Ontario Masters Graduate Stream

Ontario is one of the most well-known provinces in Canada, which is home to the nation’s capital city, Ottawa, and the nation’s most populous city, Toronto. The main language in Ontario is English, which is being used proficiently by 97,2% of the residents. 

Ontario is the main economic concentration of Canada, in which finance and banking, and IT are developing significantly. Also, tourism contributes much to this area, especially in central Ontario, with activities like hunting, skiing, and snowmobiling.

What is the Ontario Masters Graduate Stream?

Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) is the program to allow suitable people to apply for permanent residence. There is a wide range of streams under this program, and Masters Graduate Stream is suitable for those who graduate Master in one of Ontario universities.

The opening completed the intake of 1,000 new registrations that originally began March 5 but ran into technical difficulties before the quota was reached. A total of 333 registrations were submitted successfully on March 5 and closed again within two hours due to a “technical issue”. Besides, on April 30th, the stream met its quota and closed within an hour when it last opened in April 2018 so the government accepted the remaining 667 registrations before closing. 

Requirements/Eligibility

1. Background:

• Have legal status in Canada  (a visitor record, study permit, or work permit) or residing outside of Canada at the time of application.
• Legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years before applying.
• Have the genuine intention to settle in Ontario.

2. Education:

You must hold a Master’s Degree from an Ontario University. The Master’s program must be at least one full – time academic year or part-time equivalent. The date on the degree is not exceeded two years at the time you apply for OINP.

Your Master’s degree must be from one of these universities below:

• Algoma University
• Brescia University College (Affiliated with the University of Western Ontario)
• Brock University
• Carleton University
• Dominican University College
• Huron University College (Affiliated with the University of Western Ontario)
• King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario
• Lakehead University
• Laurentian University
• McMaster University
• Nipissing University
• Ontario College of Art & Design University
• Queen’s University
• Royal Military College of Canada
• Ryerson University
• Saint Paul University (Federated with the University of Ottawa)
• St. Jerome’s University (Federated with the University of Waterloo)
• Trent University
• University of Guelph
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology
• University of Ottawa
• University of St. Michael’s College (Federated with the University of Toronto)
• University of Toronto
• University of Trinity College (Federated with the University of Toronto)
• University of Waterloo
• University of Windsor
• Victoria University (Federated with the University of Toronto)
• Western University
• Wilfrid Laurier University
• York University

3. Language ability:

You can take English or French. The minimum requirement for each ability is 7 in Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)/Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC)

4. Skilled work experience

No job offer or work experience required

5. Sufficient Funds

You are recommended to base on the minimum funds required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the Express Entry program.

The number of family members and the funds required (in Canada dollars): 

• 1 – $12,669
• 2 – $15,772
• 3 – $19,390
• 4 – $23,542
• 5 – $26,701
• 6 – $30,114
• 7 – $33,528

For each additional family member – $3,414

Besides not meeting the requirements above, you are not eligible for Ontario Master Graduate if:

• You have not had a Master’s degree yet. Final year students are ineligible either.
• Individuals who are currently enrolled in further academic studies, unless it is for the purpose of meeting the requirements to be licensed in a regulated occupation in Ontario, or unless the individual is working on a full-time basis in Ontario.
• You are a student who has studied in Canada under sponsorship from an agency or government that expects you to return to your country of origin once you have graduated;
• You currently live outside Ontario.

Process

You can apply by yourself or use a representative. If you choose to apply through your representative, you should take a look at the instructions here.

If you apply yourself, here are the main steps of application:

• Preparing all the documents required.
• Applying the application.
• Getting the nomination and apply for the permanent residence (PR).
• Informing the authorities after being approved for PR.

1. Gathering documents 

Make sure you prepare all of the documents so that your application is not delayed.

• Photograph
• Passport
• Dependent family members’ passports
• Status documents issued by IRCC or CBSA (one of them below)

• • Work permit 
  • Student permit
  • Temporary resident visa 
  • Other Canadian immigration documents

• Residency in Ontario (one of them below)

• • Monthly bills (phone bills, energy bills, etc)
  • House/apartment insurance
  • Documents demonstrate your residency
  • Payslips from an Ontario employer

• Eligible Master’s degree
• Official transcripts issued by your academic institution.
• Other education documents (if applicable)
• Language tests (one of them below)

• • IELTS General
  • CELPIP General
  • TEF Canada 
  • TCF Canada

• Settlement funds
• Intention to live in Ontario (one of them below)

• • Working or have worked in Ontario
  • Getting job offers or applying/interviewing for jobs
  • Studying
  • Volunteering
  • Leasing or owning property
  • Visiting
  • Having professional, social or personal relationships

• Résumé

2. Submitting the application

The application is processed online. Please log in (or create a new account) on OINP e – Filing Portal, then choose Masters Graduate Stream and follow the instructions. You can read detailed online system guidelines here. 

It takes about two hours to complete your application. You do not need to do it all at once, but you must submit your application within 14 calendar days after your first registration.

3. Getting the nomination and applying for permanent residence

If the application is approved, you will receive a Nomination Approval Letter and an OINP Certificate of Nomination by email. Next, you apply for PR through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) paper-based process within six months. Read the Document Checklist Permanent Residence – Provincial Nominee Class and Quebec Skilled Worker to prepare documents that must accompany your application to Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You then send all your documents to the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) – Sydney.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship

Provincial Nominee Class

Centralized Intake Office

PO BOX 1450

Sydney, NS

B1P 6K5

Canada

4. After the approval for permanent residence

If you are approved for permanent residence, you will receive:

• Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR)
• A PR visa (if you’re from a country that requires a visa).
• Letter with important information about your COPR and other requirements.

Then, 

• If you have already been in Canada, you have to make an appointment to IRCC office or border crossing entry to ensure your information is valid, and you are still eligible for permanent residence. Besides, you info your mail so that you can receive a permanent residence card (PR card).
• If you have not been to Canada yet, then when you arrive in Canada, you will meet an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). He or she will check your passport, your COPR, your information to make sure you are eligible to immigrate to Canada.

Cost

Besides the amount you have to pay for Permanent Residence process (click here to know how to pay the fees), you have to pay the additional fee for the Master Graduate application to complete your nomination:

• Application for Ontario Master Graduate stream, $CAD 1,500 (pay on OINP e – Filing Portal by VISA/Mastercard cards).
• Your application with right of permanent residence fee: $CAD 1,040
• Your application without right of permanent residence fee: $CAD 550
• Include your spouse or partner with right of permanent residence fee: $CAD 1,040
• Include your spouse or partner without right of permanent residence fee: $CAD 550
• If you include dependent child: $CAD 150 per child
• Biometrics (if you have not done before): $CAD 85 per person, maximum $CAD 170 for family
• Medical checkups
• Language tests
• Police certificate
• Other fees

How long does it take?

The approval for the Ontario Master Graduate stream application can process for two months. Processing for PR can last up to 19 months including the time for biometrics to receive the outcome. In total, it takes a maximum of 21 months to complete the whole application. Besides, you can experience delays if:

• Your photocopies of the documents are unclear.
• Verification of your information and documents takes more time than expected.
• A medical condition that may need more tests or consultations.
• A criminal or security problem.
• Consultation is needed with other offices in Canada and abroad.