Ontario Proposes Major OINP Redesign: New Entrepreneur & Personal Immigration Streams Explained

Ontario has quietly dropped one of the most important immigration updates we’ve seen in years for employers, entrepreneurs, and skilled workers.

On December 2, 2025, the province published proposed regulatory changes to redesign the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). These are proposals only – nothing has been enacted yet, and the government is still collecting feedback. But if they move forward in something close to their current form, they will reshape how entrepreneurs and other applicants obtain permanent residence through Ontario in 2026 and beyond. 

In this post, I’ll walk through what is being proposed, with a particular focus on the new entrepreneur stream, and how it may interact with the other planned streams. I’ll also flag what we don’t know yet and what you can realistically do now if you’re thinking about business immigration to Ontario.

1. What exactly is Ontario proposing?

The OINP is Ontario’s economic immigration program. Right now, it operates through a patchwork of eight different streams that target job offers, students, in-demand occupations, Masters/PhD grads, and entrepreneurs.

Under the proposal, Ontario wants to simplify and consolidate these into four broader streams, introduced in two phases:

Phase 1 – New Employer Job Offer Stream (two tracks)

Ontario would merge the three existing Employer Job Offer streams into one Employer Job Offer stream with two tracks:

• TEER 0–3 track – for higher-skilled occupations

• TEER 4–5 track – for intermediate- and lower-skilled roles facing labour shortages

This is meant to be more flexible and responsive to real labour market needs, with the province able to run targeted draws by occupation, sector, or region.

Phase 2 – Three brand-new streams

Phase 2 is where things get particularly interesting:

1. Priority Healthcare Stream – for regulated healthcare professionals, likely without needing a job offer if they hold valid registration.

   
   

2. Entrepreneur Stream – a redesigned pathway for people who are already running a business in Ontario or have purchased an existing Ontario business.

   
   

3. Exceptional Talent Stream – for applicants with truly exceptional achievements in areas like academia, innovation, science, tech, and the creative sectors.

At the same time, some existing OINP streams would be decommissioned because they no longer reflect Ontario’s labour market priorities.

Again: none of this is law yet. These are regulatory proposals open for comment, and the details can still change.

2. The proposed Entrepreneur Stream: a shift toward real, operating businesses

For many of my business immigration clients, the most important part of this proposal is the new entrepreneur stream under Phase 2.

2.1. Who is this stream supposed to be for?

Based on the government’s own wording, the new entrepreneur stream would target foreign nationals who:

• Have established and are actively operating a business in Ontario, or

• Have purchased and are operating an existing business in Ontario (business succession).

In other words, this is not framed as a “business plan only” program. It is clearly aimed at people who have already taken the risk: incorporated, invested, opened the doors, hired staff, or taken over a business that was already operating.

This is a notable shift from older models where entrepreneurs were largely assessed based on projections, net worth, and proposed investment—before really proving that the business works on the ground.

2.2. Why is Ontario doing this?

From a policy perspective, the direction makes sense:

• Ontario is facing business succession issues, particularly in smaller communities, where long-standing businesses risk closing when owners retire.

  
  

• The province wants job-creating newcomers whose businesses actually contribute to local economies, not just paper investments that exist to meet program thresholds.

  
  

• By tying eligibility to “actively operating” businesses, Ontario is signalling that real operations and real jobs matter more than theoretical commitments.

For entrepreneurs who have already established themselves in Ontario—often through C11 work permits, ICT work permits, or other LMIA-exempt routes—this could become a natural PR pathway, if the final regulations line up with the current concept.

2.3. How is this different from the previous OINP Entrepreneur stream?

The previous OINP Entrepreneur stream (which has been suspended) has long been seen as:

• Complex and relatively high-risk,

• Heavy on performance agreements,

• Slow, and

• Less competitive compared to other provinces’ entrepreneur programs.

Ontario’s proposal appears to reposition entrepreneurship more practically:

• Rather than rewarding only those who can commit to big numbers on paper, the focus shifts to those already doing the work in Ontario.

• Business owners who have bought or built real businesses and are paying Canadian wages, rent, taxes, and suppliers may finally get a pathway that properly recognizes that contribution.

However, until the final regulations are drafted, we don’t know whether this will replace the current stream entirely, run in parallel for a time, or come with specific quotas, scoring, or sector priorities.

2.4. What we don’t know yet about the Entrepreneur Stream

Right now, there are more questions than answers. For example:

• Minimum investment and net-worth thresholds – Will there be formal dollar amounts, or will the focus be more on viability, jobs, and sustainability?

  
  

• Job creation requirements – How many Canadian employees will be required, and for how long?

  
  

• Sector and regional priorities – Will Ontario favour certain industries (e.g. manufacturing, construction, tech, healthcare services) or communities outside the GTA?

  
  

• Selection mechanism – Expression of Interest with scoring? First-come, first-served? Targeted invitations?

Anyone who tells you they “know” these details today is guessing. The proposal gives us the direction, not the fine print.

3. The other new streams: why they matter even if you’re an entrepreneur

Even if you mainly care about business immigration, it’s important to understand how the other proposed streams fit together. They show where Ontario wants to direct its nomination quota.

3.1. Priority Healthcare Stream – no job offer, but licensing is key

The priority healthcare stream would:

• Create a pathway for regulated healthcare professionals

• Allow applicants with valid professional registration to apply without a job offer

• Potentially include recent graduates who are finalizing registration with their college or regulatory body

This is a clear response to ongoing shortages in healthcare. For foreign doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other regulated professionals who manage to get licensed in Ontario, this could become a much more direct route to PR.

From a big-picture perspective, this matters for entrepreneurs too: health-related businesses, clinics, medical practices, and health-tech ventures may find it easier to attract and retain licensed staff if the PR pathway improves.

3.2. Exceptional Talent Stream – qualitative, not just points

The exceptional talent stream is designed for people whose profile does not fit neatly into “job offer + work experience + points,” but whose impact is undeniably significant.

According to the proposal, Ontario would look for things like:

• Important publications or research contributions,

• Prestigious awards or significant international recognition,

• Groundbreaking innovations (including tech, science, or commercialization), or

• Notable creative works and artistic achievements.

The stream would involve a qualitative assessment—in plain language, a human evaluation of whether your career and contributions are exceptional enough to justify a nomination even if you don’t tick all the usual boxes.

For start-ups, researchers, and creative professionals who may not fit standard programs, this could become a very attractive option if the final rules are workable and transparent.

4. The redesigned Employer Job Offer Stream: what changes for workers and employers

Before Phase 2 is implemented, Ontario plans to roll out a revamped Employer Job Offer stream under Phase 1. This will matter a lot to employers who want to support foreign workers for PR, and to workers already in Ontario.

4.1. TEER 0–3 track – faster pathway for skilled workers already in Ontario

Key elements proposed for the TEER 0–3 track include:

• Wage requirement

  
  

  • Job offer must generally meet the median wage for the occupation.

  • Some recent graduates of eligible Ontario institutions could qualify with a low-wage job offer, which is a notable flexibility.

  
  

• Work experience / licensing – applicants must meet one of the following:

  
  

  • 6 months of Ontario work experience in the job-offer NOC with the same employer, or

  • 2 years of experience in the same NOC within the last 5 years (inside or outside Canada), or

  • Hold a valid professional license in their occupation and be in good standing.

  
  

• Education

  
  

  • If an applicant has 6 months of Ontario work experience with the same employer, there would be no minimum education requirement.

  • Otherwise, they would need a post-secondary credential supported by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).

  
  

This track clearly rewards those already contributing to Ontario’s economy, especially workers whose employers are willing to pay median wages and commit to them long-term.

4.2. TEER 4–5 track – more options for “in-demand” roles

For TEER 4–5 occupations, the proposal includes:

• All TEER 4–5 NOCs would be eligible (not just a fixed “in-demand” list).

• Applicants would need at least 9 months of experience in the job-offer NOC with the same Ontario employer.

• A minimum language requirement would apply.

• Ontario could run targeted draws that focus on specific occupations, sectors, or regions with labour shortages.

There is also an important note about construction trades: Ontario is considering a special pathway where union support could validate work experience instead of a permanent, full-time job offer. That is significant for construction workers who move between projects and employers.

4.3. Employer Portal and employer-led process

Ontario has already launched a new Employer Portal, and the proposal confirms that:

• Employers will generally be the ones to start the process by creating profiles, submitting job details, and initiating Expressions of Interest.

• The province is actively asking for feedback on usability, accessibility, and technical issues.

For employers who regularly hire foreign workers, this redesign is meant to simplify navigation—but it will also require a bit of learning and adjustment.

5. So… should you wait or move forward? Practical guidance for entrepreneurs

A natural question I’m already hearing is:

“Should I wait for this new entrepreneur stream, or move forward with current options like C11, ICT, or existing PNP pathways?”

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but a few practical points are clear:

5.1. Treat this as a signal, not a guaranteed program

• These amendments are proposed. They may be approved, amended, delayed, or even dropped.

• Timelines are not guaranteed. While 2026 is being discussed as a likely implementation horizon, nothing is formally in force.

If you are relying on a specific, not-yet-finalized stream to justify major life decisions or investments, that’s a risk that should be considered with eyes wide open.

5.2. If you’re already running a business in Ontario

If you already own and operate a business here—especially if you’re on a C11 work permit, ICT, or another owner-operator-type pathway—this proposal is encouraging:

• It suggests Ontario wants to reward genuine operators, not just theoretical investors.

• You can start preparing now by strengthening the “story” your business tells on paper:

  
  

  • Clean financials and proper bookkeeping

  • Documented roles and duties

  • Payroll records and T4s

  • Evidence of local economic impact (jobs, suppliers, community contributions)

    
    

At the same time, it’s usually wise not to pause all other PR options waiting for a program that does not yet exist in regulation.

5.3. If you’re abroad and considering buying or starting a business in Ontario

For entrepreneurs still outside Canada, the proposal indicates that Ontario wants more:

• Business succession – newcomers taking over existing viable businesses (restaurants, clinics, retail, manufacturing, professional services).

• Job-creating operations – not just passive investments or paper companies.

In practice, you should still build your strategy around existing federal and provincial options (work permits, current PNPs, Express Entry, etc.), but you can structure your business plans so that you are well positioned if this new stream comes to life.

That usually means:

• Avoiding overly complicated, artificial structures.

• Choosing businesses that can realistically hire Canadians and grow.

• Documenting your active, day-to-day role in management.

6. Final thoughts

Ontario’s proposed redesign of the OINP is ambitious. For entrepreneurs, the key message is:

• The province wants real operators who are prepared to invest, run businesses, and create jobs in Ontario.

• The new entrepreneur stream, if implemented, may finally align more closely with what many serious business owners are already doing on the ground.

• But until the regulations are finalized, there are no guaranteed criteria, no forms, and no application process to rely on.

If you are an entrepreneur, employer, healthcare professional, or exceptional talent candidate trying to decide what this means for your own pathway to permanent residence, it’s important to get advice that takes into account:

• Your current status,

• Your business structure and sector,

• Your timelines and risk tolerance, and

• The other federal and provincial options that are already available today.

For now, the best approach is to stay informed, stay flexible, and plan for multiple pathways rather than anchoring everything on a proposal that is still making its way through the regulatory process.

—o—

About the Author

I’m Ahmet Faruk Ocak, a Canadian immigration lawyer and the founder of Blacksy Immigration Law Firm 🌊. 

At Blacksy, we specialize in providing honest, straightforward, and tailored immigration solutions to individuals and businesses worldwide. Our brand promise is simple: no unnecessary fuss, no false hopes, and no empty promises—just realistic, reliable guidance to help you achieve your immigration goals.

Whether you’re expanding your business to Canada, transferring top talent, or planning your future here, we’re here to guide you with precision, transparency, and care.

Visit us at www.blacksyimmigration.com to learn more or to start your journey.

The articles on this site are general information, not legal advice, and reading them doesn’t create a lawyer-client relationship. Immigration rules change often, so always consult a qualified Canadian immigration lawyer about your specific situation.