Ontario sets 2026 nomination quotas, 31% Higher than 2025

Ontario has confirmed a higher number of immigration nominations for 2026, giving a boost to people hoping to settle in the province through provincial programs. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program will receive 14,119 nomination spaces for the year, an increase from the previous year.

The federal government approved the new total, allowing Ontario to nominate skilled workers, graduates, and other eligible applicants across eight immigration streams. The province shared the update on February 6, 2026. Officials have not yet named priority jobs, sectors, or how many spaces each stream will receive.

Big jump from last year, but still below past highs

The new allocation marks a clear rise from 2025, when Ontario received 10,750 nomination spaces. The increase equals about 31 per cent. Ottawa expanded the total number of permanent resident spots under provincial programs this year, raising the national target from 55,000 to 91,500. That change helped several provinces receive more spaces.

Other regions, including Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon, already announced higher totals for 2026. Ontario, however, saw no increase at all during 2025 and stayed at the same level all year.

Despite the growth this year, Ontario has not returned to its earlier peak. In 2024, the province held 21,500 nomination spaces. The current total restores only about two-thirds of that number.

Key changes reshape the program

Ontario made several notable changes to its nominee program over the past year. In January 2026, the province expanded eligibility for self-employed doctors. Certain internationally trained physicians with provisional certificates and valid health billing numbers can now qualify under the foreign worker stream. Earlier changes also allowed self-employed doctors to count their work experience without needing a job offer in three streams.

In November 2025, the province suspended its skilled trades stream under the federal system. Officials returned all pending applications after finding “systemic compliance and enforcement concerns relating to the stream.”

Ontario also gained wider authority to pause or return applications before approval. New rules in July 2025 allowed refunds when applications failed to meet new standards. By October, the province added more reasons for refusals, including housing pressures, access to health services, language skills, education, work status, and labour needs.

New systems and stricter checks

The province introduced a new online employer portal in July 2025. Employers now lead applications for job offer streams, and workers can no longer apply on their own. Ontario also eased education rules for early childhood educators, removing the need for a Canadian bachelor’s degree in two major streams.

Officials also said they may require in-person interviews for applicants and employers to address “concerns related to the credibility and authenticity of certain applications.”

Major redesign planned ahead

Ontario plans a large overhaul of its nominee program. The first phase would merge three employer job offer streams into one system with several tracks. A later phase would replace most current streams with three new pathways focused on health care workers, entrepreneurs, and exceptional talent. The province proposed these changes in late 2025 and expects further rollout in 2026, pending final approval.