Minimum Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for the OINP Masters Graduate Stream, individuals must have the following criteria and apply with proper proof of documentation:

• Have completed the requirements to obtain a master’s degree.
  • Have graduated from an existing master’s program from one of the 30 eligible universities in Ontario; 
  • The program of study must have been at least one year in length full-time, or the equivalent amount of part-time studies.
• Apply within two years of completing the requirements necessary to obtain the master’s degree. For example, if your degree is dated June 1, 2021, you must have registered an EOI, received an Invitation to Apply, and submitted your application on or before June 1, 2023.
• Residing in Ontario with legal status, not another province, while applying from inside Canada must show legal status and keep that status until receiving a nomination (i.e., study permit, work permit, visitor record) OR apply outside of Canada.
• Must have proof of having a high language proficiency level in English or French of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or above in all four competencies (speaking, reading, writing, and listening).
  
  

An applicant is required to take an approved language test in either English or French from one of the following agencies: 

• International English Language Testing (IELTS) General Test, Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General test for English, Test d’Evaluation de Français (TEF), or Test de Connaissance du Français Pour le Canada (TCF) for French.
• The applicant must meet the following minimum score requirements for each language ability:

1. Possess sufficient funds and/or income to cover settlement costs for themselves and their dependent family members (whether or not the family members are accompanying the applicant).
2. Must prove the residency in Ontario. At least 12 months of residency in Ontario in the last two years before the application submission date is required;
3. Intention to live and work in Ontario. Past study, work or travel history plays a vital role in assessing the intention. The OINP assess this through different series of factors; and
4. Settlement Funds: Applicants can meet the settlement funds requirement through one or a combination of the following-

• Proof of funds as demonstrated by bank statements or statements of accounts showing other investments, such as fixed-term deposits and mutual funds, that can be readily converted to cash.
• Proof of having annual earnings from ongoing employment in Ontario; and/or 
• Having job offers in Ontario.
• If an applicant uses employment or a job offer in Ontario to meet the settlement funds requirement, he or she must include an employment contract/job offer letter indicating the position, hours of work, and wage. If working in Ontario, the applicant must provide two (most) recent pay slips as proof of funds.

Not all applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will receive an ITA. In order to receive an ITA, you must also score enough points on the scoring scale. To calculate your points, use this free calculator.

Required Supporting Documents:

All the necessary documents must be uploaded online and must create a profile on the OINP e-Filing Portal to do so. Specific requirements for documents are explained here-

• To reside in Ontario, one must list all ties to the province (including family, friends, prior studies, prior or current work experience, prior visits, etc.). Demonstrating a Connection to Ontario. A potential applicant can demonstrate a connection to Ontario through:

• Current and/or previous employment in Ontario
• Job offers or jobs applied/interviewed for in Ontario
• Education in Ontario
• Volunteer work in Ontario
• Lease agreements for a residence in Ontario or property ownership
• Professional networks and affiliations
• Remember to add any document that could support the claims one is making,
• All supporting documents must be translated and notarized in English or French.

Application Process:

Following are the steps to the OINP master’s Graduate stream: 

1. Create a profile and upload all documents to OINP’s Express of Interest System 
2. Based on the profile, OINP will score and rank the profile. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA); then, the candidate can apply to within the next 14 days by submitting all necessary documents through Ontario’s e-Filing portal. If you receive an ITA, be prepared because applications require much personal information and supporting documentation.
3. Receive a provincial nomination from the OINP. The OINP may request additional supporting documents while processing the Master’s Graduate Stream application.
4. Submit a federal application for permanent resident status to the federal government (IRCC) within the next six months of receiving the nomination from the OINP. 
   
   

Processing Times and Fees:

The processing times for a Masters Graduate stream application are estimated to be 90 to 120 days. However, some applications may need more time to process if they are more complex or require more documents and/or information. The fee for this stream is similar to Express Entry Streams, set at $1,500 CAD. Application fees can only be refunded if the processing of the application has not started, either (i) if the applicant withdraws his/her application before processing starts or (ii) if the application is returned as being incomplete by the OINP.

Draw Updates:

So far in 2023, Ontario Master’s Graduate Stream has invited candidates with a score of 48 or above. To see a list of all draws, visit this page on OINP’s website.

Ontario’s Master’s Graduate Stream is a pathway for international students with a master’s degree from an eligible Ontario university to immigrate permanently without a job offer.