Ontario manages the Human Capital category to target foreign workers and international students who possess the education, work experience and skills required to successfully establish themselves in the province of Ontario.
Under this category, OINP operates two international students-related streams: the Masters graduates and the PhD graduates.
In order to be considered under one of these streams, interested candidates must have studied in Ontario, under eligible programs.
Job offers from Ontario employers are not required for these streams.
Intake for the two streams falls under the Ontario Expression of Interest system.
Eligibility requirements
Masters Graduates Stream
This stream offers an opportunity to obtain permanent residence to international students who obtained a masters degree in Ontario without requiring a job offer.
To be eligible to apply, a candidate must meet the following criteria:
- Graduated from a Master’s degree program from an eligible institution in Ontario, that was at least one-year full-time.
- Obtained minimum language CLB/NCLC level 7 or above in English or in French.
- Resided legally in Ontario for at least one year in the last two.
- Have sufficient settlement funds.
- Intend to live and work in Ontario.
- Must have legal status in Ontario or abroad.
- Applications from elsewhere in Canada will not be accepted.
- Application must be submitted within two years of completing the requirements to graduate from the master’s degree.
PhD Graduates Stream This stream offers international students an opportunity to become a permanent resident for who hold a PhD degree from Ontario without requiring a job offer.
To be eligible to apply, a candidate must meet the following criteria:
- Graduated from a PhD degree program in an eligible institution in Ontario, and have completed at least two-years full-time.
- Resided legally in Ontario for at least one year in the last two.
- Have sufficient settlement funds.
- Intend to live and work in Ontario.
- Application must be submitted within two years of completing the requirements to graduate from the PhD degree.
Application process
Candidates can submit a profile through the Ontario Expression of Interest system at any time throughout the year.
The highest-scoring candidates are then invited to apply to the OINP.
Candidates must then complete an application online under Ontario’s e-Filing Portal and submit all relevant forms and supporting documentation.
A $1,500 processing fee is charged for applications submitted under these streams.
If the application is approved, the candidate will receive a Letter of Nomination and must apply for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) within six months.
Eligible Ontario Universities
- Brock University
- Carleton University
- Dominican University College
- Lakehead University
- Laurentian University
- McMaster University
- Nipissing University
- Queen’s University
- Royal Military College of Canada
- Ryerson University
- Saint Paul University (Federated with the University of Ottawa)
- St. Jerome’s University (Federated with the University of Waterloo)
- Trent University
- University of Guelph
- University of Ontario Institute of Technology
- University of Ottawa
- University of St. Michael’s College (Federated with the University of Toronto)
- University of Toronto
- University of Trinity College (Federated with the University of Toronto)
- University of Waterloo
- University of Windsor
- Victoria University (Federated with the University of Toronto)
- Western University
- Wilfrid Laurier University
- York University
- Algoma University
- Brescia University College (Affiliated with the University of Western Ontario)
- Brock University
- Carleton University
- Dominican University College
- Huron University College (Affiliated with the University of Western Ontario)
- King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario
- Lakehead University
- Laurentian University
- McMaster University
- Nipissing University
- Ontario College of Art & Design University
- Queen’s University
- Royal Military College of Canada
- Ryerson University
- Saint Paul University (Federated with the University of Ottawa)
- St. Jerome’s University (Federated with the University of Waterloo)
- Trent University
- University of Guelph
- University of Ontario Institute of Technology
- University of Ottawa
- University of St. Michael’s College (Federated with the University of Toronto)
- University of Toronto
- University of Trinity College (Federated with the University of Toronto)
- University of Waterloo
- University of Windsor
- Victoria University (Federated with the University of Toronto)
- Western University
- Wilfrid Laurier University
- York University
