Ontario PNP broadens rules for returning & pausing applications, i.e., the province has expanded the list of situations under which applications to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) can be paused or returned before a nomination is issued.
The province has amended OINP regulations to include 13 new factors and removed one of the six previously existing ones, thus bringing the total number of applicable factors to 18. These changes, effective October 31, 2025, aim to make the program more adaptable to Ontario’s labour market and economic realities.
Moreover, this update builds upon earlier amendments introduced on July 2, 2025, which first allowed Ontario to temporarily suspend or return applications under specific circumstances.
The new factors reflect broader considerations such as housing availability, access to healthcare, job market needs, and applicants’ work or education background. This approach ensures that the OINP continues to align with both the province’s labour priorities and the capacity of local infrastructure.
Historically, it has been uncommon for Canadian provinces to suspend or return applications under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). However, Ontario’s move indicates a growing need to manage application volumes and respond quickly to changing conditions.
Factors That Could Lead To Suspension Or Return Of OINP Applications
The following 13 new factors officially came into effect on October 31, 2025:
Policy Factors:
- Any policy priorities issued by the Government of Canada to the Ontario government concerning the OINP.
- Any policy guidance provided by the Ontario Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to the program director regarding the suspension or return of applications.
Labour Market Factors:
- Province-wide or regional unemployment rates.
- Current or future labour market needs in Ontario or specific regions.
Infrastructure And Social Services Factors:
- Cost or availability of housing in Ontario or its regions.
- The province’s ability to provide healthcare and social services to newcomers.
Applicant-Specific Factors:
- Whether the applicant is authorized to work in Canada.
- Whether the applicant is currently working in Ontario.
- Whether the applicant holds a valid job offer approved under the OINP Act.
- The applicant’s English or French language ability.
- The applicant’s employment and wage history.
- The applicant’s highest educational qualification.
- The applicant’s Canadian work or study experience.
These factors give Ontario more flexibility in handling nomination applications and ensure that selected candidates meet the province’s economic and settlement goals.
How OINP Handles Nominations?
As Ontario PNP broadens rules for returning & pausing applications, let us understand how OINP handles nominations.
Well, under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) framework, provinces and territories can nominate foreign workers, students, and entrepreneurs for permanent residence based on their ability to contribute to local economies.
Once nominated by Ontario, applicants must apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for final approval of permanent residency.
Returning or suspending applications before a nomination is finalized was not a common practice until recently. Traditionally, once a PNP received an application, it would simply process it. If the candidate met all the stream’s requirements, they would receive a nomination.
Earlier this year, Ontario introduced new regulations allowing the OINP to pause or return applications in specific situations, thus marking a major shift in program management. The October 31 update further expands these provisions.
Criteria Carried Forward From July 2, 2025
The latest update builds upon five factors introduced in July 2025, which remain active:
- The number of nomination spots allocated to Ontario by the federal government for the year.
- The number of pending applications still awaiting a decision.
- The number of nominations approved in the year compared to targets.
- Whether the federal government is currently accepting PR applications from OINP nominees.
- Systemic compliance or enforcement concerns identified within the program.
The original sixth factor focused solely on immediate labour market needs has now been replaced with one that accounts for both current and anticipated future job market demands.
This ensures that OINP nominations remain forward-looking and responsive to Ontario’s evolving workforce requirements.
How OINP Has Changed In 2025?
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has seen significant structural changes throughout 2025, driven largely by the federal government’s decision to cut Ontario’s annual nomination quota in half earlier in the year.
As a result, Ontario has had to adopt a more selective and targeted approach to nomination. The province has focused on candidates who align closely with in-demand occupations and critical skill areas.
To manage these changes, the OINP paused all draws until June 3, 2025, before resuming with adjusted priorities.
In June, Ontario also redesigned its Employer Job Offer streams by launching a new employer portal. Under this system, employers must now begin the nomination process by submitting job details directly to the OINP. Only after this step can candidates register their Expression of Interest (EOI).
Applicants who had previously submitted EOIs through the old system are required to resubmit applications through their employers using the new portal.
This change was intended to reduce processing backlogs and ensure that each application is supported by an active, verified Ontario employer.
Similar Actions By Other Provinces
Ontario’s decision mirrors measures taken by other provinces facing similar challenges.
For instance, in April 2025, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) began waitlisting applications under its International Post-Graduate stream due to limited nomination capacity. Later, on October 2, 2025, BC announced that it would resume processing some of these waitlisted applications after receiving additional allocations from the federal government.
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