Ontario is opening another regional immigration opportunity for foreign workers seeking permanent residence, with Nipissing District set to receive 150 provincial nomination spaces in 2027.
The announcement was made by the City of North Bay’s Economic Development Department on October 26, 2026. The allocation comes under Ontario’s Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) initiative, which aims to help communities outside the Greater Toronto Area attract international talent and retain workers needed by local businesses.
The initiative could benefit foreign nationals who have secured employment in Nipissing District and want to turn their Canadian work experience into a permanent settlement opportunity.
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Local Employment Could Open a Pathway to Canadian PR
The Nipissing allocation is intended for foreign workers who can contribute to the district’s workforce. Unlike general immigration selections, candidates interested in this regional opportunity must have an employment connection to the participating area.
A job offer from an employer in Nipissing District is an essential requirement. Applicants must also qualify under an eligible Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) stream before they can be considered.
Employer involvement is another important part of the process. Foreign workers must submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI) with their employer’s support. The province will then assess the submitted profiles and invite selected candidates to apply for provincial nomination.
Receiving an invitation does not automatically grant permanent residence. Candidates must first obtain approval from Ontario before proceeding with their federal PR applications.
Ontario Expands Its Regional Immigration Focus to Six Areas
Nipissing District is among six locations chosen for Ontario’s 2026–2027 REDI initiative. The program also covers Greater Sudbury, Kenora District, Rainy River District, Renfrew County and Thunder Bay.
By including these communities, Ontario is creating additional opportunities for employers and skilled foreign workers beyond the province’s major urban centres.
The participating regions were announced on October 14, 2026. Ontario uses Statistics Canada’s census divisions to establish the geographical boundaries covered by the initiative.
So far, Nipissing District and Thunder Bay have each publicly confirmed receiving 150 nomination spaces. Details about the individual allocations for the other participating regions are still awaited.
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A Look Back at Ontario’s Earlier Regional Immigration Initiative
Ontario previously operated REDI throughout 2025, from January 2 to December 31. During that period, the province distributed 800 nomination spaces equally among four communities: Lanark County, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton and Thunder Bay.
The latest program cycle brings two additional regions into the initiative, increasing its geographical reach.
Although the 2025 program provides an indication of how Ontario has supported regional immigration, the province has not yet released a complete allocation breakdown for the 2027 nomination year.
What Foreign Workers Need to Do to Be Considered
For prospective applicants, the first priority should be securing suitable employment in Nipissing District and checking whether they meet the requirements of an available OINP stream.
The selection process involves several important steps:
- Find employment with an eligible employer in Nipissing District.
- Review the eligibility conditions of the applicable OINP stream.
- Obtain the necessary employer support.
- Submit an Expression of Interest through the provincial system.
- Wait for the OINP to invite selected candidates.
- Apply for provincial nomination and, following approval, submit a permanent residence application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Currently, the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is the only active OINP pathway to permanent residence identified in the announcement. Applicants should check the latest provincial requirements before submitting an EOI.
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Conclusion
The announcement of 150 spaces is an important development for Nipissing District, but several details about the upcoming selection process remain unclear.
Ontario has not yet published a complete distribution of REDI nomination spaces across all six participating regions. Further provincial updates will help clarify how the remaining allocations will be managed.
For foreign workers already employed in Northern Ontario, the initiative offers another reason to explore provincial nomination as a route towards permanent residence. However, meeting the relevant stream requirements and receiving an invitation will remain essential.
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