To be eligible to apply as a PhD Graduate, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
have successfully completed all requirements for the degree (i.e. have completed all course work, and successfully defended their thesis and are awaiting the conferring of their degree) at an eligible publicly-funded university in Ontario where the applicant completed at least two years of study (Visit the OINP website for a list of eligible publicly-funded Ontario colleges and universities),
applying within two years of the date on which their PhD was granted,
intends to live and work in Ontario, and
have legal status in Canada (i.e. study permit, work permit, visitor record) if living in Canada at the time of the application
PhD applicants can also apply for OINP outside of Canada.
Application Guide for Nominees: International Students – PhD Graduates
International Students: PhD Graduates Stream - Who can apply?
To be eligible to apply as a PhD Graduate, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
have successfully completed all requirements for the degree (i.e. have completed all course work, and successfully defended their thesis and are awaiting the conferring of their degree) at an eligible publicly-funded university in Ontario where the applicant completed at least two years of study,
applying within two years of the date on which their PhD was granted,
intends to live and work in Ontario, and
have legal status in Canada (i.e. study permit, work permit, visitor record) if living in Canada at the time of the application
PhD applicants can also apply for OINP outside of Canada.
Refugee claimants with an application to remain in Canada that is pending are not eligible to apply for OINP. A refugee claimant whose claim has been rejected, abandoned or withdrawn must exit Canada prior to applying for OINP. Refugee claimants may only apply to OINP once they have left Canada.
International students subsidized through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) grants or home country scholarship with return obligations will not be eligible for Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program unless such obligations have been fulfilled.
What is the International Students – PhD Graduates Stream?
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers an opportunity for International Students – PhD Graduates to live and work permanently in Ontario.
Prospective nominees applying under the PhD Graduate stream can apply without a job offer. Applicants can send their nominee application directly to OINP.
The application fee for PhD Graduates is $1500. This fee must be included in the nominee application package.
Re: International Students – PhD Graduate Stream has reached its registration intake limit
Please note that the International Students – PhD Graduate Stream has reached the registration intake limit. No additional registrations for this stream can be accepted.
The OINP is monitoring the intake of applications with respect to the limits of Ontario’s federal nomination allocation, and will determine if any more applications can be accepted for this stream in the months ahead.
Please monitor this OINP Updates page for news, announcements and program developments.