Ontario Expands EOI System To Include Masters Graduate And PhD Graduate Streams

Graduates with job offers in Ontario province can now register for a chance to be nominated by the province through two new immigration programs. The new Expression of Interest (EOI) system in Ontario has been completed with the addition of the Masters Graduate and Ph.D. Graduate streams.

In-Demand Skills, International Student, and Foreign Worker are the other three programs that employ the EOI system.

Ontario ranks candidates’ profiles using the EOI method, which uses a scoring matrix.

Candidates are awarded points based on their educational background, job experience, and desired destination in Ontario, among other things.

The purpose of rating applicants in this manner is to determine which ones have the necessary skills and experience to thrive in the Ontario labor market.

Candidates that register for the EOI system are not guaranteed to be invited to apply for a provincial nomination.

In Ontario’s EOI pool, profiles are valid for 12 months.

Registrants may be contacted by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) at any time to apply for a nomination.

How do I register an Expression of Interest?

The first step is to create a valid profile in the OINP e-Filing Portal.

Then read the applicant requirements for your stream to be sure that you are qualified.

After that, you may sign-up for an expression of interest for one or more streams.

You can only register one EOI profile at any given moment.

At the time of registration, the information you submit must be accurate.

To keep the information current, you may change your profile at any moment.

Eligibility Requirements

Masters Graduates Stream

This stream offers an opportunity to obtain permanent residence to international students who obtained a master’s degree in Ontario without requiring a job offer.

To be eligible to apply, a candidate must meet the following criteria:

• Graduated from a Master’s degree program from an eligible institution in Ontario, that was at least one year full-time.
• Obtained minimum language CLB/NCLC level 7 or above in English or in French.
• Resided legally in Ontario for at least one year in the last two.
• Have sufficient settlement funds.
• Intend to live and work in Ontario.
• Must have legal status in Ontario or abroad.
• Applications from elsewhere in Canada will not be accepted.
• The application must be submitted within two years of completing the requirements to graduate with the master’s degree.

Ph.D. Graduates Stream

This stream offers international students an opportunity to become permanent residents who hold a Ph.D. degree from Ontario without requiring a job offer.

To be eligible to apply, a candidate must meet the following criteria:

• Graduated from a Ph.D. degree program in an eligible institution in Ontario, and have completed at least two years full-time.
• Resided legally in Ontario for at least one year in the last two.
• Have sufficient settlement funds.
• Intend to live and work in Ontario.
• The application must be submitted within two years of completing the requirements to graduate from the Ph.D. degree.

Ontario Expression of Interest: Scoring Factors

1) Job Offer: NOC Skill Level

(Not applied to Masters Graduate or Ph.D. Graduate streams.)

• NOC Skill Level A: 10 points
• NOC Skill Level B: 8 points
• NOC Skill Level C: 0 points
• NOC Skill Level D: 0 points

2) Job Offer: NOC Type

(Not applied to Masters Graduate or Ph.D. Graduate streams.)

• NOC Type 0, 1, 2, 3, 9: 10 points
• NOC Type 4, 5, 6, 7, 8: 5 points

3) Job Offer: Wage

(Not applied to Masters Graduate or Ph.D. Graduate streams.)

• $40 per hour or higher: 10 points
• $20 to $39.99 per hour: 5 points
• Less than $20 per hour: 0 points

4) Canadian Work Experience: Length

• 12 months or more: 4 points
• Less than 12 months: 0 points

5) Canadian Work Experience: NOC Skill Level

• NOC Skill Level A: 3 points
• NOC Skill Level B: 0 points
• NOC Skill Level C: 0 points
• NOC Skill Level D: 0 points

6) Canadian Work Experience: Earnings History

• $40k or more earnings in a year: 3 points
• Less than $40k earnings in a year: 0 points

7) Highest Level of Education

(Only applied to International Student stream)

• Ph.D.: 10 points
• Masters: 8 points
• Bachelors or equivalent: 6 points
• College diploma or trade certificate: 5 points
• Less than college or trade certificate: 0 points

8) Field of Study

(Not applied to Foreign Worker or In-Demand Skills streams)

• Engineering: 10 points
• Health care: 10 points
• Math and Computer Science: 9 points
• Business and Administration: 7 points
• Trades: 7 points
• Social, Legal, Education, and Science: 6 points
• Arts and Humanities: 5 points

9) Canadian Education

(Not applied to Foreign Worker or In-Demand Skills streams.)

• More than one Canadian credential: 10 points
• One Canadian credential: 5 points

10) Language Ability (English or French)

(Not applied to Foreign Worker or In-Demand Skills streams.)

• CLB 9 or higher: 10 points
• CLB 8: 6 points
• CLB 7: 4 points
• CLB 6 or lower: 0 points

11) Knowledge of Official Languages

(Not applied to Foreign Worker or In-Demand Skills streams.)

• 2 Official Languages: 10 points
• 1 Official Language: 5 points

Regional Immigration: Location of Job Offer

(Not applied to Masters or Ph.D. streams.)

• Outside GTA: 10 points
• Inside GTA: 6 points

Regional Immigration: Location of Study

(Not applied to Foreign Worker or In-Demand Skills streams)

• Outside GTA: 10 points
• Inside GTA: 6 points

Strategic Priorities

(To address immediate labor market needs)

• As determined by OINP: 10 points