Individuals who recently graduated from a degree or diploma study program at a Canadian university or college may apply for a provincial nomination under the International Student category – also known as the International Student with a job offer stream – of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
With a nomination, the applicant may then 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.
Applicants must:
- Have graduated from or have met the requirements of a full-time degree or diploma program at an eligible publicly-funded Canadian college or university that is at least two years in length or a one year post-graduate certificate program, which requires a previous degree in order to qualify;
- Have completed at least half of their studies in Canada;
- Apply within two years from the date on which they graduated; and
- Have an approved permanent, full-time job offer in a high-skilled occupation (National Occupational Classification level 0, A or B) that meets the entry-level wage levels in Ontario for that occupation.
Some other things to note:
- The Ontario International Student category is not aligned with the federal Express Entry system. Applications for permanent residence made following a nomination under this stream are processed entirely outside Express Entry.
- The study program does not have to have been located in Ontario; graduates of study programs across Canada may be eligible to apply.
- Having a job offer from an employer in Ontario is required; it is not possible to successfully apply to this stream without a job offer.
- Ontario employers looking to hire under this stream must first submit a Pre-Screen Application to have the position they wish to fill approved by OINP.
- The application fee for international students with a job offer is $1500. This fee can be paid by either the applicant or the employer.
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