August 2025 and September 2025 OINP Invitations

Welcome to your immigration update. Navigating the world of Canadian immigration can feel overwhelming, especially with new program updates and draws. Our goal is to provide you with clear, straightforward information to help you understand these changes. If you’re a professional or a student looking to make Ontario your new home, these recent updates from the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) are important for you.

On August 28 and September 2-3, 2025, Ontario held several major draws, inviting a total of 5,022 candidates to apply for provincial nomination. This is the first time the province has issued invitations since releasing its new employer portal. These draws signal a clear shift toward highly selective invitations that target key sectors to meet Ontario’s labor market needs. Given recent IRCC policy changes that have reduced provincial nominee admissions by fifty percent, provinces are being highly selective with their candidates.

The Big Picture: What These Draws Mean for You

With Ontario’s provincial nomination allocation for 2025 slashed to 10,750, these recent draws represent nearly half of the available spots for the year. This means the province is focusing its invitations on candidates who align with its top priorities. Specifically, the latest draws emphasized professionals with job offers in key sectors, including:

• Northern Ontario Development: A focus on regional development to attract talent to Northern Ontario.
• High-Demand Occupations: A clear emphasis on professionals in STEM, healthcare, and early childhood education.

Employer Job Offer Streams: Northern Ontario

On August 28, 2025, the OINP issued invitations to candidates with job offers in Northern Ontario. The minimum score required was 53 for Foreign Workers and 66 for International Students.

Occupations Targeted: A wide range of occupations were invited, with a focus on business, technology, engineering, and trades. Some examples include:

• Engineering Managers (NOC 20010)
• Software Engineers and Developers (NOC 21231, NOC 21234)
• Financial Auditors and Accountants (NOC 11100)
• Registered Nurses (NOC 31301)
• Electricians (NOC 72200)

Regional Economic Development (REDI) Pilot

The REDI pilot is a one-year initiative to fill labor market shortages in four pilot communities across Ontario. Under this draw, 138 invitations were issued to candidates with job offers in Lambton, Lanark, and Leeds and Grenville.

Occupations Targeted: Candidates were invited in various occupations, including:

• Software Engineers (NOC 21231)
• Registered Nurses (NOC 31301)
• Early Childhood Educators (NOC 42202)
• Machinists (NOC 72100)

Employer Job Offer Streams: Healthcare and Other Priority Occupations

On September 2 and 3, 2025, Ontario held two significant draws targeting high-priority occupations, primarily in healthcare and early childhood education.

Healthcare & Early Childhood Education Occupations:

• Healthcare: General Practitioners (NOC 31102), Registered Nurses (NOC 31301), Licensed Practical Nurses (NOC 32101), and Nurse Aides (NOC 33102).
• Early Childhood Educators: (NOC 42202).

Other Priority Occupations: A large draw on September 3 invited candidates with job offers in various other priority fields, including:

• IT and Tech: Computer and Information Systems Managers (NOC 20012)
• Financial Services: Human Resources Managers (NOC 10011)
• Skilled Trades: Construction Managers (NOC 70010)

What This Means for You

These targeted draws provide valuable insight into what the province is looking for. It is now more important than ever for potential applicants to demonstrate that their skills align with Ontario’s specific economic needs.

If you believe your profile fits these criteria, or if you’re unsure how these changes affect your eligibility, it’s crucial to speak with a professional. Our Canadian immigration lawyers can assess your situation and help you build a strategy to make your immigration journey a success. Our team has the expertise to guide you through the complexities of both Canadian and US immigration law.

Contact Us We welcome you to contact our team of Toronto immigration lawyers for a personalized consultation.