If you’ve been checking your email obsessively waiting for that OINP invitation, February 2nd might have been your lucky day. Ontario just kicked off 2026 with a massive selection round—1,825 invitations to be exact—and the focus is crystal clear: healthcare professionals, early childhood educators, and skilled workers willing to build their lives in smaller Ontario communities.
I’ve been following Ontario’s immigration patterns for years, and these February draws tell us exactly where the province’s priorities lie. Let’s dig into who got invited, what scores were needed, and what this means if you’re still waiting in the pool.
The Big Picture: What Happened on February 2, 2026
Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program conducted six separate targeted draws, all under the Employer Job Offer category. Unlike general draws where everyone competes, these were laser-focused on specific occupations facing serious worker shortages.
Here’s what makes this significant: 1,825 invitations in a single day is a strong start to the year. It shows Ontario isn’t playing around with their immigration targets for 2026. They need workers, and they need them now.
All candidates considered had registered their Expression of Interest between July 2, 2025, and January 28, 2026. If you created your profile during that window and work in a targeted occupation, you had a shot.
Complete Breakdown: Who Got Invited and What Scores Were Needed
Draw 1: Physicians – 129 Invitations
Stream: Foreign Worker
Minimum Score: 33 points
This was the easiest draw to qualify for, score-wise. Ontario invited doctors across three categories:
- NOC 31100 – Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- NOC 31101 – Specialists in surgery
- NOC 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians
With just 33 points needed, if you’re a qualified physician with a valid job offer anywhere in Ontario, you basically got a green light. The province is clearly desperate for medical professionals—no surprise given the healthcare crisis we’re all seeing.
Draw 2: Healthcare & Early Childhood Educators – Foreign Worker Stream
Stream: Employer Job Offer – Foreign Worker
Minimum Score: 36 points
Invitations: 634
This was the largest single category for foreign workers. The targeted occupations included:
Healthcare roles:
- NOC 31300 – Nursing coordinators and supervisors
- NOC 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- NOC 31302 – Nurse practitioners
- NOC 31303 – Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
- NOC 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
- NOC 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
Education role:
- NOC 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
The 36-point threshold is very achievable for most qualified candidates with job offers. This tells me Ontario is being realistic about filling these positions quickly rather than setting the bar impossibly high.
Draw 3: Healthcare & Early Childhood Educators – International Student Stream
Stream: Employer Job Offer – International Student
Minimum Score: 56 points
Invitations: 1,015
This was the biggest draw of the day with over 1,000 invitations. If you studied in Ontario and landed a healthcare or childcare job, this was your moment.
Same occupations as Draw 2, but specifically for international graduates. The 56-point minimum is higher than the foreign worker stream, but still very reasonable for students who’ve already invested time studying in Ontario.
What I’m seeing here: Ontario wants to retain the international students they’ve already trained. It makes sense—these graduates know the system, have Canadian credentials, and are already integrated into Ontario communities.
Draw 4: REDI – Foreign Worker Stream
Stream: Employer Job Offer – Foreign Worker
Minimum Score: 44 points
Invitations: 14
Small numbers here, but significant if you’re targeting smaller Ontario communities. REDI candidates needed jobs in Lanark County, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton, or Thunder Bay.
Eligible occupations for this draw:
- 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
Draw 5: REDI – International Student Stream
Stream: Employer Job Offer – International Student
Minimum Score: 69 points
Invitations: 26
This REDI draw for international students had the highest score requirement of the day. The occupation list was more diverse:
- NOC 12111 – Health information management
- NOC 12200 – Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
- NOC 13111 – Legal administrative assistants
- NOC 22232 – Occupational health and safety specialists
- NOC 22310 – Electrical and electronics engineering technologists
- NOC 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
- NOC 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- NOC 33103 – Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- NOC 42201 – Social and community service workers
- NOC 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
- NOC 52120 – Graphic designers and illustrators
Draw 6: REDI – In-Demand Skills Stream
Stream: Employer Job Offer – In-Demand Skills
Minimum Score: 34 points
Invitations: 7
The smallest draw, but important for skilled trades and manufacturing workers willing to work in regional areas. Occupations included:
- NOC 44101 – Home support workers, housekeepers
- NOC 75101 – Material handlers
- NOC 94100 – Machine operators, mineral and metal processing
- NOC 94111 – Plastics processing machine operators
- NOC 94140 – Process control operators, food and beverage processing
Understanding REDI: Your Shortcut to Ontario PR?
Let me clear up some confusion about REDI because a lot of people don’t fully understand how it works.
REDI isn’t a separate immigration stream. It operates within Ontario’s existing Employer Job Offer streams, but with a regional focus targeting four specific areas:
- Lanark County
- Leeds and Grenville
- Sarnia-Lambton
- Thunder Bay
You don’t apply to REDI separately. You simply need to meet the requirements of whichever Employer Job Offer stream you qualify for (Foreign Worker, International Student, or In-Demand Skills) plus have a full-time job offer from an employer in one of those four regions.
The advantage? Generally lower competition and sometimes lower score thresholds compared to jobs in the Greater Toronto Area. If you’re willing to build your life outside Ontario’s major cities, REDI could be your fastest path to permanent residence.
Got Invited? Here’s Your Game Plan
Congratulations if you received an invitation! But don’t celebrate too long—the clock is ticking. Here’s exactly what you need to do:
Step 1: Check Your Invitation Carefully
Log into your OINP account and review every detail of your invitation. Make sure the occupation code, stream, and all information matches your situation.
Step 2: Gather Your Documents Fast
You have 60 calendar days from the invitation date to submit your complete application. Don’t wait until day 59. Start collecting documents immediately:
- Valid job offer letter (meeting OINP requirements)
- Educational credentials and assessments
- Language test results (if applicable)
- Work experience documentation
- Employer registration confirmation
- All supporting documents for your specific stream
Step 3: Your Employer Must Act Too
Your employer has only 14 calendar days to submit the employment position application through the Employer Portal. Make sure they’re aware and ready to move quickly.
Step 4: Submit Through the E-Filing Portal
Once everything is ready, submit your complete application through the OINP e-Filing Portal. You’ll use a new file number (starts with JOXX) that’s different from your EOI number.
Pay the application fee and double-check that every required document is included. Missing even one document can result in rejection.
Step 5: Wait for Provincial Nomination
Processing times vary, but if approved, you’ll receive a provincial nomination certificate. This is huge—it either adds 600 points to your Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score or allows you to apply directly for permanent residence through IRCC.
Step 6: Apply for Permanent Residence
With your provincial nomination, you can finally apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. This is the final step in your journey to becoming a permanent resident of Canada.
What These Draws Tell Us About 2026
Based on these February results and trends I’ve been tracking, here’s what I’m predicting for the rest of 2026:
Healthcare Will Dominate: Over 90% of February’s invitations went to healthcare workers and early childhood educators. This pattern will likely continue. Ontario’s healthcare system is under massive pressure, and immigration is a key part of their solution.
International Students Have an Edge: The 1,015 invitations for international students in healthcare/childcare shows Ontario wants to retain the talent they’ve trained. If you’re studying in one of these fields, your job prospects and immigration pathway look excellent.
Regional Communities Are Hungry for Workers: The REDI draws, though smaller in number, represent real opportunities. Smaller Ontario cities need skilled workers across many occupations. If you’re flexible about location, you could face less competition.
Score Requirements Remain Reasonable: With minimums ranging from 33 to 69 points, Ontario isn’t setting impossibly high bars. They want to actually fill positions, not create artificial scarcity.
Didn’t Get Invited? Here’s What to Do
If you’re still waiting in the Expression of Interest pool, don’t lose hope. Here are your next moves:
1. Update Your Profile: Make sure all information is current and accurate. Add any new work experience, education, or language test results.
2. Improve Your Score: Look for ways to increase your points—better language scores, additional work experience, or higher education credentials all help.
3. Consider REDI Regions: If you’ve been targeting Toronto or Ottawa, expand your job search to Lanark County, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton, or Thunder Bay. Less competition could mean faster invitations.
4. Network with Employers: Many Ontario employers are registered with OINP and actively recruiting. Attend virtual job fairs, connect on LinkedIn, and reach out to recruiters in your field.
5. Be Patient But Proactive: Ontario typically holds draws every few weeks. Keep monitoring your email and the OINP website for updates.
The Bottom Line
Ontario’s February 2, 2026 draws sent a clear message: the province needs healthcare professionals, early childhood educators, and skilled workers in regional areas—and they need them now.
With 1,825 invitations issued in the first selection round of the year, Ontario is showing serious commitment to meeting their immigration targets. If you’re in a targeted occupation, have a valid job offer, and meet the minimum score requirements, your chances of getting invited this year look promising.
The key is staying ready. Keep your documents updated, maintain close communication with your employer, and monitor your email religiously. When that invitation arrives, you need to move fast.
Whether you’re a nurse in Mumbai, a physician in Lagos, a recent international graduate in Toronto, or a software developer willing to relocate to Thunder Bay, Ontario is actively looking for people like you. The door is open—now it’s about positioning yourself to walk through it.
Good luck with your immigration journey. Canada is waiting.
