OINP PhD Graduate Stream: Your Path to Permanent Residency in Ontario

What is the OINP PhD Graduate Stream?

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) PhD Graduate Stream offers international students who have earned a PhD degree from an Ontario university the chance to apply for permanent residency in Canada. This stream allows graduates to live and work in Ontario permanently.

How to Apply

Before submitting an application, you must first register in the OINP Expression of Interest (EOI) System and wait for an invitation to apply. Once invited, you can proceed with your online application to be nominated by the Ontario government.

If you receive a nomination, your next step is to apply for permanent residency through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The final decision on your application will be made by the federal government.

Application Process: Step-by-Step

1. Register Your Expression of Interest (EOI) – Submit your profile to the OINP system.
2. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) – If selected, you will be invited to apply for nomination.

Once nominated, you can move forward with your federal application for permanent residency.

This pathway is an excellent opportunity for PhD graduates to build their future in Ontario while contributing to its economy and research excellence.

Register Your Expression of Interest (EOI)

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) manages applications for several immigration streams through an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. If you’re interested in applying for any of the following streams, you must first submit an EOI:

• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream
• Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream
• Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream
• Masters Graduate Stream

PhD Graduate Stream

What is an Expression of Interest (EOI)?

Submitting an EOI is the first step toward applying for the OINP. It informs Ontario that you want to be considered for an invitation to apply. However, registering an EOI does not mean you have applied for the OINP or permanent residency. You can only submit a full application if you receive an invitation from the province.

How the OINP Selects Candidates

The OINP ranks and selects candidates based on key factors that align with Ontario’s economic and labor market needs, including:

• Education – Level, field of study, and institution
• Language Proficiency – English or French skills
• Regional Immigration – Willingness to settle outside the Greater Toronto Area
• Work Experience & Skills – Employment history and expertise
• Earnings History – Previous income levels
• Job Offer in Ontario – If applicable
• Strategic Priorities – Attributes that address immediate labour shortages in specific industries or regions

By registering in the EOI system, you increase your chances of being invited to apply for permanent residency in Ontario, provided you meet the province’s selection criteria.

Before You Apply: Registering an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the OINP

Before submitting your Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), make sure you meet the eligibility requirements for your chosen stream.

Key Points to Know Before Registering

✅ Eligibility Check: Review the specific criteria for your desired OINP stream to ensure you qualify.
✅ Accuracy Matters: All information in your EOI must be correct at the time of submission or any updates.
✅ One EOI Per Stream: You can only have one active EOI per stream at any given time.

Registration Fees

💰 No Fee to Register – Submitting an EOI is free. However, if you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you must pay an application fee, which varies by stream.

Updating Your Information

📌 You can modify your EOI details at any time through the OINP e-filing portal until:

• You receive an Invitation to Apply
• Your EOI is deleted

Validity Period

🕒 Your EOI remains active for up to 12 months or until:

• You receive an Invitation to Apply
• You withdraw your registration

If your EOI expires after 12 months, you will need to submit a new registration if you still wish to apply.

Special Instructions for Physicians

👩‍⚕️ Physicians applying under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream without a job offer must contact the OINP for special instructions before registering an EOI.

By following these steps, you ensure your application process runs smoothly, increasing your chances of securing an invitation to apply for permanent residency in Ontario.

What Happens After You Register an Expression of Interest (EOI)?

Once you have submitted your Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), there is no need to contact the program. The process will follow these steps:

Important Considerations

🔹 Registration Does Not Guarantee an Invitation – Submitting an EOI does not mean you will be invited to apply.
🔹 Invitation Does Not Guarantee Nomination – Even if you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you must still meet all program requirements to receive a certificate of nomination.
🔹 Accuracy is Critical – Any incorrect, misleading, or false information in your EOI may result in your application being denied, and you could face penalties or legal action.

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Receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

The OINP ranks candidates from the selection pool based on different factors:
✔ General Selection – Ranking all candidates in a stream.
✔ Targeted Selection – Prioritizing candidates with specific labour market or human capital attributes.

If you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA):
🕒 You have 14 calendar days from the invitation date to submit your application.

What If You Don’t Apply After Receiving an ITA?

🚫 If you do not submit an application within the 14-day deadline, your EOI will be removed from the selection pool for that stream.
📩 You will receive an email notification confirming the removal.
🔄 You can re-register a new EOI at any time.

By ensuring your EOI is accurate and staying informed about selection rounds, you can maximize your chances of securing an invitation and successfully applying for permanent residency in Ontario.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

If you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) PhD Graduate stream, you must meet the following criteria before submitting your application.

1. Expression of Interest (EOI) & Invitation to Apply (ITA)

✔ You must have received an ITA and apply within the deadline.
✔ Your application must match the qualifications you claimed in your EOI.

2. Education Requirements

✔ You must have completed a PhD degree from an eligible university in Ontario.
✔ At least two years of your PhD studies must have been completed while legally living and studying in Ontario.
❌ You are not eligible if you received a bursary, grant, or scholarship requiring you to return to your home country after graduation—unless you have fulfilled that obligation.

3. Residency in Ontario

✔ You must have legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years before applying.
✔ This one year does not need to be continuous, but must add up to 12 months within the last 24 months.

4. Settlement Funds

✔ You must have sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependents.
✔ You can meet this requirement through:

• Bank statements (e.g., savings, investments, fixed-term deposits)
• Annual earnings from a job in Ontario
• A valid job offer in Ontario
  ✔ If your bank statement includes a large deposit, additional proof may be required to confirm the funds are free of debt.

5. Intention to Live in Ontario

✔ You must intend to live and work in Ontario after becoming a permanent resident.
✔ OINP will assess your ties to Ontario, such as:

• Working or having past work experience in Ontario
• Job offers or job applications/interviews
• Studying in Ontario
• Volunteering, property ownership, family ties, or social networks in Ontario

6. Legal Status in Canada (If Applicable)

✔ If applying from within Canada, you must have valid legal status (visitor, study, or work permit).
✔ If you are in maintained status, you can still apply. Maintained status means you applied to extend your permit before it expired, allowing you to stay under the same conditions until a decision is made.

7. Application Period

✔ You must submit your application within two years of completing your PhD degree.
✔ The date on your degree (or official university letter) must be within two years of your application submission date.
✔ You must have completed your PhD before applying.

By meeting all these requirements, you increase your chances of successfully obtaining a nomination through the OINP PhD Graduate stream.

Check Your Eligibility For Free

Scoring Factors

If you register an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the PhD Graduate Stream, you will be awarded points based on specific criteria. If invited to apply, you must submit supporting documents for each factor that contributed to your score. Keep in mind that meeting the scoring requirements does not guarantee eligibility—you must also fulfill all stream criteria and provide mandatory documentation.

Employment & Labour Market Factors

✅ Work or Study Permit Status

• With a valid work or study permit – 10 points
• Without a valid permit – 0 points
  (Your permit must provide legal status in Canada.)

✅ Earnings History

(Based on a Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency within the last five years)

• Annual income of $40,000 or more – 3 points
• Less than $40,000 – 0 points

Education Factors

✅ Highest Level of Education

(Canadian credentials or Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) required)

• PhD – 10 points
• Master’s Degree – 8 points
• Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent – 6 points
• Graduate Diploma/Certificate – 6 points
• Undergraduate Diploma/Certificate – 5 points
• Apprenticeship/Trades Certificate or Diploma – 5 points
• Less than college or trade certificate – 0 points

✅ Field of Study

(Points based on your primary field of study for the OINP application)

• STEM & Health Fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Health, Computer Science) – 12 points
• Trades (Agriculture, Natural Resources, Mechanics, Construction, Precision Production) – 12 points
• Business, Administration, Social Sciences, Law, Education, Social Work – 6 points
• Arts & Humanities, General Business, Humanities & Social Sciences (BHASE programs) – 0 points

✅ Canadian Education Experience

(Must be a post-secondary credential from a Canadian institution requiring at least one year of full-time study.)

• More than one Canadian credential – 10 points

• One Canadian credential – 5 points

Language Proficiency

✅ Official Language Ability (English/French – CLB Score)

• CLB 9 or higher – 10 points
• CLB 8 – 6 points
• CLB 7 – 4 points
• CLB 6 or lower – 0 points

✅ Bilingual Proficiency (English & French)

• Proficiency in both languages (CLB 7+ in one, CLB 6+ in the other) – 10 points
• Proficiency in only one official language – 5 points

Regional Immigration – Location of Study

(Points based on where you physically attended classes while completing your credential.)

• Northern Ontario – 10 points
• Other regions outside GTA (excluding Northern Ontario) – 8 points
• Greater Toronto Area (except Toronto itself) – 3 points
• Toronto – 0 points
• Online/remote learning (no in-person classes) – 0 points

Regional Definitions:

• Northern Ontario – Muskoka, Haliburton, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Manitoulin, Sudbury, Timiskaming, Cochrane, Algoma, Thunder Bay, Rainy River, Kenora
• Other Ontario regions (excluding GTA & Northern Ontario) – All Ontario areas outside GTA and Northern Ontario
• Greater Toronto Area (GTA, excluding Toronto) – Durham, Halton, Peel, York
• City of Toronto – The core city of Toronto

Eligible Ontario Universities for PhD Programs

To be eligible for the PhD Graduate Stream, your PhD must be from an accredited Ontario university. Below is a list of eligible universities offering PhD programs:

• Brock University
• Carleton University
• Lakehead University
• Laurentian University
• McMaster University
• Nipissing University
• Queen’s University
• Royal Military College of Canada
• Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)
• Trent University
• University of Guelph
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology
• University of Ottawa
• University of Toronto
• University of Waterloo
• University of Windsor
• Western University
• Wilfrid Laurier University
• York University

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