What is Ontario REDI and who can use it?

This update is part of the Provincial nominee draws hub, with the Permanent residence guide. REDI is the Regional Economic Development through Immigration initiative. It is not a separate immigration stream. Foreign workers must use existing Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program streams and meet the same eligibility rules; there is no standalone REDI application.

The relaunch reserves provincial nomination spaces for six communities in Northern and Eastern Ontario that face labour shortages. Ontario renewed the program after major OINP restructuring in 2026 and aims to spread permanent residence opportunities outside major urban centres such as Toronto.

Which communities are in the 2026 to 2027 round?

Six participating communities and districts are in this round, including Greater Sudbury/Grand Sudbury and Rainy River District. Only Thunder Bay returns from the January 2025 four community REDI pilot.

Communities were assessed on local labour shortages, especially in health care, cultural diversity, employer participation, and ability to support newcomers. The province has not yet announced how nomination spaces will be allocated among them.

What does nearly 1,000 REDI nominations mean for applicants?

According to the Ontario government, nearly 1,000 workers have been nominated through REDI initiatives to date, including in health care and skilled trades. That figure is a cumulative count of provincial nominations issued under past REDI pilots, not a cap or guarantee for the new round.

Workers in or with eligible job offers in the six communities may have improved chances of an Ontario nomination, but they must still meet relevant OINP stream requirements and selection is not guaranteed. A job offer in a participating community does not automatically guarantee an invitation or nomination. Nominated candidates must still apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence.

How does REDI fit with the Ontario Workforce Priority stream?

In June 2026 Ontario eliminated eight existing OINP streams and introduced the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. REDI adds a regional dimension to selection within that consolidated framework.

The Ontario Workforce Priority stream targets candidates with eligible permanent full time job offers in any TEER category from qualifying Ontario employers, plus education, experience, language, and other requirements. Certain self employed physicians may qualify without a job offer. The relaunched initiative runs until December 2027. The province has not yet announced when invitations will be issued under REDI or how spaces will be split among communities.