International graduates now have more opportunities to apply for a provincial nomination with the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) through two new EOI streams. 

On August 9, the province launched their newest Expression of Interest (EOI) streams through their new Human Capital category. 

The Human Capital: Masters Graduate stream and the Human Capital: PhD Graduate stream are the OINP’s brand-new pathways for international graduates hoping to settle in Ontario. These two streams are the latest addition to the province’s EOI system, including three others in the Employer Job Offer category: the In-Demand Skills, International Student, and Foreign Worker streams.

Interested applicants with Masters or PhD degrees who qualify for these new streams can now submit an Expression of Interest profile with the OINP. Ontario then ranks these EOI profiles based on a number of human capital factors. This determines if a candidate can succeed in the province’s labor market, and if they have the capacity to settle and thrive in the province.

More on the Human Capital: Masters Graduate Stream

The OINP’s Masters Graduate Stream gives international students who have obtained a master’s degree from an eligible university in Ontario the opportunity to immigrate to the province without requiring a job offer.

In order to be eligible for this stream, applicants must meet the following requirements: 

• Applicants must have completed the requirements to obtain a master’s degree;
  • Applicants must have graduated from an existing master’s program at an eligible university in Ontario;
  • The program of study must have been at least one year in length and must have been completed on a full-time basis.
• Applicants must submit the application within two years of obtaining their master’s degree.
• Applicants must demonstrate residence in the province for at least 12 of the last 24 months before the application submission date.
  • During the application period, applicants may be residing in the province with legal status (i.e., study permit, work permit, visitor record) OR residing outside of Canada;
  • Applications from potential applicants who are in implied status at the time of applying are accepted
• Applicants must intend to live and work permanently in the province.

Those who wish to apply through this provincial nominee (PNP) stream must submit an EOI. To obtain points for their EOI profile, the OINP will rank an applicant based on the information they submit.

More on the Human Capital: PhD Graduate Stream

Similarly, the OINP’s PhD Graduate Stream gives international students who have obtained a master’s degree from an eligible university in Ontario the opportunity to immigrate to the province without requiring a job offer.

In order to be eligible for this stream, applicants must meet the following requirements: 

• Applicants must obtain a PhD degree from an eligible university in the province;
  • At least two years of the degree requirements completed while lawfully living and studying in the province.
• Applicants must submit the application within two years of obtaining their PhD.
• Applicants must be legally residing in the province for at least 12 of the last 24 months before the application submission date
• Applicants must intend to live and work permanently in the province.

Those who wish to apply must submit an Expression of Interest profile to the OINP, and will be given a score based on the information they submit.

How to Apply

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