Ontario Increases Points for Higher Earners Under New Permanent Residence Pathway

Ontario has updated its provincial immigration ranking system to give more points to higher-earning candidates under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.

The change could improve the chances of some candidates being selected for provincial nomination and, later, Canadian permanent residence.

Ontario announced the update on October 7, 2026. According to the province, the change took effect on October 5, 2026 and was applied automatically to eligible profiles.

Higher Earners Can Now Receive Up to 10 Points

Under the updated scoring system, candidates with annual earnings of at least $80,000 can now receive 10 points under the “Canadian work experience: earnings history” factor.

Before this change, the highest category was $70,000 or more, which provided 8 points.

The new scoring structure is:

How Ontario Calculates Earnings

The earnings factor is based on a candidate’s annual income shown on a Notice of Assessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency.

Ontario can consider a CRA Notice of Assessment from within the past five years.

This means candidates with stronger earnings history may now receive a higher score in the OINP ranking system.

Why the Change Matters

Candidates with higher overall scores may have a better chance of receiving an invitation to apply for provincial nomination.

If a candidate receives a provincial nomination and completes the required process, they can then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence.

The change does not guarantee an invitation, but it gives higher-earning candidates additional points that may improve their position in the pool.

What Is the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream?

The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, or OWPS, is Ontario’s new provincial immigration pathway for eligible foreign workers and certain other applicants.

As of the time of writing, it is the only available OINP pathway for foreign nationals seeking provincial nomination for permanent residence through Ontario.

Ontario officially launched the OWPS on June 26, 2026.

The province later introduced its ranking system on July 20, 2026.

On August 4, 2026, Ontario opened intake for eligible employers, workers and self-employed physicians.

Ontario Is Restructuring Its Provincial Immigration System

The launch of the OWPS is part of a major restructuring of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.

On May 30, 2026, Ontario revoked its previous provincial permanent residence pathways as part of the broader redesign.

The province had first announced plans for a major overhaul of its immigration pathways in December 2025.

The OWPS represents the first phase of that new system.

More Ontario Immigration Streams Are Planned

Ontario has also announced plans for three additional streams as part of the second phase of the OINP overhaul.

These are:

• Priority Healthcare Stream
• Entrepreneur Stream
• Exceptional Talent Stream
  
  

The Priority Healthcare Stream is expected to focus on healthcare workers in occupations that are in demand in Ontario.

The Entrepreneur Stream is expected to target business owners and owner-operators, including people who establish or take over businesses in Ontario.

The Exceptional Talent Stream is expected to focus on foreign nationals with significant achievements in areas such as academia, science, technology, and the creative or performing arts.

As of the time of writing, Ontario has not announced a launch date for these three streams.

What Candidates Should Do

Candidates with an active Ontario Workforce Priority Stream profile should review their information and make sure their earnings history is accurate.

Because the new points were applied automatically, eligible candidates do not need to manually request the update.

However, candidates should ensure that their CRA Notice of Assessment and other supporting information are consistent with the details in their profile.

Final Takeaway

Ontario’s latest OINP update gives higher-earning candidates a stronger advantage under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream.

Candidates earning at least $80,000 per year can now receive 10 points for their Canadian earnings history, compared with the previous maximum of 8 points.

The change is part of Ontario’s wider effort to redesign its provincial immigration system and prioritize candidates based on workforce needs and other selection factors.

Applicants interested in Ontario immigration should continue monitoring OINP updates, as the province may introduce additional streams and further changes to the ranking system in the coming months.