Ontario held its latest Ontario PNP draw on February 18, 2026, issuing a total of 1,404 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the Employer Job Offer streams, with selection focused on candidates who have valid job offers through the Foreign Worker and International Student categories.

This draw matters because it reinforces Ontario’s continued preference for employer-backed applicants, especially those working in skilled trades and other high-demand occupations facing labour shortages across the province. It signals that candidates with strong, job-offer-led profiles remain well-positioned for nomination as Ontario continues aligning its invitations with real workforce needs.

Canada's federal government runs the main Express Entry system. But provinces, like Ontario, can "nominate" candidates from that pool who have the specific skills their labor market needs (e.g., tech, healthcare).

Key Highlights From The February 18, 2026 Ontario PNP Draw

• Draw Date: February 18, 2026
• Total ITAs Issued: 1,404
• Streams Covered: Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker and Employer Job Offer: International Student
• Focus Areas: Skilled trades and other high-demand occupations addressing labour shortages across Ontario
• Profile Window Considered: As per stream-specific eligibility and active EOI profiles (no publicly specified date range announced for this round)

Ontario’s official OINP “Invitations to Apply” page confirms that the February 18, 2026 invitation round was conducted under the Employer Job Offer streams, reinforcing the province’s continued employer-driven selection strategy focused on filling workforce gaps across key sectors.

February 2, 2026 OINP Draw: Stream, Minimum Score, Invitations, And Target

Below is the complete draw breakdown reported for February 2, 2026.

• The largest invitation round was the International Student stream (1,015 ITAs) at a minimum score of 56.
• Ontario also ran multiple micro-targeted rounds (physicians + REDI), showing highly specific labour-market selection.

Occupations Targeted In The February 2, 2026 Ontario Draw

Ontario targeted specific NOC codes depending on the stream and draw type.

Physicians Targeted (Foreign Worker Stream)

• NOC 31100 – Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine

• NOC 31101 – Specialists in surgery

• NOC 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians 

REDI Targeted (Regional Economic Development Through Immigration)

Foreign Worker (examples):

• NOC 12200 Accounting technicians and bookkeepers

• NOC 21222 Information systems specialists

• NOC 21231 Software engineers and designers

• NOC 31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses

• NOC 33102 Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates

• NOC 42202 Early childhood educators and assistants

International Student (examples):

• NOC 12111 Health information management occupations

• NOC 32101 Licensed practical nurses

• NOC 33103 Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants

• NOC 42201 Social and community service workers

• NOC 52120 Graphic designers and illustrators (and more)

In-Demand Skills (examples):

• NOC 44101 Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations

• NOC 75101 Material handlers

• NOC 94140 Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing (and more) 

Why Ontario Is Prioritising Employer Job Offer Streams In 2026

Ontario’s February 2026 draw pattern shows a consistent strategy:

1) Labour Shortage Targeting Over General Selection

The province is using targeted draws to fill critical gaps in:

• Healthcare staffing (RNs, LPNs, aides)

• Early childhood education

• Physician recruitment

• Regional labour needs (REDI)

2) Regional Distribution Beyond GTA

Ontario’s REDI pilot is designed to help employers in smaller/rural and northern regions attract skilled workers when local hiring falls short, operating within Employer Job Offer streams (not as a separate stream).

How to Qualify: Top OINP Streams for US-Based Professionals

For a professional in the U.S., these are the most relevant streams to target.

1. Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream

This is the most popular stream.

• How it works: You must first have an active profile in the federal Express Entry pool.
• Who it's for: Skilled professionals who meet the criteria for either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or Canadian Experience Class.
• The Process: Ontario scans the Express Entry pool and sends NOIs to candidates who have the right skills and work experience (like tech or healthcare) and a competitive CRS score.

2. Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream

• How it works: This stream is not connected to Express Entry. You apply through Ontario's own Expression of Interest (EOI) system.
• Who it's for: Professionals who have secured a full-time, permanent job offer from an Ontario-based employer in a skilled occupation.
• Why it's great for US applicants: If you can leverage your U.S. experience to get a job offer in Ontario, this path offers a direct route to nomination.

3. French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

• How it works: This is another Express Entry-aligned stream.
• Who it's for: Candidates who are fluent in both French and English.
• The Advantage: The CRS score requirements are often significantly lower, and it's a huge priority for both Ontario and the federal government.

Your Start-to-End Guide to the OINP Process

1. Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility (Crucial) First, you must qualify for a federal program, usually Express Entry. This involves an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for your U.S. (or other) degree and an English proficiency test (IELTS or CELPIP).
2. Step 2: Create Your Express Entry Profile You will get a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on your age, education, work experience, and language skills.
3. Step 3: Wait for a Notification of Interest (NOI) If your profile aligns with Ontario's needs (e.g., you're a software engineer), the OINP may send you an NOI. This is your invitation to apply to their program.
4. Step 4: Submit Your OINP Application Once you receive an NOI, you have 45 days to submit a full application to the OINP, proving you meet all the stream's criteria.
5. Step 5: Receive Your Provincial Nomination If your application is approved, Ontario will grant you a "Provincial Nomination."
6. Step 6: Get Your 600-Point Bonus and Apply for PR The 600 points are added to your Express Entry profile, leading to an ITA in the next federal draw. You then submit your final application for permanent residency.

Ontario Previous Draws List 2025

The OINP issues invitations (called "Notifications of Interest" or NOIs) to candidates several times a month. We update this table regularly to reflect the latest draw results, from most recent to previous.

Source: Official OINP News & Updates

Our Analysis: Key Insights from the 2025 OINP Draws

Here is what the 2025 data tells us:

1. Tech is Still King: Ontario’s tech corridor (Toronto-Waterloo) is a major economic engine. The OINP is consistently using tech-specific draws to fill its labor market. If you are a U.S.-based software engineer, data scientist, or IT project manager, Ontario wants you.
2. Healthcare is a Non-Negotiable Priority: From nurses to physicians to support staff, healthcare draws are frequent and large. For U.S.-based medical professionals, this is one of the most direct pathways to Canadian PR.
3. CRS Scores are Competitive: For the general Human Capital Priorities stream, scores remain high. However, for targeted tech and healthcare draws, the score requirement is often lower, as the primary factor is your occupation.

Conclusion

Ontario’s February 2, 2026 draw confirms a clear 2026 direction: employer-backed, occupation-targeted, and regionally distributed nominations—with major volume coming from the International Student stream and strategic micro-draws for physicians and REDI regions.