Canada · Work
Canada Ontario Workforce Priority
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program: Ontario Workforce Priority stream
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Ontario Workforce Priority is a work route for Canada. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- CAD 1,590 ≈ $1,110 · CAD 270 ≈ $190
- Processing
- 180 days
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee CAD 1,590 ≈ $1,110; decision: 180 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesCAD 1,590 ≈ $1,110 · CAD 270 ≈ $190
- CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110)IRCC permanent residence application for the principal applicant, including the right of permanent residence fee (Economic immigration (Express Entry, provincial nominee, Atlantic, Quebec-selected skilled workers)); a spouse or partner included in the application pays CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110).
- CAD 270 (≈ $190)IRCC fee for each dependent child included in the application.
CitizenshipAfter 3 years as a permanent resident
Needs 1,095 days physically in Canada in the 5 years before applying, including at least 730 days as a permanent resident. Each day as a temporary resident before permanent residence counts as half a day, up to 365 days of credit.
Processing180 days
After nomination the federal service standard is 180 days for Express Entry-linked applications and 11 months for other (paper) provincial nominee applications.
Presence rulesAt least 730 days
A permanent resident must be physically in Canada at least 730 days in any 5-year period to keep the status.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs earlier residence or an existing status in Canada
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Canada
What you'll need
Who can apply6
- The applicant has an Ontario employer that has registered and applied for approval of the employment position.
- TEER 0 to 3 job offer: 6 consecutive months of paid full-time experience in the position within the 12 months before applying.
- Recent Ontario graduates need 3 months; alternatively 2 years of cumulative experience in the same NOC counts.
- Language: CLB 6 in all skills, CLB 5 for listed skilled trades, and CLB 4 for TEER 4 and 5 job offers.
- Education: a post-secondary credential of at least one year, or a secondary diploma for listed trades and TEER 4 and 5.
- Self-employed physicians may apply without a job offer.
What you must show1
- IRCC charges CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) for permanent residence for the principal applicant, CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) for a spouse or partner and CAD 270 (≈ $190) per child.
Steps2
- Submit an expression of interest, receive an invitation and apply within the deadline.
- The employer's application for approval of the employment position must also be approved.
What happens at day 183
How Canada decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a calendar yearDay count used in the CRA residency decision flow (page wording: fewer than 183 days versus more than 182 days throughout the year); significant ties and treaty residence are assessed together with it.
- At least 183 days in a tax yearA person who sojourned in Canada in the year for 183 days or more is deemed resident for the whole year (Income Tax Act s.250(1)(a))
- Foreign-source income
Worldwide income for residents; Canadian-source income for non-residents
All tax rules for Canada Tax records checked
Full official text
Ontario's open nominee stream for skilled foreign workers with a qualifying job offer and work experience; all other OINP streams were closed when this stream launched. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- A fee of CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) · IRCC permanent residence application for the principal applicant, including the right of permanent residence fee (Economic immigration (Express Entry, provincial nominee, Atlantic, Quebec-selected skilled workers)); a spouse or partner included in the application pays CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110). 2
- A fee of CAD 270 (≈ $190) · IRCC fee for each dependent child included in the application. 2
Requirements
- The applicant has an Ontario employer that has registered and applied for approval of the employment position. 1
- TEER 0 to 3 job offer: 6 consecutive months of paid full-time experience in the position within the 12 months before applying. 1
- Recent Ontario graduates need 3 months; alternatively 2 years of cumulative experience in the same NOC counts. 1
- Language: CLB 6 in all skills, CLB 5 for listed skilled trades, and CLB 4 for TEER 4 and 5 job offers. 1
- Education: a post-secondary credential of at least one year, or a secondary diploma for listed trades and TEER 4 and 5. 1
- Self-employed physicians may apply without a job offer. 1
- IRCC charges CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) for permanent residence for the principal applicant, CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) for a spouse or partner and CAD 270 (≈ $190) per child. 2
- Submit an expression of interest, receive an invitation and apply within the deadline. 1
- The employer's application for approval of the employment position must also be approved. 1
Stay
- Permanent residence on nomination approval and federal processing.
Nationality
No nationality restriction.
Work
Work for the employer in the job offer position; permanent residence once granted.
Family
Spouse and dependent children can be included.
Official sources
- Ontario Workforce Priority stream · Government of Ontario · checked 2026-10-10
- Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- Apply for citizenship: who can apply (physical presence) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- IRCC service standards · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- How long must I stay in Canada to keep my permanent resident status? · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
Ontario Workforce Priority and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Workforce Priority | – | – | – |
| Atlantic Immigration | – | – | Limited |
| BC PNP Skills Immigration | Needs income from CAD 26k a year ≈ $18k | – | – |
| Employer work permit | – | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Express Entry · Trades | Needs savings from CAD 15k ≈ $11k | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Ontario Workforce Priority?
A fee of CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110). IRCC permanent residence application for the principal applicant, including the right of permanent residence fee (Economic immigration (Express Entry, provincial nominee, Atlantic, Quebec-selected skilled workers)); a spouse or partner included in the application pays CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110). A fee of CAD 270 (≈ $190). IRCC fee for each dependent child included in the application.
How long can I stay on the Ontario Workforce Priority?
Permanent residence on nomination approval and federal processing.
How long does the Ontario Workforce Priority take to process?
After nomination the federal service standard is 180 days for Express Entry-linked applications and 11 months for other (paper) provincial nominee applications.
Can I work on the Ontario Workforce Priority?
Work for the employer in the job offer position; permanent residence once granted.
Can I bring my family on the Ontario Workforce Priority?
Spouse and dependent children can be included.
More in Canada
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 5 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Ontario Workforce Priority stream · Government of Ontario · checked 2026-10-10
- Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- Apply for citizenship: who can apply (physical presence) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- IRCC service standards · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- How long must I stay in Canada to keep my permanent resident status? · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.