OINP 2026 Reset: Ontario Is Revoking All 9 PNP Streams on May 30 — What Advisors Need to Know

• GenesisLink
• May 13, 2026
• Business Immigration

Ontario's O. Reg. 47/26 revokes all nine OINP selection categories effective May 30, 2026 — including the Entrepreneur stream. Here is what immigration professionals need to understand about the transition, the gaps, and the redesigned entrepreneur pathway coming in Phase 2.

Ontario's provincial nominee program just underwent its most significant regulatory change in its history — and the clock is running. On May 30, 2026, all nine existing Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) selection categories will be formally revoked under O. Reg. 47/26, an amendment to the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015. For immigration professionals advising clients on business pathways, understanding exactly what this means — and what comes next — is essential right now.

What Changed

Ontario published O. Reg. 47/26 in the Ontario Gazette, setting May 30, 2026 as the revocation date for every existing OINP stream. The nine categories being removed are:

• Foreign Worker Category
• International Student with Job Offer Category
• In-Demand Skills Category
• Master's Graduate Category
• PhD Graduate Category
• Human Capital Priorities Category
• French-Speaking Skilled Worker Category
• Skilled Trades Category
• Entrepreneur Category

These are not paused or suspended — they are being deleted from regulation entirely. Ontario has simultaneously amended Regulation 421/17 to give the Minister authority to create and remove OINP streams without requiring a full legislature process, which sets the legal foundation for a redesigned program structure.

Ahead of the revocation, Ontario issued invitations at a record pace throughout April 2026 — issuing draws across multiple regions and occupation types — to make use of its 14,119 nomination allocation before the current streams expire. The official timeline and updates are published at ontario.ca/page/2026-ontario-immigrant-nominee-program-updates.

Why This Matters for File Strategy

The immediate strategic implication is this: as of May 30, 2026, Ontario no longer has an active pathway for direct application under any of these nine categories. For immigration professionals with clients currently holding OINP Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles, a critical question remains unanswered — Ontario has not confirmed whether existing EOIs will be migrated into the new system, require re-registration, or be withdrawn entirely when the revocation takes effect.

For advisors working the business immigration space, there are two angles worth understanding:

Short-term: The OINP Entrepreneur Category has been inactive since November 2024, so active business immigration files were already routed through other pathways — primarily the C11 Significant Benefit Work Permit, other provincial entrepreneur streams (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba), and the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) route. The May 30 revocation formalizes what practitioners were already working around.

Medium-term — and this is the opportunity: Ontario has signalled a two-phase rebuild. Phase 1 will consolidate the Employer Job Offer streams. Phase 2, anticipated in the second half of 2026, will introduce a redesigned entrepreneur pathway alongside new priority healthcare and exceptional talent streams. When a redesigned entrepreneur stream launches in Canada's largest province, it opens a significant new pipeline — and files positioned correctly now will be first in line.

The business case architecture for a future OINP entrepreneur application will need to align with Ontario's evolving labour market priorities. That means advisors need to start framing business plans and viability documentation against what Ontario is likely to require, not what the previous stream asked for.

What Advisors Should Do Now

There are three immediate actions worth taking before May 30:

1. Audit active OINP EOI profiles. Check the status of any client EOI profiles in the OINP system. Ontario has not yet confirmed what happens to these profiles at revocation. Monitor the official OINP updates page daily for transition instructions, re-registration requirements, or withdrawal notices.

2. Revisit business pathway routing for Ontario-bound clients. Entrepreneurs intending to settle in Ontario should now be assessed for C11, ICT, or alternative PNP routes in the interim period. The C11 Significant Benefit Work Permit remains the most accessible federal mechanism for entrepreneurs actively building a Canadian business presence. Alternative provincial entrepreneur streams in BC, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan all remain active.

3. Begin positioning for Phase 2. Ontario's redesigned entrepreneur stream will likely emphasize employer-linked job creation, sector alignment, and demonstrable business execution — the same evidence standard that federal and provincial programs have been tightening across the board in 2026. Business plans prepared now with that framework in mind will be transferable across multiple programs.

GenesisLink builds the business case behind the immigration file. If this update affects your current Ontario-bound clients or you are preparing for the Phase 2 entrepreneur stream, contact us to book a strategy call. We work directly with RCICs and immigration lawyers to develop business plans and documentation that meets the evidentiary standard — whatever the program.