Ontario PhD Graduate is one of the Human Capital streams of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) operated by the province of Ontario. PhD Graduate targets recent graduates with doctoral degrees obtained at an Ontario institution and who have the intention of living and working in Ontario.
Get StartedCandidates who are successfully nominated through the Ontario PhD Graduate Stream will be invited to submit an official application for Canadian permanent residence.
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | No |
| Connection to Province | Study Experience |
| Job Offer | No |
| Language Proficiency | No minimum |
| Level of Education | PhD |
| Work Experience | No minimum |
| Investment Requirement | None |
Connection to Ontario
Candidates must demonstrate past residency in Ontario. Successful applicants must show that they have resided in Ontario for at least 12 out of the 24 months prior to the application and they must be residing in Ontario when their application is submitted.
Level of Education
In order to qualify for the Ontario PhD Graduate stream, candidates must have completed a doctoral degree from an eligible Ontario institutions within the last two years. At least two years of study must have been completed in Ontario.
Settlement Funds
All candidates for the Ontario PhD Graduate stream must meet the settlement funds requirement as determined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This can be demonstrated through their own finances, or through maintaining a valid offer of employment.
Intention to Reside
Applications also require proof of intention to reside in Ontario permanently, possibly through an Ontario job offer or family connections.
This stream operates under the OINP Expression of Interest system.
Eligible applicants can submit an EOI through OINP’s e-Filing Portal throughout the year for the chance to be invited to apply for nomination. Profiles are ranked on an OINP points-based system. The highest-ranking candidates will be issued an invitation to apply in one of the OINP draws.
Once an invitation is received, the applicant has 14 calendar days to apply for nomination.
If the province approves the application, Ontario will notify the applicant they have been selected for provincial nomination. This notification will be sent to the applicant’s ONe-Key account within the e-Filing Portal.
After receiving a provincial nomination, an applicant must submit a federal application for Canadian permanent residence. Applicants in this program must complete and submit a paper-based application for permanent residence and submit it by mail to the appropriate application centre. Paper-based PNP applications for permanent residence are generally processed within 18 months.
| Factor | Maximum Points | |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Work Experience | Length | 4 |
| NOC skill level | 3 | |
| Earnings history | 3 | |
| Education | Field of study | 10 |
| Canadian education experience | 10 | |
| Language | Official language ability (CLB level) | 10 |
| Knowledge of official languages (English, French, or both) | 10 | |
| Regional Immigration | Location of study | 10 |
| Strategic Prorities | Ontario may award additional points to address labour market needs as required | 10 |
| Total Available Points | 70 | |
Below is information regarding recent Ontario PhD Graduate draws.
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