OINP International Student Stream: Closed in 2026, and What Replaced It
Ontario closed the Employer Job Offer International Student stream on 26 June 2026. International graduates now apply through the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream, which has its own rules for recent Ontario graduates.
The short answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Stream status | Closed on 26 June 2026 |
| Replaced by | Ontario Workforce Priority stream |
| New stream open since | 4 August 2026 (Expressions of Interest) |
| Old EOIs and job offers | Withdrawn automatically if no invitation was issued |
| Still need a job offer? | Yes, full-time and permanent, from an eligible Ontario employer |
Sources: Ontario, 2026 OINP updates (updated 16 October 2026) and Ontario, Ontario Workforce Priority stream (updated 20 October 2026).
What happened to the International Student stream
Ontario redesigned its Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) in 2026. On 26 June 2026 it closed its eight former streams, including Employer Job Offer: International Student, Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker and Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills. All of them were replaced by one stream, the Ontario Workforce Priority stream.
- No further invitations are issued under the former streams.
- EOIs and job offers that had not received an invitation are withdrawn automatically. Employers must submit a new job offer in the new portal.
- If you were invited under a former stream, your application is assessed against the rules in effect when you submitted it.
The new rules for recent Ontario graduates
The Ontario Workforce Priority stream is not limited to graduates, but it gives recent Ontario graduates an easier work experience requirement for skilled (TEER 0–3) jobs.
Who counts as a recent Ontario graduate: you graduated within the last 3 years from an eligible Ontario institution with one of these:
- a post-secondary degree or diploma of at least 2 years of full-time study
- an Ontario College Graduate Certificate
- a master's degree
- a PhD
Requirements for a TEER 0–3 job offer:
| Requirement | Recent Ontario graduate | Other applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Job offer | Full-time, permanent, in Ontario, at the required wage for the location | Same |
| Work experience | 3 consecutive months of paid full-time work in the job offer position, within the 12 months before you apply (at least 390 hours, 30+ hours a week) | 6 consecutive months in the job offer position within 12 months, or 2 years in the same occupation within 5 years |
| Language | CLB 6 in all four skills (CLB 5 for listed skilled trades), or proof of a qualifying Ontario credential from the last 3 years | CLB 6 in all four skills (CLB 5 for listed skilled trades) |
| Education | Post-secondary degree or diploma of at least 1 year (Canadian, or foreign with an ECA under 5 years old) | Same |
Transport truck drivers (NOC 73300) and bus and transit operators (NOC 73301) need the 6-month experience even if they are recent graduates. Language tests must be less than 2 years old; Ontario accepts IELTS General Training, CELPIP General, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada.
Jobs in TEER 4–5 need 9 months of paid full-time work in the job offer position within the 2 years before you apply, CLB 4 and a Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent.
How to apply now
- Your employer registers in Ontario's Employer Portal and submits your job offer. You receive a job offer ID.
- You register an Expression of Interest (EOI) within 30 calendar days of your employer's submission. EOIs are scored and ranked.
- If you're invited: your employer has 14 calendar days to submit its part, and you have 17 calendar days to submit your application and pay, after your employer has submitted.
- If you're nominated: apply to IRCC for permanent residence within 6 months. Through Express Entry, accepting the nomination adds 600 CRS points, and you then have 60 calendar days to apply.
Meeting the minimum requirements doesn't guarantee an invitation. Ontario invites the highest-scoring EOIs, based on factors such as occupation, wage, Canadian work experience, education, language and job location.
What this means for your CRS score
A provincial nomination through Express Entry adds 600 points, which usually puts a candidate above recent Provincial Nominee Program draw cut-offs. Use the CRS calculator and tick "Provincial or territorial nomination" to see your score with it.
Considering British Columbia too? Estimate your score with the BC PNP calculator.
If you don't have a job offer yet, your Express Entry options depend on your CRS score alone. Check your FSW 67-point eligibility and your CRS score, and compare it with recent Canadian Experience Class draws if you have Canadian work experience.
Provincial programs change often. This page was checked against Ontario's official pages on 23 October 2026. Always confirm the current rules on ontario.ca before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is the OINP International Student stream still open?
No. Ontario closed the Employer Job Offer International Student stream on 26 June 2026, as part of a redesign that replaced its eight former streams with the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. Ontario says no further invitations will be issued under the former streams.
I had an EOI in the International Student stream. What happens to it?
Ontario said EOIs and job offers without an invitation would be withdrawn automatically. To be considered now, your employer must submit a new job offer in the Employer Portal and you must register a new EOI under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream, if you meet its requirements.
I was invited before the stream closed. Which rules apply?
Ontario says applications submitted after an invitation under a former stream are assessed against the requirements that were in effect when they were submitted.
Do international graduates still need a job offer in Ontario?
Yes. The Ontario Workforce Priority stream requires a full-time, permanent job offer from an eligible Ontario employer. Only eligible self-employed physicians can apply without one.
What counts as a recent Ontario graduate?
Someone who graduated within the last 3 years from an eligible Ontario institution with a post-secondary degree or diploma of at least 2 years of full-time study, an Ontario College Graduate Certificate, a master's degree or a PhD.
How does an Ontario nomination affect my CRS score?
If you accept a nomination through Express Entry, you get 600 additional CRS points, and Ontario says you then have 60 calendar days to apply to IRCC. Provincial Nominee Program draws invite candidates with these extra points.