Ontario wasted no time launching its 2026 immigration program year, holding six Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Employer Job Offer draws on February 2, 2026 and issuing 1,825 invitations. The province targeted three priority categories: physicians (129 invitations), early childhood educators and priority health-care occupations (1,649 invitations), and workers linked to the Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI) pilot (47 invitations).
The Employer Job Offer stream allows Ontario employers to sponsor foreign talent for permanent residence provided they meet wage, compliance and labour-market criteria. The province’s focus on health professionals and early childhood educators reflects acute staffing shortages in hospitals, long-term-care facilities and daycare centres that threaten service capacity. Including physicians for the first time since 2024 signals progress on regulatory alignment between the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the Ministry of Health to speed up credential recognition.
![Ontario kicks off 2026 OINP season with 1,825 Employer Job Offer invitations]()
Whether you’re an employer recruiting global talent or a professional preparing to relocate, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork. The company’s online platform guides users through Canadian visa requirements, gathers the necessary forms, and submits applications on their behalf—saving time and reducing errors. Explore their Canada-specific services at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
The draw also advanced the REDI pilot, which offers lower CRS thresholds for candidates relocating to smaller communities. Employers outside the Greater Toronto Area can now leverage REDI to attract newcomers willing to settle in emerging economic hubs such as North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.
For HR teams, the key takeaway is timing: OINP quotas reset on January 1 and historically fill quickly. Companies should prepare labour-market impact waiver packages and job-offer documentation in Q1 to maximise chances of nomination before provincial caps are reached.
The Employer Job Offer stream allows Ontario employers to sponsor foreign talent for permanent residence provided they meet wage, compliance and labour-market criteria. The province’s focus on health professionals and early childhood educators reflects acute staffing shortages in hospitals, long-term-care facilities and daycare centres that threaten service capacity. Including physicians for the first time since 2024 signals progress on regulatory alignment between the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the Ministry of Health to speed up credential recognition.
Whether you’re an employer recruiting global talent or a professional preparing to relocate, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork. The company’s online platform guides users through Canadian visa requirements, gathers the necessary forms, and submits applications on their behalf—saving time and reducing errors. Explore their Canada-specific services at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
The draw also advanced the REDI pilot, which offers lower CRS thresholds for candidates relocating to smaller communities. Employers outside the Greater Toronto Area can now leverage REDI to attract newcomers willing to settle in emerging economic hubs such as North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.
For HR teams, the key takeaway is timing: OINP quotas reset on January 1 and historically fill quickly. Companies should prepare labour-market impact waiver packages and job-offer documentation in Q1 to maximise chances of nomination before provincial caps are reached.
