The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has changed how it scores candidates for permanent residence. People who earned $80,000 or more in a year now get more points.
The update applies to the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWPS). Ontario announced it on 7 October 2026, and it took effect on 5 October 2026.
Here is what changed, who gains and what candidates should do next.
What Changed
The OINP updated the Canadian work experience: earnings history scoring factor in the OWPS Expression of Interest (EOI) system.
Candidates who earned $80,000 or more in a single year within the past five years now receive 10 points under this factor. The earnings must be verified by a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Notice of Assessment.
Before the update, the top bracket was $70,000 or more, which earned 8 points.
The change was applied automatically to all existing profiles. Registrants do not need to log in to the OINP e-Filing Portal or make any changes.
Updated Earnings Points Table
CIC News reports the full earnings scale as follows:
| Annual earnings | Points |
|---|---|
| $80,000 or more | 10 |
| $70,000 to $79,999 | 8 |
| $50,000 to $69,999 | 6 |
| $30,000 to $49,999 | 4 |
| Under $30,000 | 0 |
Ontario’s official update confirms the 10-point tier for $80,000 or more. The lower tiers come from CIC News, so check the OINP’s scoring guide before you rely on them.
Who Gains From This Change
The clearest winners are candidates with at least one year of earnings of $80,000 or more in the past five years. They gain 2 extra points compared with the old top bracket.
Candidates earning $70,000 to $79,999 do not gain from this update. Their score stays at 8 points under this factor, according to CIC News.
Higher scores improve a candidate’s chance of being selected to receive an invitation to apply for provincial nomination. This is only one scoring factor, and Ontario has not said how many points an invitation requires.
How Earnings Are Checked
Ontario uses the CRA Notice of Assessment to verify income. This is the document the CRA issues after you file your tax return.
Candidates should:
- File their Canadian taxes on time
- Keep copies of every Notice of Assessment
- Check that the income on the notice matches their records
- Fix any problems with the CRA before registering or updating an EOI
If you have not yet filed taxes for a year in which you earned a high income, do that first. A missing or incorrect notice can keep you from claiming those points.
How This Fits Into Ontario’s Overhaul
The earnings update is part of a bigger change to Ontario’s permanent residence system.
- 25 June 2026: Ontario’s regulation changes came into force, removing the old streams and introducing the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. Ontario announced this on 26 June.
- 20 July 2026: OINP web pages were updated with the OWPS criteria.
- 4 August 2026: The EOI portal opened. The stream covers people with job offers in all NOC TEER categories, as well as self-employed physicians.
- 5 October 2026: The earnings scoring update took effect.
According to CIC News, the OWPS is currently the only way for foreign nationals to pursue provincial nomination from Ontario.
Ontario has called this the first of a two-phase redesign. CIC News says the second phase is expected to include three more streams: Priority Healthcare, Entrepreneur and Exceptional Talent. No launch date has been announced.
How Provincial Nomination Leads to PR
Provincial nomination is only the first step.
- A candidate registers an EOI with the OINP.
- Ontario selects candidates and invites them to apply for nomination.
- If Ontario nominates the candidate, they apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
Nomination does not guarantee PR. The federal government still reviews the application. Read our guide to Canada Express Entry and our explainer on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to see how federal and provincial routes differ.
What Candidates Should Do Now
- Check your Notice of Assessment. See whether you earned $80,000 or more in any single year within the past five years.
- Do not re-register. Existing profiles update automatically.
- Review your other scoring factors. Ontario introduced higher language and education benchmarks in the redesign, so a strong earnings score is not enough on its own.
- Keep your documents ready. This includes tax papers, job offer details and language test results.
- Watch OINP updates. Scoring and rules can change again, and the second phase of the redesign has not launched.
- Be cautious of guarantees. Nobody can promise an invitation or nomination.
Why This Matters for Skilled Workers
This update puts more weight on proven Canadian earnings. For skilled workers already in Ontario with strong salaries, it could improve their position in the OWPS ranking.
For others, it is a reminder that the new Ontario system rewards a full profile. Language, education, work experience and income all play a part.
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