Ontario issues more than 1,400 invitations to foreign workers and international graduates

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held a targeted draw on February 18, 2026, issuing invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates in skilled trades-related occupations through the province’s Employer Job Offer streams.

To have been invited, candidates must have declared that they are currently residing in Canada with a valid work or study permit.

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This is the province’s second nomination invitation round of 2026, following the program’s first set of draws held earlier this month.

Draw details

The OINP issued a total of 1,404 ITAs across two of its Employer: Job Offer streams, including

The minimum score required to have been invited, and the number of invitations issued, varied across the two streams:

Stream	Minimum score	Invitations issued	Notes
Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker	50	951	Targeted draw for skilled trades-related occupations
Employer Job Offer: International Student	80	453	Targeted draw for skilled trades-related occupations

Ontario considered profiles created between July 2, 2025, and February 16, 2026, and eligible profiles had to be created and attested to (supported by a job offer from an eligible employer) by February 16, 2026 (11:59 p.m.).

Which occupations (NOC codes) were targeted?

Eligible skilled trades-related occupations

Candidates needed a job offer in one of the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes to be invited in this draw:

NOC 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
NOC 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
NOC 72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
NOC 72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
NOC 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
NOC 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
NOC 72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
NOC 72022 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations
NOC 72023 – Supervisors, railway transport operations
NOC 72025 – Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations
NOC 72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
NOC 72101 – Tool and die makers
NOC 72102 – Sheet metal workers
NOC 72103 – Boilermakers
NOC 72104 – Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
NOC 72105 – Ironworkers
NOC 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
NOC 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
NOC 72201 – Industrial electricians
NOC 72202 – Power system electricians
NOC 72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers
NOC 72204 – Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers
NOC 72205 – Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
NOC 72300 – Plumbers
NOC 72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
NOC 72302 – Gas fitters
NOC 72310 – Carpenters
NOC 72311 – Cabinetmakers
NOC 72320 – Bricklayers
NOC 72321 – Insulators
NOC 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
NOC 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
NOC 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
NOC 72403 – Railway carmen/women
NOC 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
NOC 72405 – Machine fitters
NOC 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
NOC 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
NOC 72411 – Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators
NOC 72420 – Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics
NOC 72421 – Appliance servicers and repairers
NOC 72422 – Electrical mechanics
NOC 72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
NOC 72429 – Other small engine and small equipment repairers
NOC 72500 – Crane operators
NOC 72501 – Water well drillers
NOC 72999 – Other technical trades and related occupations
NOC 73100 – Concrete finishers
NOC 73101 – Tilesetters
NOC 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
NOC 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
NOC 73111 – Glaziers
NOC 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
NOC 73113 – Floor covering installers
NOC 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
NOC 73201 – General maintenance workers and building superintendents
NOC 73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators
NOC 73209 – Other repairers and servicers
NOC 73301 – Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
NOC 73310 – Railway and yard locomotive engineers
NOC 73311 – Railway conductors and brakemen/women
NOC 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
NOC 73401 – Printing press operators
NOC 73402 – Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction
NOC 82010 – Supervisors, logging and forestry
NOC 82020 – Supervisors, mining and quarrying
NOC 82021 – Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
NOC 82031 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services
NOC 83100 – Underground production and development miners
NOC 83101 – Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
NOC 83110 – Logging machinery operators
NOC 83120 – Fishing masters and officers
NOC 83121 – Fishermen/women
NOC 93100 – Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing
NOC 93101 – Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing
NOC 93102 – Pulping, papermaking and coating control operators

Next steps

Employers of selected candidates must now review the employer guide and submit a complete application for approval of an employment position within 14 calendar days from the date of invitation.

Simultaneously, invited candidates must submit their OINP application within 17 calendar days of receiving the ITA.

After receiving a provincial nomination from Ontario, successful nominees can then apply to the federal government for permanent residence (PR).

Recent closure of the OINP Skilled Trades stream

The prioritization of skilled trades occupations in this draw comes against the backdrop of the recent closure of the OINP’s Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream.

The pathway was suspended in November 2025, with the OINP citing systematic misrepresentation as the primary reason for its closure.

At the same time, Ontario also ceased accepting new applications under this stream and said it would return all pending applications and refund fees, without confirming whether or when the stream would reopen.

For candidates impacted by the Express Entry stream closure, the province has indicated they may still pursue nomination via other OINP streams (enhanced or base), and many may also consider Express Entry’s federal Trade category as an alternative pathway.

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams