Ontario Overhauls Employer: Job Offer Streams Under Provincial Nominee Program
Foreign Workers Now Require Employers to Initiate Applications via New OINP Portal Starting July 2
The Government of Ontario has announced a major structural change to its immigration pathways under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), specifically targeting the Employer: Job Offer streams. Effective July 2, 2025, foreign nationals will no longer be able to independently initiate applications under these streams. Instead, a new employer-led application system will take effect through a redesigned OINP Employer Portal.
This marks a pivotal shift from the previous applicant-driven model to one that places the responsibility for initiating the immigration process on Ontario employers.
What’s Changing?
Currently, foreign nationals seeking permanent residence through Ontario’s Employer: Job Offer streams were required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and request their employers to submit a supporting document known as the Application for Approval of an Employment Position (Employer Form).
Starting July 2, this process will be reversed. Employers will now initiate the application by submitting job offer details directly to the OINP via the newly launched Employer Portal. Only after this step can the foreign candidate register their EOI with the program.
Streams Affected by This Update
The following immigration streams under the OINP are impacted:
- Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream
- Employer Job Offer: International Student stream
- Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream
This change is expected to streamline communication and accountability between employers and the province while strengthening oversight of employment-based nominations.
Timeline of Key Changes
The implementation of the new process will occur in phases, with important deadlines outlined below:
- June 20 – July 2: No new EOIs will be accepted under any of the Employer: Job Offer streams.
- June 21 – June 22: All existing EOIs will automatically expire and be withdrawn from the system. Candidates will be required to re-register once the new portal opens.
- June 27 – June 29: The OINP’s entire online system will be offline for technical updates and system upgrades.
- July 2: Official launch of the OINP Employer Portal. Employers will begin registering job offers and submitting employment position details.
Once the new portal is live, foreign nationals whose EOIs were removed will be able to re-register with support from their employers. New EOIs submitted under the updated system will be valid for 12 months and considered for future program draws.
Future Enhancements and Regulatory Changes
Ontario has also announced upcoming enhancements aimed at strengthening the integrity and oversight of the OINP:
- Inspection Powers: OINP inspectors will soon have the authority to conduct in-person interviews with applicants to verify application details and authenticity.
- Anti-Fraud Measures: Online job boards and recruitment platforms will be required to implement tools to report fraudulent job advertisements, improving job offer authenticity.
- Data Access Review: A formal review will be conducted into how employers access electronic profiles of job applicants. This includes examining privacy risks, legal constraints, and proposing additional privacy regulations where necessary.
These measures aim to protect the interests of genuine applicants while improving the transparency and integrity of Ontario’s immigration system.
Next Steps for Affected Individuals
Foreign nationals with expired EOIs will need to coordinate directly with their employers to ensure their job offers are resubmitted through the new portal. The OINP is expected to release more detailed guidance in the coming weeks to assist both employers and applicants during the transition period.
Stay updated by monitoring the official OINP website for more information on the new employer-led process.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
