First OINP Draw of April 2026 Sends 759 Permanent Residency Invitations

Ontario has just announced its first big move of April 2026. And hundreds of immigration candidates in the province are one step closer to becoming permanent residents of Canada.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program announced a specific set of draws under three categories on April 1, 2026. And these draws sent the news that prospective candidates have been waiting for.

In total, the OINP issued 759 Invitations to Apply in three separate Employer Job Offer streams. And these draws mark the first OINP draws of the month.

And these were not random draws. And these draws were not general purpose.

This is the first big sign that the province is committed to addressing the labour shortages in one of the most important industries in the province.

And candidates who had their profiles created and attested up until March 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM were up for consideration in these draws.

And the three streams in the OINP draws were the Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker stream, the Employer Job Offer International Student stream, and the Employer Job Offer In Demand Skills stream.

And here is everything you need to know about these new OINP draws in April 2026.

Summary of the April 1, 2026 Ontario-OINP Draws

The table below offers a complete picture of all three streams, invitations sent out, minimum thresholds for eligibility, and profile creation date range.

The Foreign Worker stream had the highest number of invitations at 372 for eligible candidates.

The International Student stream trailed closely behind with 355 invitations for eligible candidates.

The In-Demand Skills stream had a very small number of invitations at 32 for one eligible occupation.

All three streams focused on mining-related occupations identified by the Ontario government for candidates.

This brings us to a total of 759 invitations for eligible candidates as part of a significant investment in mining sector employees.

Details on the Foreign Worker Stream Draw

The Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker stream was the biggest category in this latest OINP draw, which took place in April 2026.

A total of 372 invitations to apply were issued to candidates with a score of 56 and above.

Profiles had to have been created between July 2, 2025, and March 30, 2026, to be eligible.

It was a targeted draw specifically for candidates with job offers in priority occupations in the mining industry.

Applicants must be currently residing in Canada with a valid work permit to be eligible to apply through this stream.

The following table represents all 14 eligible NOC codes under the Foreign Worker stream:

**Foreign Worker Stream Eligible NOC Codes**

These occupations include a broad range of technical and skilled trades jobs that are critical to Ontario’s mining industry.

From mining engineers and geological engineers to welders and heavy equipment mechanics, Ontario is clearly looking to cast a wide net to fill critical jobs in this industry.

The inclusion of occupational health and safety specialists indicates that Ontario is prioritizing this area to ensure the mining industry is a safe and healthy work environment. Manufacturing managers and facility operation and maintenance managers are also represented, indicating the importance of experienced managers to oversee mining facilities.

Details on the International Student Stream Draw

The Employer Job Offer International Student stream received 355 invitations to apply on April 1, 2026.

The minimum score requirement for the International Student stream was set at 85 and above. This is considerably higher than the 56 set for the Foreign Worker stream.

The eligible profiles for the International Student stream must have been created between July 2, 2025, and March 30, 2026.

The candidates must currently reside in Canada with a valid study permit in order to apply for the International Student stream.

The International Student stream included 15 eligible NOC codes, one more than those included in the Foreign Worker stream.

The following table shows the list of eligible occupations for the International Student stream.

The International Student stream included two unique NOC codes not included in the Foreign Worker stream.

• NOC 72201 for industrial electricians was exclusive to the International Student stream.
• NOC 73400 for heavy equipment operators was also only available under the International Student stream.

The NOC codes included in the Foreign Worker stream were 72401, heavy duty equipment mechanics, which were not included in the International Student stream.

These differences show that Ontario has tailored each of the two streams according to its needs.

Details on the In-Demand Skills Stream Draw

The lowest number of invitations to apply was issued by the Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills stream.

Only 32 invitations to apply were issued to eligible candidates on April 1, 2026.

The minimum score required was the lowest among all three streams, requiring a score of 34 and above.

However, the eligibility requirements were extremely specific, with only one NOC code being eligible to apply to this stream.

The profiles had to be created between July 2, 2025, and March 23, 2026, which is slightly earlier than the other two streams.

The eligible occupation was extremely specific, with only one NOC code being eligible to apply to this stream. This was the NOC code for electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors, and testers, i.e., 94201.

Despite the low number of invitations to apply, this stream is extremely important to bridge the niche skill gaps in Ontario’s mining and manufacturing industries.

Electronics assemblers and fabricators are critical to the operation and production of the high-end electronic equipment required to operate modern mining equipment.

The lower score threshold is a reflection of the critical demand for this skill and Ontario’s willingness to lower barriers to attract these candidates.

Comparison Between the Three OINP Streams

It is important for candidates who can potentially qualify under any of the three streams to note the differences between them.

The differences between the three streams have been compared in the table below.

The Foreign Worker stream had the highest number of invitations, while the moderate score required was 56 points.

The International Student stream had the highest points requirement at 85 points, while the number of occupations was higher at 15 NOC codes.

The In Demand Skills stream had the lowest points requirement but was the most selective in terms of occupations.

Reasons Ontario Is Targeting the Mining Sector in April 2026

Ontario’s decision to allocate the first OINP draws of April 2026 entirely to the mining sector was not done in vain.

Ontario has been struggling with labour shortages in the mining sector for several years.

Northern Ontario communities that rely on the mining sector have been struggling to fill the labour gap.

The mining sector has been the backbone of the Ontario economy.

The sector has been adding billions of dollars to the Ontario GDP every year.

Critical minerals such as nickel, copper, gold, and lithium are in high demand globally.

Several countries are racing to acquire the necessary minerals to fuel the production of electric vehicles and renewable energy.

Ontario has the largest deposits of minerals in the country.

Therefore, the province needs skilled immigrants to help extract the minerals.

By targeting the mining sector in the OINP draws, Ontario has strategically positioned itself to attract immigrants who can help fill the gap in the sector.

This ensures that the immigrants who receive permanent residency invitations can actually contribute to the economy.

This shows the diversity of the immigrants the province is seeking.

Ontario is not just seeking immigrants who can work in the mines but the entire gamut of professionals who can run the operations of the mine.

Step-by-Step Application Process for Invited Candidates

The candidates who have been issued the application invitation in the April 2026 OINP draw will have to adhere to a strict time schedule to complete the application process.

If the candidate misses the application deadline, the application will be closed.

The table below shows the application process and the application steps every candidate and the employer will have to complete.

The most important thing to remember is that the application deadline will not be extended.

The employer will have 14 calendar days to complete the application process after the issuance of the application invitation.

The candidate will also have 17 calendar days to complete the application process and pay the fees after the issuance of the application invitation.

The candidate will have to start gathering the mandatory documents as soon as the application invitation is issued.

The application file number will start with the prefix JOXX.

Key Takeaways From the First OINP Draws of April 2026

However, there are a number of significant lessons to take away from this historic OINP draw, and all immigration applicants must take note.

Ontario issued a total of 759 invitations in three streams of the Employer Job Offer program on April 1, 2026.

The invitations were all issued to candidates in the mining industry.

The Foreign Worker stream issued the highest number of invitations, a total of 372, with a minimum score requirement of 56.

The International Student stream issued 355 invitations but had a higher minimum score requirement of 85.

The In-Demand Skills stream had the lowest number of invitations issued, a total of 32, and a minimum score requirement of 34. However, the invitations were issued for a single NOC.

The profiles had to be created and attested by March 30, 2026, for the Foreign Worker and International Student streams.

However, the profiles had to be created and attested by March 23, 2026, for the In Demand Skills stream.

The application has to be submitted by the employer within 14 calendar days of the issuance of the invitation.

The application and payment have to be submitted by the applicant within 17 calendar days of the issuance of the invitation.