OLA Canada Immigration Introduction Series 6. Ontario PNP- OINP- Master Graduate Stream and PhD Graduate Stream

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Master Graduate Stream and PhD Graduate Stream are pathways for international graduates with an Ontario master’s degree or PhD degree to permanently live and work in Ontario, Canada.

Here are the key factors and requirements for the Master Stream:

Expression of Interest (EOI) and Invitation to Apply.

Candidates need to register in the OINP’s Expression of Interest System and receive an invitation to apply.

Education requirement.

Completion of the requirements for a master’s degree. Please note that the degree must be from an eligible university in Ontario (the school list is at the end of this article).

Q: What if I graduated from my Master’s study but need to continue my study?

A: If you are still a student, you cannot apply through this program, UNLESS:

the next study is for the purpose of meeting the requirements to be licensed in a regulated occupation in Ontario, AND
you are also working in Ontario.

Language Skills.

Proficiency in English or French at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher, which means you must be CLB 7 for EACH language ability.

Residency in Ontario

Legal residency in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years before applying.

Settlement Funds.

You must show your sufficient funds to support yourself and dependents. It can be demonstrated through bank statements, annual earnings, or a job offer in Ontario.

Intention to Live in Ontario:

Must have a genuine intention to live in Ontario, demonstrated through various ties to the province.

Residency at the Time of Application

Must be living in Ontario with legal status or living outside Canada at the time of application. You cannot apply while living in another province or territory in Canada other than Ontario. Please always remember to have a legal status once you are in Canada. Every year, there are people making mistakes which lead to their status being illegal.

Application Period

Submit the application within two years of completing the master’s degree requirements.

For the PhD Graduate Stream, the requirements are more flexible. There is no mandatory language requirement, and applicants can apply even while residing in another province or territory in Canada. However, in practice, PhD candidates may still need to take a language test to earn points in the OINP (Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program) system, which will be explained below. Additionally, if you are currently living in a location outside Ontario, you are still required to demonstrate your intention to live in Ontario.

Both the OINP Master’s Graduate Stream and PhD Graduate Stream offer a streamlined process for applicants seeking permanent residency in Canada. OINP invites candidates from the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool based on their points. The OINP points are calculated using the following factors.

Factor	Points
Holding a valid Work or Study Permit	10
40k or more earning in a year (NOA in the last 5 years)	3
Education
PhD	10
Master	8
Field of Study
STEM/Health and Trades	12
Business and administration, social, legal, education and other related programs	6
Arts and humanities, BHASE programs, not elsewhere classified (n.e.c)	0
Canadian Education Experience
More than one Canadian Credential	10
One Canadian Credential	5
Language
CLB 9 or higher	10
CLB 8	8
CLB 7	4
CLB 6 or lower	0
Knowledge of official language
Knowing Both English and French	10
Only English or French	5
Location of your study
North Ontario	10
Other areas outside GTA (not North Ontario)	8
Inside GTA (except Toronto)	3
Toronto	0