Overview of the Four Draws
On April 8, 2026, the OINP held four separate draws targeting distinct occupational sectors and candidate profiles. All invited candidates were required to apply through the program's Employer Job Offer pathway, which encompasses the Foreign Worker (FW), International Student (IS), and In-Demand Skills (IDS) streams. Eligible profiles must have been created and attested to — supported by a job offer from a qualifying employer — by 11:59 p.m. on April 6, 2026.
The breakdown of the four draws is as follows:
| Draw Category | Eligible Streams | Total ITAs | FW Min. Score | IS Min. Score | IDS Min. Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare & Early Childhood Education | FW, IS | 1,635 | 20 | 46 | — |
| Francophone Candidates | FW, IS, IDS | 146 | 35 | 63 | 25 |
| REDI Pilot (Lanark, Leeds and Grenville) | FW, IS, IDS | 32 | 46 | 57 | 33 |
| Physicians | FW | 15 | 43 | — | — |
| Total | 1,828 |
Healthcare and Early Childhood Education: The Largest Draw
The healthcare and early childhood education draw accounted for 1,635 of the 1,828 total invitations, targeting candidates with job offers in nursing, healthcare support, and early childhood education roles. The Foreign Worker stream minimum score fell to just 20 — a 16-point drop from the 36 recorded in the February 2 healthcare draw. The International Student minimum also decreased, from 56 to 46. These significantly lower thresholds indicate Ontario is casting a wider net to address persistent workforce shortages in these critical sectors.
Compared to the February 2 draw, the April 8 round slightly narrowed its eligible occupations by removing physician assistants, midwives, and allied health professionals (National Occupation Classification (NOC) 31303) from the list.
Francophone Candidates: Broad Cross-Sector Coverage
The Francophone draw issued 146 ITAs across all three Employer Job Offer streams, spanning occupations in business, technology, healthcare, education, skilled trades, and manufacturing. Specifically:
- The Foreign Worker stream covered 46 occupations with a minimum score of 35
- The International Student stream covered 29 occupations with a minimum score of 63
- The In-Demand Skills stream covered 11 occupations with a minimum score of 25, including home support workers, shippers and receivers, construction labourers, and food processing workers
REDI Pilot: Supporting Newcomer Retention in Smaller Communities
The Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot issued 32 invitations to candidates with job offers in Lanark or Leeds and Grenville counties in Eastern Ontario. The pilot is specifically designed to help smaller communities outside Ontario's major urban centres attract and retain newcomers to support local economic development.
Physicians: 15 Targeted Invitations
The OINP issued 15 invitations to physicians under the Foreign Worker stream, with a minimum score of 43. Eligible candidates must hold a job offer in one of the following roles: specialist in clinical and laboratory medicine (NOC 31100), specialist in surgery (NOC 31101), or general practitioner and family physician (NOC 31102). Additional details on physician eligibility, including changes to self-employed physician requirements, can be found in the OINP's January 5 program update.
Next Steps for Invited Candidates
Employers of selected candidates must review the employer guide and submit a complete application for approval of the employment position within 14 calendar days of the invitation date. Candidates themselves must then submit their OINP application within 17 calendar days of receiving their ITA. Upon receiving a provincial nomination from Ontario, successful nominees may apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
Major Changes Ahead: All Current Streams Set for Revocation
These draws take place against the backdrop of an impending transformation of Ontario's entire immigration framework. Legal amendments to the Ontario Immigration Act are scheduled to take effect on May 30, 2026, revoking all existing categories of applicants eligible for a certificate of nomination — including the Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills categories used in these draws. The OINP has not yet confirmed when replacement streams will launch or whether existing candidates will be transitioned to the new system. For candidates considering an OINP application, acting within the current framework sooner rather than later may prove critical.
