ONTARIO- The Ontario government has increased the points allocated to high-earning candidates under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). This move is expected to boost the chances of securing a provincial nomination for Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) among skilled foreign workers employed in the province.
Under the new criteria, candidates earning at least CAD 80,000 annually will receive 10 points for the earnings factor under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWPS). Previously, candidates earning CAD 70,000 or more received a maximum of 8 points. The update came into effect on October 5, 2026, and has been automatically updated in the profiles of eligible candidates.
Income is calculated based on the candidate’s annual earnings as reflected on their Notice of Assessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency over the past five years. Achieving a higher score in the Ontario ranking system increases the likelihood of receiving a provincial nomination, which allows candidates to apply to the federal government for permanent residency. However, earning over CAD 80,000 does not guarantee a nomination, as candidates are ranked relative to others in the stream pool.
As part of the next phase of immigration updates, the provincial government plans to launch dedicated streams for priority healthcare, entrepreneurs, and exceptional talent. The launch dates for these streams will be announced later.
