Maple News reports that Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued invitations to apply on March 18 under the Master’s Graduate and PhD Graduate streams — the first ITAs issued under these streams since September 2024. The province targeted more than 1,100 international student graduates with Canadian work experience in in-demand occupations. On the same day, OINP issued a total of 1,243 ITAs across six draws, aimed at both international students and foreign workers with experience in specific National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes.
The combined Master’s Graduate and PhD Graduate streams accounted for 1,107 ITAs on March 18: 582 invitations through the Master’s Graduate stream and 525 through the PhD Graduate stream. These were targeted draws prioritizing candidates with Canadian experience in designated NOC codes. Minimum score thresholds were 30 for the Master’s Graduate stream and 49 for the PhD Graduate stream.
Eligible applicants were profiles created between July 2, 2025, and March 16, 2026, with all profiles attested by March 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
These invitations marked Ontario’s third round of draws in 2026, following earlier draws in February. The Master’s and PhD streams are part of Ontario’s enhanced Provincial Nominee Program strategy, designed to attract skilled graduates withCanadian work or study experience to help address provincial labor needs.
Experts say these targeted draws underscore Ontario’s emphasis on graduates with Canadian experience in specific occupations, offering a clear pathway to permanent residency for eligible applicants. For graduates aiming to stay in Ontario, provincial nomination remains a critical step toward securing permanent residency and contributing to the province’s innovation and workforce expansion.