Immigration to Canada / May 4, 2026

Ontario Invites 997 GTA Workers in Latest Immigration Draws

Workers in the Greater Toronto Area receive invitations under Ontario’s immigration programme, as the province selects candidates from key sectors like healthcare, construction, and technology in its latest draw.

Ontario invited 997 candidates to apply for provincial nomination on April 30 through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The draws focused on workers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), especially those in health care, construction, trades, administration, and technology.

Two Streams Target GTA Candidates

The invitations were issued under two Employer Job Offer streams: the Foreign Worker Stream and the International Student Stream. To qualify, candidates needed to live in Canada with a valid work or study permit and hold a job offer in the GTA.

The GTA includes Durham, Peel, Toronto, and York regions.

Most invitations—720 out of 997—went to candidates in the Foreign Worker Stream, with a minimum score of 57. The remaining 277 invitations were issued under the International Student Stream, where the cutoff score was 81.

Only candidates who created and confirmed their profiles by April 28, 2026, were considered. Profiles submitted before July 2, 2025, were not included.

Higher Invitations, Lower Scores

This draw was Ontario’s sixth selection round in April, following a busy period that included more than 2,000 invitations issued on April 23.

It also marked the second GTA-focused draw this year. The previous GTA draw took place on March 25, when 431 candidates were invited.

Compared to that earlier round, the April 30 draw issued 566 more invitations. At the same time, the score requirements were lower. In March, the Foreign Worker Stream had a cutoff of 61, while the International Student Stream required a score of 90.

Wide Range of Occupations Targeted

Ontario targeted 52 occupations across both streams in this draw. These included roles at different skill levels:

  • 17 occupations in TEER 0
  • 14 in TEER 1
  • 19 in TEER 2
  • 2 in TEER 3

Many occupations appeared in both streams, showing strong demand across the GTA. These included architects, web designers, and health-care managers.

Technology and engineering roles made up a large share of the targeted occupations, reflecting ongoing workforce needs in these sectors.

What Happens After an Invitation

Candidates who receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) must act quickly. Employers have 14 calendar days to submit an application confirming the job offer.

After that, candidates must complete their application through the OINP e-Filing Portal within 17 calendar days. If approved, they can apply for permanent residence through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Changes Coming to Ontario’s Immigration System

These draws come ahead of major changes to Ontario’s immigration system. Amendments to the Ontario Immigration Act will take effect on May 30, 2026.

The changes will remove existing streams, including those for foreign workers, international students, and in-demand skills candidates.

Ontario plans to introduce a new, combined Employer Job Offer stream along with three new immigration pathways. However, the province has not yet announced when these new options will begin or how current applicants will transition.

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