On August 28, 2025, OINP issued its second round of invitations this year, focusing exclusively on job offer streams. No Human Capital streams were invited, as Ontario prioritized candidates in Northern Ontario and REDI regions to address labour shortages and regional development goals.
Soheil Hosseini
August 29, 2025
Jurisdiction
ontario
Week
Week 35
Impact
moderate
Programs Affected
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted its second round of invitations in 2025 on August 28, continuing its targeted approach towards Job Offer–based streams. Notably, there were still no invitations issued under the Human Capital category, such as the Masters Graduate or PhD Graduate streams.
This ongoing trend signals that provincial nomination capacity limits are shaping OINP’s selection strategy this year. With reduced quotas, the program appears to be prioritizing candidates who already have a job offer in Ontario — ensuring a more direct contribution to the province’s labour market.
Another important development is the regional targeting within this draw. Invitations were directed towards candidates in Northern Ontario and the Regional Development Immigration Pilot (REDI) regions, highlighting the province’s commitment to attracting talent beyond the Greater Toronto Area.
August 28, 2025 – Draw Highlights
🔔 New Draw Alerts by ImmiWatch
OINP – International Students (REDI)
📂 Category: REDI
🌍 Region: Regional Development
🔢 Cutoff Score: 68
📜 Invitations: 56
OINP – In-Demand Skills (REDI)
📂 Category: REDI
🌍 Region: Regional Development
🔢 Cutoff Score: 34
📜 Invitations: 25
OINP – International Students (Northern Ontario)
📂 Category: General
🌍 Region: Northern Ontario
🔢 Cutoff Score: 66
📜 Invitations: 236
OINP – Foreign Worker Stream (Northern Ontario)
📂 Category: General
🌍 Region: Northern Ontario
🔢 Cutoff Score: 53
📜 Invitations: 94
OINP – Foreign Worker Stream (REDI)
📂 Category: REDI
🌍 Region: Regional Development
🔢 Cutoff Score: 45
📜 Invitations: 57
Key Takeaways
This draw reinforces three major trends for 2025:
Job Offer Streams Dominate: Only employer-driven streams are being invited, while Human Capital pathways remain paused.
Regional Prioritization: Northern Ontario and REDI continue to receive special attention, pointing to Ontario’s efforts to support labour shortages outside major cities.
Lower Cut-Offs in Targeted Regions: The cutoff scores in REDI draws (as low as 34) suggest the province is using this tool to make immigration more accessible for candidates willing to settle in priority regions.
While applicants under Human Capital streams may be waiting longer, this strategy aligns with Ontario’s labour market needs and regional development goals. Candidates with valid job offers in Ontario, especially in priority regions, have the strongest prospects for nomination in 2025.
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