Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) remains one of the most strategic pathways for obtaining Canadian permanent residency (PR), particularly following the program enhancements introduced in 2025.
On July 11, 2025, the OINP released detailed data on nomination activity for the previous year, highlighting 9 critical in-demand occupations. These occupations alone accounted for 45% of all provincial nominations issued in 2024.
Ontario received a nomination quota of 21,500 from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which it fully utilized by December 2024.
In 2024, Ontario saw substantial nomination activity in high-demand sectors
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Healthcare accounted for 3,200 nominations (15% of the total), including
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Registered Nurses & Psychiatric Nurses (NOC 31301)
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Pharmacists (NOC 31120)
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General Practitioners & Family Physicians (NOC 31102)
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Nurse Aides and Patient Service Associates (NOC 33102)
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What This Means for 2025
The OINP’s overall cap for 2025 has been reduced to 10,750 nominations—down from 21,500 in 2024. Assuming the same proportional focus, approximately 1,600 nominations (about 15% of 10,750) are expected to target high-demand healthcare occupations this year.
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Tech saw 6,300 nominations (30%), with in-demand roles such as
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Software Engineers (NOC 21231)
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Software Developers (NOC 21232)
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User Support Technicians (NOC 22221)
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Information Systems Specialists (NOC 21222)
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Business Systems Specialists (NOC 21221)
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What This Means for 2025
Assuming tech maintains its 30% share, this suggests approximately 3,225 nominations could be issued to tech professionals this year
Key Changes Implemented by Ontario
- Mandatory In-Person Interviews Ensuring Program Integrity
The OINP has introduced mandatory in-person interviews as an integrity measure to validate the authenticity of both employers and applicants. Interviews will confirm job offer legitimacy and application accuracy. Provisions for accommodations ensure inclusivity for all candidates.
- Authority to Return Applications Enhanced Efficiency
OINP now holds the authority to return applications before nomination if they do not align with Ontario's economic priorities, exceed allocation limits, or present risks to program integrity. Affected applicants will be notified, and fees will be fully refunded, enabling OINP to maintain a high-quality application pool.
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