Ontario has carried out one of its largest Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) selections of the year, issuing 2,102 invitations to apply for provincial nomination on April 23, 2026. The invitations were distributed across four regional draws under the Employer Job Offer streams, targeting candidates with job offers in specific parts of Ontario outside the Greater Toronto Area.
These draws continue a strong month of activity for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), which has now issued well over 7,000 invitations in April alone. The latest round focused on addressing labour shortages across multiple sectors including healthcare, construction, manufacturing, IT, and skilled trades.
This article provides a clear breakdown of the April 23 OINP draws, including regional allocation, stream-wise distribution, eligibility criteria, and next steps for candidates.
The April 23 selection round included four separate regional draws:
Candidates were invited under three Employer Job Offer streams:
Each region had different score cutoffs depending on labour market needs and occupation demand.
Below is a simplified breakdown of the invitations issued across all regions and streams.
| Region | Foreign Worker (ITAs / Score) | International Student (ITAs / Score) | In-Demand Skills (ITAs / Score) | Total ITAs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Ontario | 318 / 63 | 173 / 87 | 48 / 34 | 539 |
| Northern Ontario | 57 / 60 | 167 / 87 | 79 / 35 | 303 |
| Southwestern Ontario | 194 / 60 | 173 / 84 | 430 / 34 | 797 |
| Central Ontario (excl. GTA) | 128 / 60 | 173 / 85 | 162 / 34 | 463 |
| Total | 697 | 686 | 719 | 2,102 |
The In-Demand Skills stream received the highest allocation overall, reflecting Ontario’s continued focus on essential and intermediate-skilled occupations.
Eastern Ontario received 539 invitations across all three streams. This region includes cities such as Ottawa, Kingston, Peterborough, and surrounding counties.
Stream distribution:
The Foreign Worker stream accounted for the majority of selections in this region, with strong demand for professionals in IT, healthcare, engineering, and management roles.
Northern Ontario received 303 invitations, focusing heavily on healthcare, technical trades, and industrial occupations.
Stream distribution:
Despite having fewer total invitations, Northern Ontario showed strong demand for healthcare professionals and technical occupations supporting local infrastructure and industry.
Southwestern Ontario received the highest number of invitations in this round, totaling 797.
This region includes major industrial hubs such as Hamilton, Windsor, Niagara, and London, which explains the higher allocation.
Stream distribution:
The In-Demand Skills stream dominated this region, highlighting strong labour shortages in manufacturing, agriculture processing, logistics, and support occupations.
Central Ontario received 463 invitations across all streams, covering regions such as Simcoe, Waterloo, Wellington, Grey, and Dufferin.
Stream distribution:
This region continues to show balanced demand across skilled professionals and essential workers.
To be considered in these OINP Employer Job Offer draws, candidates needed to meet strict eligibility rules.
Applicants were required to:
Only candidates meeting all conditions were invited to apply for provincial nomination.
Candidates who received an Invitation to Apply must act quickly, as OINP deadlines are strict.
It is important to note that missed deadlines cannot be extended under any circumstances.
The April 23 draws reflect several important immigration trends in Ontario:
Ontario continues to prioritize regions outside the GTA to support local labour shortages and economic development.
The In-Demand Skills stream remains the largest category, with low cutoffs between 34 and 35 points, showing strong demand for semi-skilled and essential occupations.
Foreign Worker and International Student streams remain nearly equal in allocation, supporting both domestic graduates and foreign skilled workers.
Key sectors include:
For many candidates, especially those with lower Express Entry CRS scores, the Ontario PNP remains one of the most reliable pathways to permanent residency in Canada.
Unlike federal Express Entry draws, OINP Employer Job Offer streams allow candidates to qualify based on:
This makes the program particularly valuable for workers in essential and mid-skilled occupations.
No. All invited candidates must be physically residing in Canada with valid status.
No. The April 23 draws excluded the Greater Toronto Area entirely.
Scores varied by stream:
No. OINP deadlines are strict and non-negotiable.
The April 23, 2026 Ontario OINP draws demonstrate the province’s continued commitment to regional immigration and labour market-driven selection. With 2,102 invitations issued across four regions, Ontario is actively addressing workforce shortages while offering a strong pathway to permanent residency.
The dominance of the In-Demand Skills stream, combined with low score thresholds, highlights ongoing opportunities for essential workers across manufacturing, healthcare support, logistics, and technical trades.
As Ontario prepares for potential program changes later in 2026, candidates are encouraged to keep their profiles updated and stay alert for future draw announcements.
