Ontario issues 2,156 regional invitations under Employer Job Offer streams in latest OINP draw

Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) continued its regional push on April 23, issuing 2,156 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across four geographic draws targeting employers in Eastern, Northern, Southwestern and Central (non-GTA) Ontario. The results were published on April 24 and mark the province’s largest regional Employer Job Offer round of 2026 to date. The draw covered three sub-streams—Foreign Worker, International Student and In-Demand Skills—with minimum Expression-of-Interest scores ranging from 60 to 87, depending on region and stream. By carving the province into census-division clusters and excluding the Greater Toronto Area, Queen’s Park hopes to redirect newcomers toward communities facing acute labour shortages in manufacturing, agri-food, healthcare and technology. For employers, the ITAs unlock a 14-day window to submit supporting documents, followed by a 17-day deadline for candidates to file complete applications. Failure to meet either cut-off voids the invitation, underscoring the importance of advance document preparation.



Whether you’re an employer coordinating multiple candidates or an individual applicant, VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) can simplify the process by pre-screening documents, flagging missing items and offering real-time support on Canadian immigration forms. The service’s automated reminders and expert reviews help ensure submissions meet OINP requirements within the program’s tight timelines, reducing the risk of an invitation lapsing.

The CAD $1,750 application fee remains unchanged from the January increase that aligned OINP pricing with other large PNPs. Mobility managers should note that OINP processing averages three months, meaning successful applicants could receive provincial nomination—and the accompanying 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points—before Ottawa’s fall Express Entry rounds. That timing is critical for employers relying on temporary foreign workers whose permits expire in late 2026. The latest draw brings Ontario’s year-to-date nominations to roughly 6,400, leaving ample room in its 14,119-slot federal allocation. Observers expect at least one more regional draw before summer, potentially zeroing in on the skilled-trades stream that remains on hold pending compliance reforms.