OINP Draw April 30, 2026: Ontario Issues 997 ITAs to GTA Job Offer Candidates

Posted by: Dimple Verma, RCIC-IRB #R708308 | VG Immigration Services Canada

Published: May 1, 2026 at 5:41 AM ET

Ontario Targets the GTA in Latest OINP Round

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued 997 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) on April 30, 2026, through two Employer Job Offer streams targeted exclusively at candidates with valid job offers in the Greater Toronto Area. The draw covered the Foreign Worker stream and the International Student stream — the In-Demand Skills stream was not included this round.

This is Ontario’s sixth set of invitation rounds in April, pushing total OINP ITAs issued in the month past 8,000 — the busiest single month in OINP history. The pace reflects Ontario racing to draw down its 14,119-nomination 2026 allocation before the program redesign on May 30, 2026, which will revoke all nine current selection categories.

Key Highlights

• Date of draw: April 30, 2026
• Total ITAs issued: 997
• Streams: Employer Job Offer — Foreign Worker and International Student (GTA only)
• Foreign Worker minimum EOI score: 57
• International Student minimum EOI score: 81
• EOI deadline: Profiles created and attested by April 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM
• GTA defined as: Census Divisions of Durham, Halton, Peel, Toronto, and York

What the GTA Boundary Means in Practice

The Greater Toronto Area for OINP purposes covers five Census Divisions: Durham, Halton, Peel, Toronto, and York. In municipal terms, this includes the City of Toronto plus Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Burlington, Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, and Oshawa. Job offers from employers located outside these five Census Divisions were not eligible for this draw.

This is the first GTA-specific Employer Job Offer round since March 25, 2026, when 431 ITAs went out to GTA candidates. Notably, the April 23 regional draws excluded the GTA entirely and instead targeted Eastern Ontario, Northern Ontario, Southwestern Ontario, and Central Ontario (excluding GTA), with Foreign Worker cutoffs ranging from 60 to 63. Today’s GTA Foreign Worker cutoff of 57 is one of the lowest GTA-specific scores recorded in 2026.

Eligible NOC Codes — Foreign Worker Stream (Score 57+)

The Foreign Worker stream NOC list spans technology, healthcare, management, construction, and skilled trades occupations. Selected eligible codes include:

• NOC 21230 – Computer systems developers and programmers
• NOC 21231 – Software engineers and designers
• NOC 21232 – Software developers and programmers
• NOC 21233 – Web designers
• NOC 21234 – Web developers and programmers
• NOC 21311 – Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
• NOC 21331 – Geological engineers
• NOC 22222 – Information systems testing technicians
• NOC 30010 – Managers in health care
• NOC 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians
• NOC 31120 – Pharmacists
• NOC 31200 – Psychologists
• NOC 41321 – Career development practitioners and career counsellors
• NOC 51111 – Authors and writers
• NOC 70010 – Construction managers
• NOC 70012 – Facility operation and maintenance managers
• NOC 72310 – Carpenters

Core Eligibility Conditions

Every candidate invited in this round must meet all of the following requirements:

• Currently reside in Canada with a valid work or study permit
• Hold a job offer from an employer physically located in the GTA (Durham, Halton, Peel, Toronto, or York)
• Have an active Expression of Interest profile created and attested to by April 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM
• Meet the NOC code requirements specific to the stream
• Meet the OINP wage, language, education, and work experience thresholds for the relevant stream

Critical Deadlines After ITA

Candidates receiving an invitation must move quickly. Two non-extendable deadlines apply:

• Employer deadline: 14 calendar days to submit the employer’s portion of the application through the OINP e-Filing Portal
• Candidate deadline: 17 calendar days to submit the complete application package

These deadlines cannot be extended for any reason. Candidates should contact their employer immediately upon receiving an ITA and confirm both sides have all required documents — job offer letter, OINP attestation, supporting evidence — ready to upload.

What This Means for You

If you are an Express Entry candidate sitting at a CRS score below 514 (the cutoff in the April 28 CEC draw), the OINP Employer Job Offer streams remain one of the most accessible permanent residence pathways available — provided you can secure a qualifying GTA job offer in an eligible NOC code. A successful provincial nomination adds 600 points to your CRS score and effectively guarantees a federal ITA at the next PNP draw.

With the OINP program redesign set for May 30, 2026, the window to use the current Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills streams is closing. Candidates already in the EOI pool should keep their profile updated, validate their job offer documentation, and watch the OINP Program Updates page daily — Ontario has shown it can announce new draws without advance notice.

Candidates outside the GTA should not despair. The April 23 regional draws covered Eastern, Northern, Southwestern, and Central Ontario with combined volume above 2,100 ITAs, and Ontario is expected to continue regional rounds before the program transition. Read more OINP analysis on the VG Immigration blog.

How VG Immigration Can Help

Navigating Canada’s immigration system requires expert guidance. Dimple Verma, RCIC-IRB (R708308), Commissioner of Oaths, at VG Immigration Services can help you understand your options and build the strongest possible application.

📅 Book a Consultation | Visit vgis.ca | 💬 WhatsApp

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