Ontario has added a new top score for Canadian earnings history in the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. Effective October 5, 2026, candidates who earned at least $80,000 in one calendar year within the past five years can receive 10 Expression of Interest points when that income is supported by a Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment. The OINP says the change was applied automatically to existing active EOIs, so registrants do not need to update their profiles simply to receive the additional points.
What changed in the OINP earnings-history score
The update affects the Canadian work experience: earnings history factor in the Ontario Workforce Priority stream EOI system. Previously, the highest published earnings bracket awarded 8 points for annual earnings of $70,000 or more. Ontario has now created a separate $80,000-and-above bracket worth 10 points.
The revised scale rewards the highest annual Canadian earnings shown on a qualifying CRA Notice of Assessment issued within the past five years. It is an EOI ranking factor, not a new eligibility requirement for the stream. Candidates must still meet the applicable job offer, work experience, language, education and other Ontario Workforce Priority requirements if invited to apply.
OINP Earnings-History Points Breakdown
- $80,000 or more in one year: 10 points
- $70,000 to $79,999: 8 points
- $50,000 to $69,999: 6 points
- $30,000 to $49,999: 4 points
- Under $30,000: 0 points
Who can benefit from the 10-point bracket
To receive the new maximum score, a registrant must have earned at least $80,000 in a single calendar year and be able to support the claim with one CRA Notice of Assessment. Earnings cannot be combined from two or more tax years to reach the threshold. T4 slips alone are not accepted as proof for this scoring factor.
The relevant Notice of Assessment must have been issued within the five years before the application is assessed. Candidates should retain the Notice of Assessment for the year used in their EOI and ensure that the amount claimed matches the document they would submit if invited.
Existing EOI registrants do not need to act
Ontario applied the scoring adjustment retroactively on October 5, 2026, to active Ontario Workforce Priority EOIs. Candidates who already had an EOI in the pool do not need to log in, amend their profile or submit documents merely for the revised earnings-history points to appear.
That automatic update does not remove the obligation to keep an EOI accurate. A candidate should update the profile if other material information changes before an invitation, such as their job offer, work authorization, education, language results or employment circumstances. If invited, the candidate must prove the scoring factors claimed in the EOI, including Canadian earnings history.
What the change may mean for future OINP draws
An additional two points may matter most for candidates whose previous score placed them close to a future invitation threshold. However, the change does not guarantee an invitation and does not establish a new draw cutoff. Ontario can conduct targeted selections and assess EOIs using multiple employment, labour-market and regional factors.
Candidates with annual Canadian earnings between $70,000 and $79,999 remain at 8 points under this factor. Those at or above $80,000 should review the relevant CRA Notice of Assessment now, rather than waiting for an invitation, because incomplete or inconsistent evidence can affect an application after selection.