Ontario Restarts Immigration Draws With 1,133 Invitations After 2 Months

Ontario resumed its provincial immigration draws on December 10 after a break lasting nearly two months. The province had not issued any invitations since October 9. This latest round saw 1,133 invitations issued across five separate draws, allowing selected candidates to apply for provincial nomination.

Focus on Workers Already Living in Canada

All invited candidates currently live in Canada and already had active profiles in Ontario’s selection system. Officials limited the draws to applicants with confirmed job offers. The province aimed to respond quickly to labour shortages by selecting workers already settled and employed.

Three Employer-Based Streams Used

Ontario issued invitations through three employer job offer streams. These included the foreign worker stream, the international student stream, and the in-demand skills stream. Each stream targeted specific occupations where employers continue to face hiring challenges.

Health Care and Child Care Take Priority

Health care workers received a large share of the invitations. Selected occupations included registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse aides, and other health professionals. Early childhood educators and assistants also ranked high among those invited. Ontario continues to struggle with staffing shortages in hospitals, clinics, and child care centres.

Regional Communities Receive Support

Several draws supported a regional immigration pilot designed to help smaller communities grow. Ontario targeted candidates willing to work in areas such as Lanark, Leeds, and Grenville. These regions rely on immigration to maintain local services and support economic stability.

Foreign Worker Stream Selections

Through the foreign worker stream, Ontario invited candidates with job offers in skilled occupations. These included health care roles, education positions, skilled trades, and agricultural jobs. The stream supports workers both inside and outside Canada, though this round focused only on those already in the country.

International Students Receive Most Invitations

International graduates received the highest number of invitations. Ontario selected students working in health care, child care, trades, and technical fields. The program allows graduates with job offers to apply for permanent residency without prior work experience.

In-Demand Skills Stream Targets Essential Jobs

Ontario also issued invitations through the in-demand skills stream. This stream focused on essential roles such as food processing workers, manufacturing labourers, material handlers, and home support workers. These jobs play a key role in keeping essential industries operating.

Ontario’s Invitation Numbers for 2025

So far in 2025, Ontario has issued more than 11,600 invitations through its nominee program. Most invitations have gone to employer-backed streams. Graduate and entrepreneur streams have not issued any invitations this year.

Possible Changes to the Program Ahead

Ontario continues discussions on major changes to its immigration system. Proposed plans include merging existing job offer streams and creating new pathways focused on health care, business, and exceptional talent. Officials have not confirmed timelines or final decisions.