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By Rebecca Major
Updated on May 7, 2024
Ontario’s PhD Graduate stream is for individuals who have a doctoral degree from an Ontario university and want to immigrate to Ontario as permanent residents. This is your complete guide to the OINP PhD Graduate stream.
Successful applicants to this Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) will receive a provincial nomination from Ontario, allowing the applicant to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent resident status. The spouse/common-law partner of the applicant, as well as any dependent children, may also be included on the application.
What you'll find on this page
Do you prefer to learn by video? Check out this webinar on the OINP presented by Moving2Canada in partnership with Doherty Fultz Immigration — an immigration consultancy based in Ontario — and one of Moving2Canada’s trusted partners!
Eligibility requirements
Please note: this stream uses a points-based ranking system to invite candidates to apply for nomination. Meeting the minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee you will receive an invitation. Refer to the section below for details on the points breakdown.
In order to be eligible for the OINP PhD Graduate stream, candidates must meet the following requirements:
PhD degree from an eligible university in Ontario
Candidates must have completed the requirements to obtain a PhD degree from an eligible Ontario university. To qualify for the OINP PhD Graduate stream, at least two years of the PhD studies must have been completed while legally living and studying in Ontario. The PhD must have been completed at one of the eligible Ontario universities listed here:
Eligible Ontario universities — OINP PhD Graduate stream
To qualify for the OINP PhD Graduate stream, your PhD degree must be from one of the universities listed below:
- 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
Language proficiency test
You must take an approved language test demonstrating proficiency in either English or French consistent with (or above) the Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 7 (CLB 7). This test must be less than two years old at the time you submit you application.
Settlement Funds
You must have enough money to support yourself and your dependent family members when you settle in Canada. You can meet this requirement through one or a combination of:
- funds as demonstrated by the balance listed in bank statements, or statements of accounts showing other investments such as non-locked in, fixed term deposits, mutual funds, etc.
- annual earnings from ongoing employment in Ontario
- a job offer in Ontario
The required funds are as follows:
Settlement Funds
Number of family members | Required funds (in CAD) |
---|---|
1 (single applicant) | $14,690 |
2 | $18,288 |
3 | $22,483 |
4 | $27,297 |
5 | $30,690 |
6 | $34,917 |
7 | $38,875 |
For each additional family member, add | $3,958 |
Other eligibility criteria
Candidates must meet several additional eligibility criteria in order to apply:
- have the intention to reside in Ontario
- have lived legally in Ontario for at least one year in the two years prior to applying
- apply within two years of completing the requirements necessary to obtain the master’s degree
- be medically and criminally admissible to Canada
Application procedure
To apply to the OINP PhD Graduate stream, candidates must follow these five steps:
Step One: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
The OINP PhD Graduate stream uses a points-based ranking system to invite the top-ranked candidates to apply. In order to be considered for an invitation to apply (ITA), candidates must begin by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) using the OINP e-Filing Portal.
After submitting an EOI, candidates will receive a score based on the OINP EOI Selection System.
Step Two: Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
Periodically, the OINP will conduct a draw for candidates. In these draws, invitations will be issued to candidates who have submitted EOIs and received a certain threshold of points.
Step Three: Submit an application for provincial nomination
Once a candidates receives an invitation to apply (ITA), they are given 14 calendar days to submit an application. These applications can be submitted electronically using a ONe-key account. Applications require extensive personal information and supporting documentation — ensure you’re ready if you receive an ITA.
Step Four: Receive a provincial nomination
The processing time varies for OINP applications. Generally, an application will be processed somewhere between 30 and 150 days. If an application is approved, the applicant receives a formal provincial nomination from the province of Ontario.
Step Five: Submit a federal application for permanent resident status
With a provincial nomination, candidates are eligible to submit an application to the federal government for permanent resident status. This application will include extensive personal information and supporting documentation — similar to the application for provincial nomination.
Notably, the PhD Graduate stream is not aligned with Canada’s Express Entry system — this means that the applications are processed at a slower pace. Applicants should be prepared to wait more than one year for applications to be processed.
Ontario’s EOI selection system — points breakdown
The OINP PhD Graduate stream uses a points-based ranking system to assess Expressions of Interest (EOI) submitted by candidates. Periodically, Ontario will invite candidates with a certain threshold of points to apply — refer to the draw history for more details.
The points breakdown is as follows:
Ontario's EOI Selection System — Points Breakdown
OINP EOI Selection System — Points Breakdown |
---|
Job offer: NOC skill level |
(Not applied to Masters Graduate or PhD Graduate streams.) |
NOC Skill Level A – 10 points |
NOC Skill Level B – 8 points |
NOC Skill Level C – 0 points |
NOC Skill Level D – 0 points |
Job offer: NOC type |
(Not applied to Masters Graduate or PhD Graduate streams.) |
NOC Type 0,1,2,3,9 – 10 points |
NOC Type 4,5,6,7,8 – 5 points |
Job offer: wage |
(Not applied to Masters Graduate or PhD Graduate streams.) |
$40 per hour or higher – 10 points |
$20 to $39.99 per hour – 5 points |
Less than $20 per hour – 0 points |
Canadian work experience: length |
(Cumulative) |
12 Months or more – 4 points |
Less than 12 months – 0 points |
Canadian work experience: NOC Skill Level |
NOC Skill Level A – 3 points |
NOC Skill Level B – 0 points |
NOC Skill Level C – 0 points |
NOC Skill Level D – 0 points |
Canadian work experience: earnings history |
$40k or more earnings in a year – 3 points |
Less than $40k earnings in a year – 0 points |
Highest level of education |
(Only applied to International Student stream) |
PhD – 10 points |
Masters – 8 points |
Bachelors or equivalent – 6 points |
College diploma or trade certificate – 5 points |
Less than college or trade certificate – 0 points |
Field of study |
(Not applied to Foreign Worker or In-Demand Skills streams) |
Engineering – 10 points |
Health care – 10 points |
Math and Computer Science – 9 points |
Business and Administration – 7 points |
Trades – 7 points |
Social, Legal, Education and Science – 6 points |
Arts and Humanities – 5 points |
Canadian education experience |
(Not applied to Foreign Worker or In-Demand Skills streams.) |
More than one Canadian credential – 10 points |
One Canadian credential – 5 points |
Official language ability |
(Not applied to Foreign Worker or In-Demand Skills streams.) |
CLB 9 or higher – 10 points |
CLB 8 – 6 points |
CLB 7 – 4 points |
CLB 6 or lower – 0 points |
Knowledge of official languages |
(Not applied to Foreign Worker or In-Demand Skills streams.) |
2 Official Languages – 10 points |
1 Official Language – 5 points |
Regional immigration: location of job Offer |
(Not applied to Masters or PhD streams.) |
Outside GTA – 10 points |
Inside GTA – 6 points |
Regional immigration: location of study |
(Not applied to Foreign Worker or In-Demand Skills streams) |
Outside GTA – 10 points |
Inside GTA – 6 points |
Strategic priorities |
(To address immediate labour market needs in the province or a region of the province.) |
As determined by OINP on the expression of interest system invitation to apply webpage – 10 points (if in use). |
OINP Draw Results — Masters Graduate & PhD Graduate streams
These are the most recent draw results for the OINP Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams:
OINP Masters & PhD Graduate streams
Date of draw | Stream | Number of ITAs | Minimum points required | Additional info |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dec 21 | Masters Graduate | 725 | 46 | |
Oct 25 | PhD Graduate | 106 | 24 | |
Oct 25 | Masters Graduate | 535 | 35 | |
Sept 20 | Masters Graduate | 823 | 33 | |
Aug 30 | Masters Graduate | 680 | 37 | |
Aug 30 | PhD Graduate | 101 | 26 | |
June 1 | Masters Graduate | 491 | 38 | |
June 1 | PhD Graduate | 65 | 28 | |
Mar 30 | Masters Graduate | 398 | 39 | |
Mar 1 | Masters Graduate | 238 | 41 | |
Feb 28, 2022 | PhD Graduate | 173 | 16 | |
Sept 14, 2021 | Masters Graduate | 627 | 35 | |
Sept 14 | PhD Graduate | 64 | 16 | |
Aug 25 | Masters Graduate | 326 | 37 | |
Aug 18 | Masters Graduate | 402 | 39 | |
Aug 18, 2021 | PhD Graduate | 77 | 17 |
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