Ontario Exhausts Its 2025 Provincial Nomination Quota
Ontario has officially reached its full provincial nomination limit for 2025 under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), according to an update released by the province on December 17.
Over the course of the year, Ontario issued a total of 10,750 provincial nominations, fully utilizing its reduced federal allocation for 2025.
What Happens Now for OINP Applicants?
Although the 2025 nomination quota has been reached, Ontario has clarified that the OINP remains open and operational.
The province will continue to:
- Accept new OINP applications, and
- Process applications already submitted and under review
However, any applications approved from this point onward will be counted toward Ontario’s 2026 nomination allocation, not 2025.
Applicants should be prepared for possible delays in receiving nomination decisions as the province transitions to next year’s allotment.
Important Clarification: Nomination vs Invitation
Ontario has emphasized that a provincial nomination is not the same as an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Provinces often issue more invitations under their streams than the total number of nominations available. This approach helps account for applications that may later be withdrawn, refused, or deemed incomplete.
As a result, candidates may still receive invitations under OINP streams even though nominations for 2025 have been fully allocated.
Why Ontario’s 2025 Cap Was Reached So Quickly
Ontario’s reduced nomination capacity in 2025 played a major role in the early exhaustion of its allocation.
At the start of the year, the federal government implemented a 50% cut to provincial nomination allocations across most provinces and territories.
For Ontario, this meant:
- A reduction from 21,500 nominations in 2024
- To just 10,750 nominations in 2025
This significant cut forced Ontario to become far more selective in choosing candidates across all program streams.
Major Program Changes Introduced in 2025
To adapt to the reduced allocation, Ontario introduced several structural changes to the OINP throughout 2025.
Key updates included:
- A shift to an employer-led process for Employer Job Offer streams
- Launch of a new online Employer Portal
- Introduction of the OINP e-Filing system to centralize applications
These changes were aimed at improving efficiency, reducing processing errors, and allowing Ontario to better manage its limited nomination spaces.
Ontario Signals a Major Overhaul of Its PNP
In December, Ontario announced proposed reforms that could significantly reshape the OINP in the future.
The proposal includes:
- Consolidating the three Employer Job Offer streams into a single stream
- Eliminating all other existing streams
- Introducing three new targeted streams:
- A priority healthcare stream
- An entrepreneur stream
- An exceptional talent stream
If implemented, these changes would mark one of the most significant restructurings of the OINP to date.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Possible Relief for Applicants
There may be more opportunities ahead for provincial nominees.
Canada’s latest Immigration Levels Plan, released in November 2025, set a target of 91,500 admissions through Provincial Nominee Programs in 2026. This represents a 66% increase compared to the previous target of 55,000.
This increase has raised expectations that provinces—including Ontario—may receive higher nomination allocations in 2026, potentially easing competition and processing delays.
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