Big Changes Ahead for Ontario Immigration: What You Need to Know

2024 Allocation Limit Reached
As of December 23, 2024, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has fulfilled its nomination allocation for the year. The province issued a total of 21,500 provincial nominations across various streams, marking another milestone in Ontario’s immigration efforts.

Despite reaching its limit for 2024, the OINP will continue to process new applications as part of its allocation for 2025, though the specific quota for next year has not yet been confirmed.

2024 Invitation to Apply (ITA) Statistics

Throughout 2024, Ontario issued over 22,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across multiple streams. Below is a detailed breakdown of ITAs distributed:

• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream – 6,695 ITAs
• Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream – 8,363 ITAs
• Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream – 914 ITAs
• Masters Graduate Stream – 5,519 ITAs
• PhD Graduate Stream – 533 ITAs
• Entrepreneur Stream – 0 ITAs

Important Note: Receiving an ITA does not guarantee a provincial nomination. A successful application following the ITA is required to secure a nomination.

How the OINP Works

The process of securing a provincial nomination through the OINP involves several steps, depending on whether the stream is aligned with the federal Express Entry system (enhanced) or operates independently (base):

1. Expression of Interest (EOI) or Federal Express Entry Profile:

   
   
   • Candidates submit a profile for active or passive consideration.
   • Enhanced streams require a valid Express Entry profile.

2. Invitation to Apply (ITA):

   • Selected candidates receive an ITA and are invited to apply for a provincial nomination.

3. Nomination and Permanent Residency (PR) Application:

   • Upon approval, candidates under base streams apply directly to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
   • Enhanced stream nominees gain an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, significantly boosting their chances in subsequent Express Entry draws.

2025 Outlook: Reduced Allocations Expected

Ontario’s nomination allocations for 2025 have not yet been announced. However, significant reductions are anticipated due to changes in federal immigration targets:

• Under the 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan, provincial allocations have been halved to 55,000 total nominations across all provinces for 2025, compared to 110,000 in 2024.
• As a leading Provincial Nominee Program, Ontario may face notable cuts in its allocation, aligning with these macro-level adjustments.

Recent Program Changes:
The OINP announced the closure of its Entrepreneur Stream in 2024, with no current plans to introduce a replacement.

This structured update ensures you stay informed about Ontario’s immigration pathways and prepares you for potential changes in 2025.