workers stay compliant while the nomination is in process.
From a corporate mobility perspective, the surge in Employer Job Offer invitations is significant. Companies that have struggled to extend work authorization for incumbent staff now have a provincial route to permanent status, reducing turnover risk. In addition, the OINP draw criteria make it clear that job offers tied to wage levels above the regional median receive priority—a reminder to HR teams that competitive compensation packages help secure nomination points.
The province processes most nomination applications within 90 days. Once nominated, candidates receive 600 additional CRS points, virtually guaranteeing an invitation in a subsequent federal Express Entry draw. Employers therefore have a clear, time-bound roadmap to retain critical talent through to permanent residence—a key advantage amid Canada’s tight labour market.
OINP officials say the restart was delayed while they recalibrated regional quotas to dovetail with Ontario’s new REDI (Regional Economic Development through Immigration) pilot, which channels foreign talent to smaller communities facing acute labour shortages. All invited candidates were already living in Canada, simplifying their transition to permanent residence and ensuring local employers can retain workers whose permits might otherwise expire.
For employers and candidates navigating these provincial and federal procedures, VisaHQ offers end-to-end document support and real-time status tracking. Their dedicated Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) streamlines everything from initial work-permit renewals to permanent-residence paperwork, helping HR teams and foreign workers stay compliant while the nomination is in process.
From a corporate mobility perspective, the surge in Employer Job Offer invitations is significant. Companies that have struggled to extend work authorization for incumbent staff now have a provincial route to permanent status, reducing turnover risk. In addition, the OINP draw criteria make it clear that job offers tied to wage levels above the regional median receive priority—a reminder to HR teams that competitive compensation packages help secure nomination points.
The province processes most nomination applications within 90 days. Once nominated, candidates receive 600 additional CRS points, virtually guaranteeing an invitation in a subsequent federal Express Entry draw. Employers therefore have a clear, time-bound roadmap to retain critical talent through to permanent residence—a key advantage amid Canada’s tight labour market.
