Ontario Expands Criteria For Suspending Or Returning Provincial Nominee Applications

1. Overview of changes in the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OINP)

Từ ngày 31/10/2025, Chính phủ Ontario đã chính thức sửa đổi quy định của Chương trình Đề cử Tỉnh bang Ontario (Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program – OINP), mở rộng phạm vi các yếu tố có thể khiến hồ sơ bị tạm dừng hoặc trả lại trước khi được cấp thư đề cử.

Specifically, Ontario added 13 new factors, abolished 1 old factor in the original list of 6 factors, bringing the total number of criteria that can affect the application review to 18 factors.

This is a notable change, as previously, “returning” or “pausing processing” of applications was not a common practice in Canada’s provincial nominee programs (PNPs).

2. Purpose of change

The new criteria are intended to reflect the province’s labour market and population capacity. Ontario wants to ensure that nominations are aligned with current and projected infrastructure, social service and workforce needs.

Factors considered so far include:

• The applicant's employment status and work experience in Canada.
• Language proficiency, education, and income history.
• Housing costs and the province's ability to provide health and social services.

3. 18 criteria that can lead to OINP applications being suspended or returned

(A) Policy factors

• The Federal Government's preferential policy towards the province of Ontario.
• Priority policy is directed directly to the Program Director by the Ontario Minister.

(B) Labor market factors

• Unemployment rate for the whole province or by region.
• Ontario's current or projected labour needs.

(C) Infrastructure and social services

• Cost or availability of housing.
• Ability to provide health and social services.

(D) Candidate-related factors

• Is the candidate legally allowed to work in Canada?
• The applicant is working in Ontario at the time of application.
• Candidates with a job offer approved by OINP.
• English or French proficiency.
• Employment and income history.
• Highest level of education.
• Work or study experience in Canada.

4. Elements maintained from the July 2025 update

The following criteria remain the same and have a major impact on the review of applications:

• Number of nomination quotas granted by the Federation to Ontario during the year.
• Number of applications received and pending.
• Number of nomination letters issued compared to the annual target.
• Status of permanent residence applications from individuals with OINP nominations at the Federal level.
• Compliance/enforcement concerns.

5. Reasons why Ontario will increase application selection in 2025

In early 2025, the Canadian federal government cut Ontario’s nomination quota in half. Under pressure, the province was forced to adopt a more rigorous selection process, prioritizing only candidates who truly meet the labor market’s needs.

Some notable changes:

• Suspend all draws until June 3, 2025.
• Launch of Employer Portal, requiring businesses to submit vacancy information before candidates register Expression of Interest (EOI).
• Candidates who already have an old EOI must coordinate with their employer to re-submit through the new system.

6. General trends of other provinces

Not only Ontario, many other provinces are also adjusting policies to adapt to the increased number of applications and reduced quotas:

• BC PNP từng đưa các hồ sơ bậc Thạc sĩ – Tiến sĩ (International Post-Graduate Stream) vào danh sách chờ xét duyệt (waitlist) hồi tháng 4/2025.
• By October 2025, BC had begun to reprocess some of these applications thanks to the additional quota.

7. Conclusion

Ontario's expansion of the criteria for suspending or returning applications shows that the province is moving towards a more flexible immigration management model, ensuring that the immigrant workforce is aligned with current socio-economic capabilities.

Candidates interested in the OINP need to carefully prepare their applications, paying attention to language proficiency, work experience in Canada and proposed salary, as these are factors that are being considered more closely than ever.