Master’s Graduates: Path to Canadian Permanent Residency

Since you do not require job experience to apply, you may have an easier path to permanent residency if you have a master’s degree from a Canadian university.

International graduates with a master’s degree can apply for permanent residency in Ontario through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s (OINP) Master’s Graduate Stream. Without requiring previous job experience, this stream is intended to assist highly qualified persons in obtaining permanent residency. This possibility can expedite your immigration process to become a permanent resident of Canada if you are a foreign graduate in Ontario!

Applying to the OINP master’s graduate stream does not require a work offer, in contrast to most other immigration channels. However, before applying to the master’s graduate stream, you must register an expression of interest and receive an invitation to apply (ITA), according to the website of the Government of Ontario.

OINP Master’s Graduate Stream requirements

Education: You must have finished a master’s degree from an accredited Ontario university in order to be eligible for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Master’s Graduate Stream. If you were a part-time student, your program still needs to be comparable to a full-time academic year, which comprises at least one full academic year of study. If you are still a student at the time of application, you cannot apply under this stream unless you are employed full-time in Ontario or your degree is required to fulfil the requirements for a particular field’s licence.

Importantly, you must complete any conditions associated with receiving financing (such a scholarship or grant) that require you to return to your home country before you may apply.

Language: You must be able to communicate in either French or English at a level 7 or above on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). The Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core, the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) (General), and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (General Training) are the recognised English language assessments.

The recognised language assessments for French are the Test de connaissance du français (TCF) and the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF). At the time of application, all tests must have been completed within the previous two years.

Residency Status: Until you are nominated, you must be a lawful resident of Ontario at the time of your application with a valid employment, study, or visitor permit. If you fit the “living in Ontario” condition below and have returned home after completing your master’s, you may also apply from outside of Canada.

Regretfully, you cannot apply under this stream if you are living in a Canadian province other than Ontario at the time of your application.

Living in Ontario Requirement: Within the two years prior to your application, you must have been a lawful resident of Ontario for at least 12 months (1 year). If it equals 12 months throughout the course of the two years, the 12 months do not have to be consecutive; they can be several months or weeks at a time.

Financial Requirements: Upon arrival in Canada, you will need to prove that you have sufficient funds to sustain yourself and any dependents you may have. Bank statements, savings, employment offers, and other documents can demonstrate this.

Deadlines: Your master’s degree must be completed within two years of the date you submitted your application. Use the date on the official university letter indicating when you will graduate if your degree hasn’t been issued yet.

Intend to live in Ontario: It goes without saying that you must plan to live in the province of Ontario permanently in order to be eligible for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. You can show your intention by accepting job offers in the province, volunteering at Ontario-based organisations, having relatives who reside there, renting real estate in Ontario, and many other ways.

In the end, one of the primary objectives of this immigration stream is to demonstrate to the Ontario government that you genuinely want to live in and call Ontario home.

At Kingston Immigration Consultant Pvt. Ltd., we’ve helped hundreds of individuals successfully navigate their path to permanent residency. Our team of experts can assess your eligibility for the OINP Master’s Graduate Stream and ensure you meet all the necessary requirements for the best possible outcome.

Take advantage of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Master’s Graduate Stream and secure your Canadian PR card today!