Today, September 29, 2020, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) opened and accepted applications to the Masters Graduate stream. The stream closed within an hour as it reached the registration limit of 1,215.

OINP enables international graduates with an Ontario Master’s degree the opportunity to apply to work and live in Ontario. Applicants need to apply online to be nominated by the Ontario government for permanent residence. After being nominated, they need to apply to the federal government through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Applicants need to access the OINP e-Filing Portal from the Masters Graduate stream page on the OINP website, then click on the button ‘Submit an application’. Applicants who successful register will receive a confirmation number by email within three business days with their file number. They need to submit their application within 14 days.

The cost to apply is CAD $1,500 and all supporting documents require to be in English or French at the time of submission.

Eligibility

• Completed at least one academic year of full-time study in Ontario, and the degree is from an eligible Ontario university

• English or French language proficiency of CLB 7

• Must have lived in Ontario for one year

• Settlement funds according to family size

• Intend to live in Ontario

The OINP Masters Graduate stream will soon transition to an Expression of Interest system. This new method will use a scoring criterion similar to the Express Entry system with the intention of targeting individuals who have the skills and experience to meet Ontario’s labour market needs.

In the current first-come-first-served application system applicants have to monitor OINP constantly to know when registration opens, and all available spots are filled up within the hour. By moving to an expression of interest system OINP hopes to avoid the uncertainty related with the streams opening and closing.