Ontario has officially kicked off its 2026 immigration selection year with a strong start. On February 2, 2026, the province conducted its first Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program draws of the year, issuing a total of 1,825 Invitations to Apply for permanent residence across multiple targeted streams.
These draws focused on high demand occupations including healthcare professionals, early childhood educators, physicians, and candidates under the Regional Economic Development through Immigration pilot, commonly known as the REDI pilot.
The announcement brings renewed hope to thousands of candidates in the Expression of Interest pool who are seeking permanent residence in Canada through Ontario, the country’s most populous province.
This article provides a complete breakdown of the February 2, 2026 OINP draws, eligibility details, targeted occupations, score cutoffs, and what invited candidates need to do next.
Ontario issued invitations across three distinct categories, each designed to address specific labour market shortages and regional economic needs.
The selection strategy clearly demonstrates Ontario’s continued preference for targeted draws rather than general all program rounds, a trend that is expected to continue throughout 2026.
| Draw Category | Invitations Issued | Stream(s) | Minimum Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare and Early Childhood Educators | 1,649 | Foreign Worker, International Student | 36 and 56 |
| Physicians | 129 | Foreign Worker | 33 |
| REDI Pilot | 47 | Foreign Worker, International Student, In Demand Skills | 34 to 69 |
| Total | 1,825 | Multiple Streams | Varies |
The largest portion of invitations issued on February 2 targeted healthcare workers and early childhood educators. This reflects Ontario’s ongoing challenges in staffing hospitals, long-term care facilities, childcare centers, and community health services.
| Stream | Invitations Issued | Profile Creation Dates | Minimum Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker | 634 | July 2, 2025 to January 28, 2026 | 36 |
| Employer Job Offer International Student | 1,015 | July 2, 2025 to January 28, 2026 | 56 |
To qualify, candidates had to be living in Canada and hold a valid job offer in an eligible occupation from an Ontario employer.
The following National Occupational Classification codes were included:
| NOC Code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 31300 | Nursing coordinators and supervisors |
| 31301 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses |
| 31302 | Nurse practitioners |
| 31303 | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals |
| 32101 | Licensed practical nurses |
| 33102 | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates |
| 42202 | Early childhood educators and assistants |
Ontario’s inclusion of early childhood educators alongside healthcare professionals highlights the critical role of childcare in supporting workforce participation across the province.
With the continued rollout of the ten-dollar-a-day childcare program, demand for qualified educators remains extremely high.
Ontario conducted a separate targeted draw exclusively for physicians, issuing 129 invitations under the Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker stream.
| Stream | Invitations Issued | Profile Creation Dates | Minimum Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker | 129 | July 2, 2025 to January 28, 2026 | 33 |
The low minimum score of 33 points clearly signals Ontario’s urgent need for medical doctors across multiple specialties.
| NOC Code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 31100 | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine |
| 31101 | Specialists in surgery |
| 31102 | General practitioners and family physicians |
Ontario continues to face physician shortages, especially in rural, northern, and underserved communities. These invitations form a key part of the province’s healthcare workforce strategy.
Invited physicians are advised to review the most recent program updates to ensure compliance with licensing, registration, and employment requirements.
The Regional Economic Development through Immigration pilot aims to attract skilled immigrants to smaller Ontario communities outside major urban centers.
On February 2, Ontario issued 47 invitations under the REDI pilot for candidates with job offers in Lanark and Leeds and Grenville regions.
| Stream | Invitations Issued | Minimum Score |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Worker | 14 | 44 |
| International Student | 26 | 69 |
| In Demand Skills | 7 | 34 |
These communities have actively participated in the REDI pilot to address local labour shortages while strengthening population growth and economic development.
| NOC Code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 12200 | Accounting technicians and bookkeepers |
| 21222 | Information systems specialists |
| 21231 | Software engineers and designers |
| 31301 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses |
| 33102 | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates |
| 42202 | Early childhood educators and assistants |
| NOC Code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 12111 | Health information management occupations |
| 12200 | Accounting technicians and bookkeepers |
| 13111 | Legal administrative assistants |
| 22232 | Occupational health and safety specialists |
| 22310 | Electrical and electronics engineering technologists |
| 32101 | Licensed practical nurses |
| 33102 | Nurse aides and patient service associates |
| 33103 | Pharmacy technical assistants |
| 42201 | Social and community service workers |
| 42202 | Early childhood educators |
| 52120 | Graphic designers and illustrators |
| NOC Code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 44101 | Home support workers and caregivers |
| 75101 | Material handlers |
| 94100 | Machine operators, mineral and metal processing |
| 94111 | Plastics processing machine operators |
| 94140 | Food and beverage processing machine operators |
Candidates invited on February 2, 2026 must act quickly. Applications must be submitted within 17 calendar days of receiving the invitation.
Important note: Your EOI file number will appear inactive. This is normal and indicates that your profile has been selected and a new application file has been created.
Based on current trends, Ontario is expected to continue prioritizing:
Candidates with job offers in smaller Ontario communities may benefit from lower score thresholds compared to province wide draws.
Ontario also holds one of the largest provincial nomination allocations in Canada, suggesting that thousands more invitations will be issued throughout 2026.
After nomination, candidates must apply to IRCC for permanent residence. Paper based applications typically take 18 to 24 months. Express Entry linked nominations are often processed within 6 months.
For Employer Job Offer streams, changing employers before receiving permanent residence can jeopardize your nomination. Any job change must be reported to OINP immediately.
There is no formal appeal process. Candidates may submit a new Expression of Interest if they continue to meet eligibility requirements and address refusal reasons.
No. Provincial nomination does not guarantee approval. Applicants must still meet all federal admissibility, medical, and security requirements.
Ontario’s first OINP draws of 2026 set a clear tone for the year ahead. Targeted selection, healthcare prioritization, and regional immigration will continue to dominate Ontario’s immigration strategy.
Candidates who align with these priorities and maintain strong job offers in Ontario will remain well positioned for future invitations.
