Ontario PhD Graduate Stream (Closed)
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) previously included a PhD Graduate Stream for international graduates who completed eligible doctoral studies in Ontario and wanted to apply for permanent residence without a job offer. The stream is now closed to new applicants following Ontario’s 2026 redesign of the OINP. New Expressions of Interest and applications can no longer be submitted under this pathway, although applications filed before the closure continue to be processed under the rules that applied at the time of submission. Candidates who may previously have qualified under the PhD Graduate Stream should now review the current OINP pathways available under the redesigned program.
OINP PhD Graduate Stream Closure
The OINP PhD Graduate Stream is now closed and is no longer available to new applicants.
In 2026, Ontario redesigned the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program and removed eight former immigration streams, including the PhD Graduate Stream. The province replaced the previous structure with a new system focused more directly on Ontario’s workforce and labour market priorities.
As a result:
- New Expressions of Interest cannot be submitted under the PhD Graduate Stream.
- Ontario will not issue further invitations under this stream.
- Candidates cannot submit a new PhD Graduate Stream application.
- Applications submitted before the stream was closed continue to be assessed according to the requirements that were in effect when the application was received.
Candidates who previously would have considered the PhD Graduate Stream should review the current OINP pathways to determine whether they may qualify under Ontario’s redesigned program.
At this stage, 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 OINP PhD Graduate Stream Worked
Before its closure, the PhD Graduate Stream allowed eligible graduates of Ontario universities to seek provincial nomination without requiring a job offer.
Applicants generally had to have completed the requirements for a PhD from an eligible Ontario university, including at least two years of PhD studies while legally living and studying in Ontario. Applicants generally had to apply within two years of completing the requirements for their qualifying Ontario PhD.
The stream required applicants to demonstrate:
- a qualifying PhD education in Ontario;
- at least one year of legal residence in Ontario during the previous two years;
- sufficient settlement funds;
- legal status in Canada when applicable; and
- an intention to live in Ontario.
Candidates first registered an Expression of Interest (EOI) with Ontario. The OINP periodically invited selected candidates based on their EOI score and applicable draw criteria. An invitation allowed the candidate to submit a full application for provincial nomination. Meeting the stream’s eligibility requirements did not guarantee an invitation to apply; candidates also had to be selected through Ontario’s EOI system.
A job offer was not required under the former PhD Graduate Stream.
Ontario held its final published PhD Graduate draws in 2026, including a draw on April 22, 2026, when 244 candidates with scores of 56 or higher received invitations.
