Ontario's Provincial Nominee Program (OINP) remains one of the most trusted routes for skilled professionals looking to make Canada their permanent home.
Whether you are a nurse, software engineer or any healthcare professional hoping to fill vital healthcare gaps in Canada, this is the ideal time to migrate and settle in Canada.
The blog will explore who's in highest demand, the streams through which nominations flow, and what real applicants need to know to maximize their chance for permanent residency.
Ask any newcomer who's chosen Ontario, and they'll tell you the province is much more than busy downtowns and maple trees. Ontario is where opportunity collides with need—especially in healthcare and technology. Hospitals are experiencing shortages of registered nurses every year. Tech companies in Toronto, Ottawa, and Kitchener-Waterloo are facing urgent shortages of coders, support technicians, and system specialists.
Yet, the window to immigrate became narrower in 2025. Ontario's nominee quota plummeted by 50%—from 21,500 invitations in 2024 to just 10,750 this year. As competition intensifies, having the right background at the right time is crucial.
If you work in one of these nine jobs and have the right skills and credentials, 2025 is an excellent time to consider Ontario's PR pathways.
Here are the four in-demand healthcare professional roles prioritized by Ontario's OINP, along with their NOC codes and TEER levels:
| Occupation | NOC Code | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses & Psychiatric Nurses | 31301 | TEER 1 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 | TEER 1 |
| General Practitioners & Family Physicians | 31102 | TEER 1 |
| Nurse Aides, Orderlies, Patient Service Associates | 33102 | TEER 3 |
The five in-demand technology sector jobs currently prioritized by Ontario's OINP, with their NOC codes and TEER levels, include the following:
| Occupation | NOC Code | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineers and Designers | 21231 | TEER 1 |
| Software Developers and Programmers | 21232 | TEER 1 |
| User Support Technicians | 22221 | TEER 2 |
| Information Systems Specialists | 21222 | TEER 1 |
| Business Systems Specialists | 21221 | TEER 1 |
These roles are central to Ontario's tech-driven growth and remain top choices for skilled professionals pursuing Canadian PR through the provincial nomination program.
In 2024, Ontario issued nominations across several streams, each tailored to various skills through OINP. Over 60% of all nominations came through the Express Entry-linked streams—Human Capital Priorities and Skilled Trades.
Let's take a look at the details:
| Stream | 2024 Nominations | Who It’s For |
|---|---|---|
| Express Entry Human Capital Priorities | 6,330 | Skilled professionals—especially in healthcare and tech—with strong English or French language skills. |
| Express Entry Skilled Trades | 4,101 | Experienced workers in construction, mechanics, and other industrial trades ready to contribute their skills. |
| Masters Graduate | 3,810 | Graduates who earned their Master’s degree from an Ontario university, ready to build their careers in the province. |
| Employer Job Offer (Foreign Workers) | Data not listed | Individuals who have secured a valid job offer from an employer in Ontario, across various sectors. |
| PhD Graduate Stream | Data not listed | Holders of a PhD degree earned at an Ontario institution, pursuing advanced career opportunities locally. |
| Other Streams | Data not listed | Includes entrepreneurs, people with in-demand skills outside major streams, and international students with unique qualifications. |
Ontario has introduced a significant update to its immigration process, aiming to make the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) more efficient and competitive than ever before.
As of July 2, 2025, the OINP now has the authority to return applications before issuing provincial nominations. If your application does not meet current priority criteria or is incomplete, you—or your representative will be notified that it is being returned.
The application fee will be fully refunded for all returned applications, so you won't lose financial investment if your submission is not accepted at this stage. Now that the new policy has come into effect, it is more important than ever to double-check your documentation, ensure your occupation meets Ontario’s in-demand criteria, and submit a well-prepared application.
Ontario's 2025 immigration program is designed to meet urgent needs and reward those who best fit those needs. Doing your homework, preparing a strong application, and staying alert to OINP announcements are more crucial than ever.
Planning to apply? Don't wait! Ontario's invitations move quickly, and readiness wins the day. For healthcare and tech applicants, the opportunity is here and now.
If you need personalized help, ImmiLaw Global is ready to guide you every step of the way. Our immigration lawyer is familiar with Ontario's ever-evolving priorities, and our immigration consultants will assist with various types of immigration services.
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