OINP Regions Guide: Which Ontario Region is Your City In?

If you are applying for Canadian permanent residency through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), your work location can make or break your Expression of Interest (EOI) score. To encourage economic growth outside of downtown Toronto, the OINP awards up to 15 extra points depending on where your job offer is located.

Barrie is more than just a beautiful place to call home. It’s a high-value OINP region. Choosing to work in Barrie can earn you 10 regional points toward your Permanent Residency application

In this guide, we break down all six OINP regions, how many points they are worth, and a complete list of cities and counties included in each.

Wondering what your total score is? Use our free OINP Points Calculator to find out instantly!

1. Northern Ontario (15 Points)

The highest points available. This region covers the vast northern part of the province. If your employer is located here, you get a massive 15-point boost to your EOI score.

Key Cities & Areas Included:

• Greater Sudbury

• Thunder Bay

• Sault Ste. Marie

• North Bay,

• Timmins.

• District and Counties of Algoma, Cochrane, Haliburton, Kenora, Manitoulin, Muskoka (including Bracebridge and Huntsville), Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River and Timiskaming.

  
  

2. Eastern Ontario (10 Points)

Eastern Ontario stretches from the Kawartha Lakes all the way to the Quebec border. This is a highly popular region for applicants who want to live near major hubs but still claim 10 regional points.

Key Cities & Areas Included:

• Ottawa

• Kingston

• Cornwall

• Belleville

• Brockville

• Pembroke

• Peterborough

• Counties of Frontenac, Hastings, Kawartha Lakes, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Lennox and Addington, Northumberland, Prescott and Russell, Prince Edward, Renfrew, and Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.

  
  

3. Central Ontario (Outside GTA) (10 Points)

This region surrounds the Greater Toronto Area. It offers the perfect balance: you get 10 points for being "outside the GTA," but you can still live within an hour or two of downtown Toronto.

Key Cities & Areas Included:

• Barrie

• Kitchener

• Waterloo

• Cambridge

• Guelph

• Orangeville

• Owen Sound.

• Counties of Dufferin, Grey, Simcoe and Wellington.

  
  

4. Southwestern Ontario (10 Points)

Bordering the United States and stretching toward the mid-west, Southwestern Ontario is an agricultural, manufacturing, and tech powerhouse.

Key Cities & Areas Included:

• London

• Windsor

• Hamilton

• Niagara Falls

• St. Catharines

• Brantford

• Sarnia

• Chatham-Kent.

• Counties of Brant, Bruce, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Essex, Haldimand-Norfolk, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Oxford, and Perth.

  
  

5. Inside the GTA (Except Toronto) (5 Points)

If your job is located in the Greater Toronto Area—but outside the official City of Toronto borders—you will receive 5 points. This includes the massive suburban cities surrounding the downtown core.

Key Cities & Areas Included:

• Peel Region: Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon

• York Region: Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Aurora

• Halton Region: Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Halton Hills

• Durham Region: Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Bowmanville

6. City of Toronto (0 Points)

Because the City of Toronto already attracts the vast majority of newcomers to Ontario, the OINP does not award any regional points for jobs located within the city limits.

Key Cities & Areas Included:

• Toronto

• North York

• Scarborough

• Etobicoke

• York

How Does OINP Determine Your Work Location?

The OINP looks at the primary location where you will perform your duties.

• If you work in an office, it is the office address.

• If you work remotely or travel for work, it is the location of the employer's office where you are assigned or report to.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

What if I live in Toronto but my job is in Mississauga?

The OINP regional points are based entirely on your work location, not your residential address. If you commute from Toronto to Mississauga for work, you will receive the 5 points for working inside the GTA (excluding Toronto).

How do remote workers score for OINP Regions?

If you work completely remotely from your home, the OINP generally looks at the location of the employer’s office where you report, receive assignments, or where your manager is located.

What if my employer has multiple offices across Ontario?

Your points are determined by the specific location where you physically perform your duties on a daily basis, not the location of the company's corporate headquarters.

Do these points apply to all OINP streams?

The regionalization points are a key factor in the Expression of Interest (EOI) scoring system, specifically for Employer Job Offer streams (Foreign Worker, International Student, In-Demand Skills).

Ready to Calculate Your EOI Score?

Now that you know how many points your work location gives you, it’s time to calculate your total score. We built a free, smart tool that automatically calculates your points for your NOC code, language test, wages, and more.

OINP POINTS CALCULATOR

Need Help Navigating Your PR Pathway?

Figuring out the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program and maximizing your EOI score can feel overwhelming. You don't have to navigate it alone.

At Canadore Immigration, based in Barrie, Ontario (a 10-point OINP region!), our licensed experts specialize in finding the fastest, most secure route to your Canadian Permanent Residency. Whether you need help calculating your true OINP score, verifying your regional points, or building a complete immigration strategy, we are here to help.

Book a PR Pathways Session