OINP - (Worker) Masters Graduate Stream - No Job Offer Required

If you have graduated with a Master's degree from a university in Ontario, this is one of the "good" pathways to apply for Ontario Provincial Nomination (OINP) and progress towards permanent residency (PR) without requiring a job offer.

Who is this program for?

You are a good fit if:

• Hold a Master's degree from a qualifying university in Ontario.
• I want to live and work long-term in Ontario.
• Can meet the Club 7+ requirements and residency/financial requirements.

Main conditions

1) Academic requirements (Master's degrees in Ontario)

• Complete the requirements to be awarded a Master's degree.
• The program of study must be equivalent to at least one year of full-time academic study (typically a minimum of 15 hours of study per week during the academic year; part-time study may be acceptable if equivalent).
• The degree-awarding institution must be on the list of eligible universities in Ontario.

Important note:

• It is not eligible if you are a student at the time of application, except in certain special circumstances (e.g., studying to qualify for a regulated profession, or you are working full-time in Ontario).
• If you have ever received a scholarship/bursary/grant requiring you to return to your home country after completing your studies: you can only apply if you have fulfilled your commitment and demonstrated your intention to live in Ontario.

2) Foreign Languages

• English or French: CLB 7 or higher
• The test results must be valid as required (usually within 2 years prior to the application date).

3) Residing in Ontario

• You must have legally resided in Ontario for at least 12 months within the last 24 months prior to applying (calculated cumulatively, gaps may occur).

4) Proof of financial means for immigration

You need to demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support yourself financially (you can use one or a combination of methods):

• Eligible bank/investment balance
• Income while working in Ontario
• Job offer (if any)

5) Intention to live in Ontario

OINP assesses through "connections" such as: education, work, renting/buying a home, family, professional networks, community activities, etc.

6) Place of residence at the time of application

At the time of submission, you must:

• Currently residing in Ontario with legal status, or
• Currently outside of Canada
  (Not eligible if residing in a Canadian province/territory other than Ontario.)

7) Application deadline

• Documents must be submitted within two years of completing the requirements for receiving the Master's degree.

Application process (EOI → Invitation → Submit application)

1. Register an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the OINP system.
2. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) (if invited).
3. Submit your application online by the deadline specified in the invitation letter.
4. If nominated → submit PR application to IRCC (federal decision is final).

Scoring based on EOI (Expiration Date) - you are scored according to groups of criteria.

Typically, points will be awarded based on groups such as:

• Work/study permit status
• Income history (Notice of Assessment)
• Educational level
• Field of study (preferably STEM/Health/Trade)
• Language proficiency
• Studying in Ontario (outside the GTA often offers advantages)

How does KeyApply support you?

KeyApply can provide comprehensive support in accordance with the OINP logic:

• Assess eligibility (Ontario residency, 2-year duration, legal status, EOI score)
• EOI strategy: optimize factors that can increase your score (educational profile – language – region – finances)
• Standardize your application: academic documents, proof of Ontario residency, settlement finances, explanations of "sensitive" points (residency gap, large deposit, tied-up scholarships, etc.).
• Proofread and submit your online application on time and according to the checklist.
• Monitor and respond to additional requests if the program requires an update.

Suggest quick action

If you wish, please send KeyApply the following 5 pieces of information, and we will help you quickly "filter" your eligibility for a Master's Graduate program:

1. Graduation date/program completion letter
2. University and name of the Master's program
3. How long have you been in Ontario in the last 24 months?
4. IELTS/CELPIP/TEF/TCF scores (if available)
5. Current status (are you in Ontario or outside Canada)

The above information is for general reference only, based on the program description you provided; regulations may change from time to time.

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