Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) invitations to apply (July 09, 2024)

In 2024, the OINP conducted multiple draws for the Master’s Graduate Stream, issuing a total of 1,556 invitations on July 9th. The minimum score required increased from 52 in the March 19th draw to 54 in the July 9th draw, indicating rising competition. The draws were open to profiles created between July 9, 2023, and July 9, 2024, targeting recent graduates from eligible Ontario universities. Candidates must meet language, education, and settlement fund requirements to qualify for this stream.

On July 9, 2024, the OINP also conducted a general draw for the PhD Graduate Stream, issuing 110 invitations to candidates with a minimum Expression of Interest (EOI) score of 50. This was an increase of 8 points compared to the previous PhD Graduate Stream draw on March 19, 2024, where the minimum score was 42. Both draws were open to profiles created between July 9, 2023, and July 9, 2024, targeting recent PhD graduates from eligible Ontario universities. Invited candidates now have 14 days to submit a full application to the OINP to confirm their eligibility and obtain permanent residency in Ontario.

The Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) uses an expression of interest system to select individuals who may qualify for one of the immigration streams listed below. If candidates are identified from the candidate pool, they will receive an invitation to apply through the OINP e-Filing Portal account. Receiving an invitation to apply does not guarantee that you meet the requirements for one of our streams, and not all applicants who meet Ontario’s stream criteria will receive an invitation. After receiving an invitation, you may apply online if you qualify under the specified stream. Applications must be submitted within 14 calendar days of receiving the invitation.

In total, this year the Ontario invited 13,455 candidates through the OINP.

Invitations to apply issued in 2024 to date:

• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream – 3,569
• Employer Job Offer: International Student stream – 5,277
• Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream – 0
• Masters Graduate stream – 4,270
• PhD Graduate stream – 339
• Entrepreneur stream – 0

Below is a tabulation of all draws since the start of the year 2024

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has significantly increased the frequency and volume of its draws, issuing thousands of invitations to potential permanent residents. This uptick reflects Ontario’s proactive approach to addressing labor and skill shortages by attracting skilled immigrants. The draws have been strategically targeted towards in-demand occupations such as skilled trades, technology, and healthcare, highlighting the province’s focus on filling critical labor gaps. Additionally, the competition for the Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams has intensified, with minimum scores rising throughout the year, exemplified by the Masters Graduate Stream cutoff increasing from 52 in March to 54 in July. Ontario also conducted a draw specifically for French-speaking skilled workers in January, aligning with its goal to boost the number of French-speaking immigrants. There is an ongoing debate about balancing targeted and general draws, with some advocating for maintaining general draws to ensure opportunities for a wider range of skilled immigrants. Ontario has requested a higher allocation from the federal government to support more employers seeking skilled foreign workers, indicating the province’s intent to welcome more immigrants to bolster economic growth. Ensuring equitable access and maintaining inclusive policies are also important considerations, as some stakeholders are concerned about underrepresentation of certain demographic groups in the OINP draws.