On March 18, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued invitations to apply (ITAs) under its Master’s Graduate and PhD Graduate streams for the first time in over a year.
The province invited more than 1,100 international student graduates with Canadian work experience in targeted occupations. This is the first time the province has issued invitations to apply (ITAs) under these streams since September 2024.
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In total, the OINP issued 1,243 ITAs across six draws on the same day, targeting both international students and foreign workers with experience in specific National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes.
Ontario considered profiles created between July 2, 2025, and March 16, 2026. All profiles had to be attested by March 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
These draws mark Ontario’s third round of invitations in 2026, following earlier draws held in February.
Draw details: Master’s Graduate and PhD Graduate streams
The OINP issued a combined 1,107 ITAs through its Master’s Graduate and PhD Graduate streams. Candidates were required to be residing in Canada with a valid work or study permit.
These were targeted draws, so candidates with experience in specific occupations were prioritized.
The minimum score thresholds and number of invitations varied by stream:
| Stream | Minimum score | Invitations issued | Notes |
| Master’s Graduate Stream | 30 | 582 | Targeted draw for candidates with Canadian experience in specific NOC codes |
| PhD Graduate Stream | 49 | 525 | Targeted draw for candidates with Canadian experience in specific NOC codes |
These draws are notable as they represent the first invitations issued under these streams since 2024. The last draw held under both the Masters and PhD Graduate Stream was on September 17, 2024.
Draw details: Employer Job Offer streams
In addition to international student streams, Ontario issued 136 ITAs through its Employer Job Offer streams.
Of these, 39 invitations were issued under the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot, which works within the existing job offer streams. To have qualified, candidates needed to have a job offer in Lanark, Leeds, or Grenville and be residing in Canada with valid status.
Breakdown of invitations:
Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream: Physicians
Finally, 97 invitations were sent to physicians who qualified under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream.
| Stream | Minimum score | Invitations issued | Notes |
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker | 36 | 97 | Targeted draw for Physicians |
Occupations with a job offer in the following NOC codes were prioritized:
What’s changing for the OINP?
These draws come as Ontario prepares for significant changes to its immigration system.
Recent amendments to the Ontario Immigration Act outline the revocation of several existing application categories, including the following:
- Foreign worker category;
- International student with a job offer category;
- In-demand skills category;
- Master’s Graduate category;
- PhD Graduate category;
- Human Capital Priorities category;
- French-speaking skilled worker category;
- Skilled trades category; and
- Entrepreneur category.
These changes are scheduled to take effect on May 30, 2026.
The provincial government has proposed introducing four streams that will replace the existing streams, namely:
- A consolidated Employer: Job Offer stream;
- A priority healthcare stream;
- An entrepreneur stream; and
- An exceptional talent stream.
Specific details regarding the implementation or timelines of these proposed streams are yet to be announced.
Assess your eligibility for Ontario’s enhanced PNP streams
