Ontario, Canada Introduces New Review Criteria for Provincial Nominee Applications

Key Point  

• Effective October 31, 2025, Ontario expanded OINP officer discretion to align immigration nominations more closely with evolving labor market needs

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program

Effective October 31, 2025, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has implemented new review criteria that expand the discretion of program officers when assessing applications. These changes improve alignment between immigration nominations and Ontario’s evolving labor market needs.

Under the updated framework, OINP officers now consider additional factors before issuing a nomination. Officers may return applications earlier in the process if they do not reflect Ontario’s current workforce priorities. In such cases, the program refunds applicants in full and notifies them directly.

These updates follow regulatory amendments introduced in July 2025, which streamlined employer-led submissions and transitioned several streams to a new application portal. The July and October changes reflect Ontario’s broader strategy to modernize its immigration pathways. They also show how the province is responding more dynamically to shifting economic conditions.

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