Ontario has launched the first phase of a significant redesign of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), introducing a new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream to better align provincial immigration with workforce needs.

For internationally trained physicians already eligible to practice in Ontario, the change is particularly important. The new stream includes a dedicated pathway for self-employed physicians who hold registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and are eligible to bill OHIP. Unlike many employer-driven immigration pathways, this route does not require a traditional job offer.

Ontario has also signalled a future Priority Healthcare Stream for regulated health professionals and individuals working toward licensure. Details and timing have not yet been released, but the proposed stream recognizes the distinct pathway healthcare professionals follow before they can fully enter practice in Ontario.

For communities recruiting internationally, the update reinforces a practical reality: immigration planning, licensing and recruitment must move together. A physician may have a community opportunity and an employer or hospital connection, but their long-term pathway to permanent residence will depend on where they are in the Ontario licensing process.

We will continue to monitor the next phase of the OINP redesign and share updates as eligibility criteria and launch dates are confirmed. Ontario’s official program-updates page remains the best source for current requirements.

2026 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Updates | ontario.ca

Steps to apply as a self-employed physician

If you are a self-employed physician, you are eligible to apply under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream if you meet both of the following requirements:

  • you are eligible to receive payment for publicly funded health services in accordance with the Health Insurance Act, 1990, meaning you have an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) billing number
  • you hold a certificate in one of the following classes and are a member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario:
    • certificates of registration authorizing independent practice
    • certificates of registration authorizing academic practice
    • provisional certificates of registration

If you meet these requirements, you do not need to meet the other applicant requirements listed on this page and the employer requirements do not apply.

If you hold a postgraduate education licence, you are not eligible to apply as a self-employed physician but may be eligible to apply to the Ontario Workforce Priority stream if you have a job offer from an Ontario employer.

Contact us to begin the process of registering an EOI.

If invited, you must submit your application and pay within 17 calendar days from the date we issued the invitation to apply.

If you apply as a self-employed physician you have the option to be nominated through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Express Entry system.