OINP Workforce Priority Stream: New Earnings Points
Ontario just increased the points higher-income workers earn under its Workforce Priority Stream — here's what changed and why it matters for your application.
Jacob Miller
Last updated
Earn More, Score Higher in Ontario's New Immigration Stream
Ontario's only current path to a provincial nomination, the Workforce Priority Stream, just became more rewarding for people earning a strong salary. Since this stream launched, it has been the sole route into an Ontario nomination, so any change to its scoring affects every applicant. If you're building your profile right now, this update is worth knowing about.
How the Points Actually Work
The stream scores candidates across several factors, and one of them is your annual earnings. Higher income has always meant more points, but the top bracket just moved. The earnings factor now rewards higher-paid applicants more generously than before, directly raising their overall score.
What Changed On October 5
As of October 5, 2026, candidates earning at least $80,000 a year now receive 10 points in the earnings factor, up from a top bracket of 8 points for $70,000 or more. The change applied automatically to existing profiles, so you don't need to resubmit anything to benefit. Earnings are assessed using your Canada Revenue Agency Notices of Assessment from the past five years.
Why This Matters Even If You're Not There Yet
Not everyone earns six figures, and that's fine — lower income brackets still earn partial points on a sliding scale. A higher score in one factor can be the difference that pushes a borderline profile into the invitation range. The main pitfall is outdated paperwork: make sure your CRA assessments are current and easy to produce.
What To Do Next
If your income has grown recently, check whether your existing profile reflects it. Reviewing your Notices of Assessment now means you're ready the moment an invitation round opens. Ontario has said more streams are coming later, so this is a good moment to get your documents in order either way.
Did my existing profile already get the new points?
Yes. The updated earnings points were applied automatically to profiles already in the system, with no action required from you.
What if I earn less than $80,000?
You still earn points — just at a lower bracket on the same sliding scale. Check the current full points table on Ontario's official Workforce Priority Stream page, since brackets can be adjusted again.
Is this the only way to get an Ontario nomination right now?
For most applicants, yes — other OINP streams were closed as of May 30, 2026. Three additional streams are planned for a later phase, but no launch date has been announced yet.
Check Your Ontario Workforce Priority Stream Eligibility →
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