- GenesisLink
April 30, 2026
Business Immigration
On May 30, 2026, Ontario will formally revoke all nine OINP streams — including the Entrepreneur Category. Here is what immigration professionals need to know and do in the next 30 days.
On May 30, 2026, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) will formally revoke all nine of its existing streams under amendments to the Ontario Immigration Act (OIA) and Ontario Regulation 421/17. This is not a pause or a temporary suspension. The categories will be legally eliminated — including the Entrepreneur Category that has served as one of Ontario's primary pathways for business immigrants.
For immigration professionals advising entrepreneurs on Canadian business immigration in 2026, this deadline requires immediate action on active files.
What Is Changing on May 30, 2026
The nine streams being revoked are:
- Foreign Worker Category
- International Student with a Job Offer
- In-Demand Skills Category
- Human Capital Priorities
- French-Speaking Skilled Worker
- Skilled Trades Category
- Masters Graduate Category
- PhD Graduate Category
- Entrepreneur Category
The restructuring arrives in two phases. Phase one, expected to coincide with May 30, consolidates the three existing Employer Job Offer streams into a single stream with two pathways: one for TEER 0–3 occupations and one for TEER 4–5. Phase two, anticipated later in 2026, will introduce three entirely new streams: a Priority Healthcare stream, a redesigned Entrepreneur stream, and an Exceptional Talent stream.
Ontario has not committed to a timeline for Phase 2 or confirmed whether existing Entrepreneur EOI profiles will be migrated, deactivated, or require re-registration under the new system.
The new targeted draw structure, formalized through the OIA amendments, also gives the OINP director authority to issue invitations based on specific labour market attributes — including level and field of education, language proficiency, intent to settle outside the GTA, and alignment with Ontario's immediate regional labour needs. This is a meaningful departure from the current scoring-based model.
Source: CIC News, March 17, 2026 | Ontario OINP 2026 Program Updates (official)
Separately, IRCC permanent residence fees increased effective today, April 30, 2026. The Business PR category saw the sharpest adjustment: from $1,810 to $1,895 per principal applicant (+$85). PNP fees also rose from $950 to $990 (+$40). Any application received on or after today is subject to the new rates. Source: IRCC notice, March 27, 2026.
Why This Matters for File Strategy
The revocation of the OINP Entrepreneur Category creates a 30-day strategic window. Ontario has not confirmed whether existing EOI profiles will carry forward into the new system. An entrepreneur currently in the pool could find their profile closed with no re-entry path until Phase 2 opens — and the province has given no timeline for that launch.
The new targeted draw structure also signals that future Entrepreneur invitations will be more selective and criteria-specific. Entrepreneur applicants well-positioned under the current scoring model may need to reposition when Phase 2 launches, as the new system will weight labour market fit and regional alignment more explicitly.
Ontario's 2026 OINP nomination allocation stands at 14,119 — a 31% increase over 2025's 10,750. Provincial capacity is expanding. The structural change is about how that capacity gets distributed, not whether it exists.
On the cost side, advisors managing fee-transparent client engagements should update their disclosures immediately. For entrepreneurs pursuing the Ontario PNP path post-nomination, the combined PNP processing fee ($990) and Right of PR fee ($600) now total $1,590 at the federal level — up from $1,525.
What Advisors Should Do Now
1. Review all active OINP Entrepreneur files immediately. Any client who has received an ITA for the Entrepreneur stream should have their complete application submitted before May 30. Applications submitted before the revocation date are expected to be processed under current rules — but Ontario has not issued formal confirmation, so the safe approach is not to wait.
2. Update EOI profiles and monitor for transitional draws. For clients still in the Expression of Interest pool, profiles should be current and competitive. If Ontario issues a final draw under the existing Entrepreneur stream before May 30, only active profiles will be eligible. Monitor the OINP Program Updates page closely.
3. Assess parallel federal pathways. The C11 Significant Benefit Work Permit and the ICT Intra-Company Transfer pathway remain open and active in 2026. For entrepreneur clients whose OINP path is now uncertain, a well-structured C11 application — supported by a credible, viability-tested business plan — can serve as both a bridge and a standalone strategy while Phase 2 timelines become clearer.
4. Build Phase 2 into your client communication now. When the redesigned OINP Entrepreneur stream launches, it will carry stricter eligibility criteria and closer scrutiny of business viability. The business plan, financial model, and job creation logic behind the application will carry more weight. Files that arrive investment-ready and well-documented will be structurally positioned for the new environment.
GenesisLink builds the business case behind the immigration file. If this update affects your current OINP Entrepreneur files or your 2026 strategy, contact us to book a strategy call.
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