The Ontario PhD stream has reached its intake limit for the most recent intake period. This stream of the OINP, which targets international graduates of PhD programs in the province, opened on May 1, 2017.
The International PhD Graduate stream is a popular pathway to permanent resident status for eligible international graduates of Ontario universities. Along with the International Masters Graduate stream, it is one of two OINP streams for international graduates in Ontario that do not require a job offer. These two sub-categories provide a way for eligible graduates to remain in Canada permanently after their studies.
The Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration had stated that the International Masters Graduate and International PhD Graduate streams would open and close intermittently throughout 2017, to meet the limits of the federal nomination allocation for the province. The International Masters Graduate stream also opened on May 1, and reached its intake limit that day.
The OINP and International Graduates
Candidates for both programs must intend to live and work in Ontario, and must submit their application within two years of receiving their degree. A job offer is not required for either of these streams. The International PhD Graduate stream targets individuals who have graduated from a PhD (Doctoral) level program at an Ontario university, and studied in Ontario for at least two years of their degree. Candidates who have graduated from a Masters-level program of at least one year in length in Ontario may apply to the International Masters Graduate Stream.
In addition, the eligibility criteria of the International Masters Graduate stream have changed to allow candidates to apply if they are residing in Ontario, or outside Canada (but individuals residing in Canada, but outside Ontario, are not eligible to apply). Previously, only candidates residing in Ontario were eligible to apply to the International Masters Graduate stream. International Masters Graduate candidates are also required to demonstrate the following:
• Adequate intermediate proficiency level in English or French of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or above in all four competencies (speaking, reading, writing, and listening);
• A minimum level of savings and/or income in order to support themselves and their dependants; and
• Residence in Ontario for at least 12 cumulative months in the 24 months before submitting an application.
