Ontario PhD Graduate Stream (OPG)
Visa
- Permanent Resident
Status
- Open
GSB
ON-SB
SUMMARY
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
The PhD Graduate Stream is an immigration stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. It gives international graduates with an Ontario PhD degree the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario.
This stream is operated under an expression of interest system. You can only apply if you first register an expression of interest (EOI) and are issued an invitation to apply.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
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MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
The following requirements must be met if you are applying to PhD Graduate Stream:
1- Education in Ontario
You must have completed the requirements necessary to obtain a PhD degree. The degree must be from an eligible university in Ontario. To qualify for the PhD Graduate Stream, your PhD degree must be from one of the universities listed below:
- Brock University (➨brocku.ca)
- Carleton University (➨carleton.ca)
- Dominican University College (➨dominicanu.ca)
- Lakehead University (➨lakeheadu.ca)
- Laurentian University (➨laurentian.ca)
- McMaster University (➨mcmaster.ca)
- Nipissing University (➨nipissingu.ca)
- Queen’s University (➨queensu.ca)
- Royal Military College of Canada (➨rmc-cmr.ca)
- Ryerson University (➨ryerson.ca)
- Saint Paul University (➨ustpaul.ca)
- St. Jerome’s University (➨sju.ca)
- Trent University (➨trentu.ca)
- University of Guelph (➨uoguelph.ca)
- University of Ontario Institute of Technology (➨ontariotechu.ca)
- University of Ottawa (➨uottawa.ca)
- University of St. Michael’s College(➨ stmikes.utoronto.ca)
- University of Toronto (➨utoronto.ca)
- University of Trinity College (➨trinity.utoronto.ca)
- University of Waterloo (➨uwaterloo.ca)
- University of Windsor (➨uwindsor.ca)
- Victoria University (➨uvic.ca)
- Western University (➨uwo.ca)
- Wilfrid Laurier University (➨wlu.ca)
- York University (➨yorku.ca)
At least two (2) years of your PhD studies must have been completed while legally living and studying in Ontario.
You don’t qualify if you have received a bursary, grant or scholarship that requires you return to your home country after you earn your PhD degree. You may only apply after you have fulfilled those commitments and can demonstrate an intention to live in Ontario. You must submit your application within two years of completing your PhD degree.
2- Residency in Ontario
You must have legally lived in Ontario for at least one (1) year in the past two (2) years before you apply.
3- Settlement Funds
You must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada based on 50% of Statistics Canada’s Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) (➨Appendix 2), unless you are currently able to legally work in Canada or you have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada.
You can meet this requirement through the annual earnings of your job offer from your employer. If the annual salary of your job offer is insufficient to meet the settlement funds requirement based on your family size, you can show that you have enough to make up the difference.
4- Ineligibility
You are not eligible to apply under the Ontario PhD Graduate Stream if you are a refugee claimant in Canada, a failed refugee claimant, had a removal order, are prohibited from entering or being in Canada, do not have status in Canada or are living illegally in your country of residence.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
ON-MRA
CALCULATE YOUR SCORE
If you meet all above minimum requirement, then OINP will rank you in the selection pool, either on a general basis (rank all candidates who registered an expression of interest) or on a targeted basis (rank only those candidates who have one or more targeted labour market or human capital attributes) and invite the highest ranking candidates to apply (➨immilib.com/OPG-Grid).
| Selection Factor | Maximum Points |
| FFactor 1: Canadian Work Experience | 13 |
| Factor 2: Education | 22 |
| Factor 3: Language Ability | 20 |
| Factor 4: Location of Study | 10 |
| Maximum Points Total | 65 |
| Selection Pass Mark | Varies * |
| * For latest draws go to (➨immilib.com/OPG-Draws) | |
Factor 1: Canadian Work Experience
If you have Canadian work experience with your job offer employer, you will receive up to 13 points based on your status and your earning history.
| Work or Study Permit Status | Points |
| With valid work or study permit status | 10 |
| Without valid work or study permit status | 0 |
| Canadian Work Experience Earning History | Points |
| $40k or more earnings in a year | 3 |
| Less than $40k earnings in a year | 0 |
Factor 2: Education
You can receive up to 10 points for your field of study.
| Field of Study | Points |
| Engineering | 12 |
| Health care | 12 |
| Math and computer science | 12 |
| Business and administration | 6 |
| Trades | 6 |
| Social, legal, education and science | 6 |
| Arts and humanities and other | 0 |
Additionally you can receive up to 10 points if you have studied in a Canadian public institution and have received a degree or diploma that takes at least two (2) year to complete or a one (1) year program that requires a degree as an admission requirement.
| Canadian Education | Points |
| More than 1 Canadian credential | 10 |
| 1 Canadian credential | 5 |
Factor 3: Language Ability
To be awarded point for language, you must have taken an approved test results.
Test must be taken no more than two (2) years prior to the date your EOI is submitted.
The lowest score achieved in the four (4) skills (Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening) is your score.
| First official language (English or French) | |
|
First Official Language (Lowest score in any of 4 skills) |
Points |
| CLB 9 or more | 10 |
| CLB 8 | 6 |
| CLB 7 | 4 |
| CLB 6 or lower | 0 |
You will receive extra points based on knowledge of one or two official languages (a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 7 in one official language and a minimum CLB 6 in the second official language).
| Knowledge of Official Languages | Points |
| 2 official languages | 10 |
| 1 official language | 5 |
To prove you language abilities you must take any of the following approved tests:
- English: IELTS General or CELPIP General or PTE Core
- French: TEF Canada or TCF Canada
To find out the equivalent CLB level for any of the above approved tests, see (➨Appendix 5).
Factor 4: Location of Study
You will be awarded points based on the location of your studies in Ontario.
| Location of Study | Points |
| Northern Ontario | 10 |
| Other areas outside GTA (except Northern Ontario) | 8 |
| Inside GTA (except Toronto) | 3 |
| Toronto | 0 |
| Your Total Score |
GCYSA
ON-CYSA
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?
Step 1: Get a PhD Degree in Canada
In order to apply under the Ontario PhD Graduate Stream, the first step is to obtain a PhD degree from an eligible Canadian institution. Your PhD degree must be from one of the universities listed in the “Minimum Requirements” section.
You need a study permit (➨Page) in order to study in Canada. Before you apply for a study permit, you need an acceptance letter from one of the eligible institutions.
Step 2: Submit an Online OINP Expression of Interest
If you meet the minimum criteria, you can register and submit an Expression of Interest to OINP. You must create a candidate profile within the OINP e-filing Portal (➨immilib.com/OPG-Apply). Within the portal you must choose the PhD Graduate Stream and follow the instructions to submit the Expression of Interest (EOI).
Recent Draws – OINP International Student Stream | ||
| Date of Draw | No. of ITA * | Min. Score |
Sep 17, 2024 | 194 | 45 |
Jul 9, 2024 | 110 | 50 |
Mar 19, 2024 | 104 | 42 |
Updates and Complete list of previous Draws available at: immilib.com/OPG-Draws | ||
Following submission you will be able to check the most up-to-date information regarding the status of your application at any time by logging in. If you are selected, you will receive a message in your Portal account including an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Your expression of interest registration will remain valid for up to 12 months until you receive an invitation to apply or until you withdraw your registration.
Step 3: Submit Application to OINP
If you are selected from the candidate pool and receive an invitation to apply, you may submit your application online and pay the application by credit or debit card in the OINP e-filing Portal (➨immilib.com/OPG-Apply).
You application must be submitted within 14 calendar days of receiving the ITA.
All supporting documents must be scanned and uploaded in your online application and you need to submit a complete application online in the OINP e-filing Portal.
| OINP Application | |
| Submit online application: | |
| immilib.com/OPG-Apply | |
| Official Program Guide: | |
| immilib.com/OPG-Guide | |
| Processing Time: | |
| immilib.com/ON-PT | |
| OINP Application Fee: | |
| $1,500 | |
| Document Checklist: | |
| Contact: | |
| 416-327-0374 | |
| [email protected] | |
You must submit your application within two (2) years of completing the requirements necessary to obtain your PhD degree. If you don’t have your degree yet, use the date on the official letter from your university which states when your degree will be granted.
After you submit your application, you will receive an email confirming that your file has been received and accepted for processing. This will include your OINP file number.
You can check the status of your application through your account in the OINP e-Filing Portal.
If your application is successful, you will receive a Nomination Approval Letter and an OINP Certificate of Nomination by email.
Step 4: Apply for Permanent Residence
If you are nominated by the province of Ontario, then your next step is to submit a complete application for a permanent resident visa within six (6) months (➨Page).
You must submit your application using the IRCC Permanent Residence Portal (PR Portal) (➨ immilib.com/PR-Portal).
If your application is complete, you will receive a letter or an email confirming that your file has been received and accepted for processing. This letter is called the Acknowledge of Receipt (AOR) and will include your IRCC file number.
Once you have received your acknowledgement of receipt, you can create an online account and link your application to it. By creating an account, you will be able to receive email updates and a more detailed case status.
Step 5: Landing in Canada
If your application is approved, you will be asked to pay your right of permanent residence fee if you haven't already done so. You will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) and if you are from a country that requires a visa you will also be issued a permanent resident visa.
You will only become a Permanent Resident of Canada when you cross a Canadian port of entry. This is referred to as ‘landing in Canada' (➨Page).
You must land in Canada before the expiry date, which appears on your Canada Immigration Visa. Usually, the expiry date is one (1) year from the time medical examinations were completed. As this is not always the case, be sure to verify the expiry date as soon as the Canada Immigration Visa is received.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
ON-WSYTA
WELCOME TO ONTARIO!
GWA
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