Ontario issues 997 GTA-focused immigration invitations

Ontario issues 997 GTA-focused immigration invitations

Ontario invited 997 candidates to apply for provincial nomination on April 30 through targeted draws under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The invitations focused on workers with job offers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The draws were conducted under two Employer Job Offer streams and primarily targeted occupations in healthcare, construction, information technology, and administrative services. Candidates were required to be living in Canada with valid temporary status at the time of selection.

The latest round forms part of an active period of selections in April, as Ontario continues issuing invitations ahead of planned changes to its immigration system later in May.

• A total of 997 invitations were issued on April 30, 2026
• 720 invitations went to Foreign Worker stream candidates with a cutoff score of 57
• 277 invitations were issued under the International Student stream with a cutoff of 81
• Selections targeted candidates employed in the Greater Toronto Area
• Profiles submitted between July 2, 2025 and April 28, 2026 were considered
• This marked Ontario’s sixth round of invitations in April

Details of April 30 OINP draws

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program held two separate draws under its Employer Job Offer category on April 30. These included the Foreign Worker stream and the International Student stream.

The Foreign Worker stream accounted for the majority of invitations issued. Out of the total 997 invitations, 720 were allocated to this stream, while 277 were issued to candidates through the International Student stream.

Each stream applied its own minimum score threshold. Candidates in the Foreign Worker draw required a minimum score of 57, while those selected in the International Student draw needed at least 81 points.

Eligibility for both draws required candidates to have an active job offer from an employer located in the Greater Toronto Area. The GTA includes Toronto as well as Durham, Peel, and York regions.

Eligibility criteria and profile requirements

Candidates considered in these draws were required to be residing in Canada at the time of invitation. Acceptable status included either a valid work permit or a study permit.

The timing of profile submission was also a determining factor. Only profiles created and confirmed between July 2, 2025 and April 28, 2026 were eligible for inclusion in the April 30 draws.

Profiles submitted prior to July 2025 were excluded from this selection round. This reflects the program’s approach of targeting more recent candidates in its pool.

Comparison with previous GTA-targeted draw

The April 30 selection represents Ontario’s second targeted draw for the Greater Toronto Area in 2026. The previous GTA-focused round was held on March 25.

In March, Ontario invited a total of 431 candidates across the same two Employer Job Offer streams. Of these, 355 invitations were issued under the Foreign Worker stream with a cutoff score of 61, while 76 invitations were issued under the International Student stream with a cutoff of 90.

The latest draw shows a significant increase in invitations, with 566 more candidates selected compared to March. At the same time, the minimum score thresholds were lower in both streams during the April 30 round.

This shift indicates a broader intake of candidates across the targeted occupational groups within the GTA during the most recent selection.

Occupations included in the selection

Ontario identified 52 occupations across both streams for the April 30 draws. These occupations spanned multiple sectors and skill levels as defined by the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.

The distribution of occupations by Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category included:

• 17 occupations at TEER 0
• 14 occupations at TEER 1
• 19 occupations at TEER 2
• 2 occupations at TEER 3

A significant number of occupations appeared in both the Foreign Worker and International Student draws. These overlapping roles included positions in software development, engineering management, healthcare services, and construction management.

Examples of occupations targeted in both streams included architects, web developers, registered nurses, physiotherapists, and computer systems specialists. The recurrence of these occupations across both draws highlights consistent demand in these fields within the GTA labour market.

Sector focus across draws

The selected occupations reflect continued demand in several core sectors. Healthcare-related roles included physicians, nurses, laboratory technologists, and pharmacy staff.

Technology positions included software engineers, developers, IT managers, and web designers. Engineering and construction roles, such as construction managers and skilled trades workers, were also present in the selection.

Administrative and management positions, including human resources managers and procurement officers, formed another portion of the targeted occupations.

Application process following invitation

Candidates who receive an invitation to apply under the OINP must complete a two-step process involving both the employer and the applicant.

The employer is required to submit an application to have the job offer approved. This must be completed within 14 calendar days of the invitation being issued.

After the employer submission, the candidate must complete their nomination application through the OINP e-Filing Portal. This step must be finalized within 17 calendar days of receiving the invitation.

If approved for provincial nomination, candidates can proceed to apply for permanent residence through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Context: Ontario’s active April and upcoming changes

The April 30 draws represent the sixth round of invitations conducted by Ontario during April 2026. Earlier in the month, the province issued more than 2,000 invitations in a series of draws held on April 23.

This elevated level of activity comes ahead of planned legislative changes affecting Ontario’s immigration system. Amendments to the Ontario Immigration Act are scheduled to take effect on May 30, 2026.

Under the new framework, existing OINP streams are expected to be replaced. This includes the Employer Job Offer streams currently used for Foreign Workers, International Students, and In-Demand Skills candidates.

Ontario has outlined plans for a revised structure that includes a consolidated Employer Job Offer pathway along with three new immigration streams. As of early May, detailed guidance on the transition process for existing candidates has not been published.

Broader provincial nominee program context

Provincial nominee programs remain a key component of Canada’s economic immigration system. Provinces and territories use these programs to select candidates aligned with regional labour market needs.

Ontario operates the largest PNP allocation in the country, with streams designed to address shortages in high-demand sectors, particularly in urban centres such as the Greater Toronto Area.

Other provinces, including Manitoba, also conduct targeted draws based on employment, education, and regional connections. Additional context on these programs can be found through resources such as the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program points system.

The April 30 OINP draws highlight ongoing selection activity in Canada’s provincial immigration pathways, particularly in major urban labour markets.

Further updates are expected as Ontario approaches the May 30 implementation date for its revised immigration framework, following a month that included six draw rounds and nearly 1,000 invitations in a single GTA-focused selection.