Ontario Masters Graduate Stream Closed in 2026
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) previously offered a Master’s Graduate Stream for international students who completed an eligible master’s degree in Ontario and wanted to pursue permanent residence without an employer-supported job offer. The stream was permanently closed on May 30, 2026 as part of Ontario’s broader redesign of the OINP. New candidates can no longer register an Expression of Interest or submit an application through this pathway, while applications filed before the closure continue to be handled under the applicable rules. Graduates considering immigration to Ontario should now review the pathways available under the redesigned OINP.
Master’s Graduate Stream Closure
Ontario permanently closed the OINP Masters Graduate Stream on May 30, 2026 as part of a broader redesign of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. The redesign was intended to better align provincial immigration with Ontario’s labour market and workforce needs while simplifying the previous OINP structure. As a result, the former graduate-specific Masters Graduate Stream is no longer available for new registrations or applications.
Following the closure:
- new candidates can no longer register an Expression of Interest under the Master’s Graduate Stream;
- no further invitations will be issued through the former stream;
- new Master’s Graduate applications cannot be submitted; and
- applications submitted before the closure remain subject to the rules and requirements applicable to those files.
The final published general draw for the stream took place on April 22, 2026, when Ontario issued 674 invitations to candidates with scores of 61 or higher who met the draw conditions.
Ontario graduates who would previously have considered this stream should instead review the current OINP streams and eligibility requirements introduced under the redesigned program.
As of September 2026, the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream is the only new stream launched under the redesigned OINP, with further program changes expected to be announced.
How the Master’s Graduate Stream Worked
Before it closed, the Master’s Graduate Stream provided an Ontario nomination pathway for qualifying graduates of eligible Ontario universities. Unlike employer-driven OINP streams, applicants did not need a job offer to qualify. This was a significant difference from the current Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, under which most applicants must have a qualifying Ontario job offer.
Under the former requirements, candidates generally needed to have completed the requirements for an eligible master’s degree in Ontario, involving at least one academic year of full-time study, and to apply within the permitted period after completing the degree.
Applicants also had to meet additional requirements relating to:
- previous residence in Ontario;
- English or French language ability of at least CLB 7;
- sufficient settlement funds;
- legal status in Canada, where applicable; and
- an intention to reside in Ontario.
The stream operated through Ontario’s Expression of Interest system. Candidates first created an EOI profile and received a score based on the factors used by the province. Ontario then held general or targeted draws and invited selected candidates to submit a full application for provincial nomination.
