Maple News reports that the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Masters Graduate stream reached its application cap and was closed within hours of opening on September 29. The popular pathway for international graduates from Ontario universities gained immediate and intense interest, with 1,215 registrations submitted before the province shut down intake for the round.
The Masters Graduate stream, part of Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), offers permanent residence nomination opportunities for international students who have earned a master’s degree from an eligible Ontario institution. Unlike some other immigration streams, candidates do not require a job offer to apply.
The stream operates on a first-come, first-served basis. To apply, interested candidates must use the OINP e-Filing Portal, accessible only via desktop computers. The province did not specify an exact opening time in its announcement, resulting in applicants rushing to apply the moment the portal became available.
Because of high demand, users may have encountered a digital queue or volume warning on the application page. According to Ontario officials, this is typical and not an error. Once the maximum number of registrants is reached, the system closes automatically.
Applicants who successfully registered will receive a confirmation email from the OINP within three business days, containing a file number. They are then given 14 calendar days to complete and submit their full application.
Maple News notes that while the online application takes approximately two hours to complete, users are allowed to save their progress and return later. This helpful feature ensures applicants can review their submission before finalizing it.
Ontario has not yet indicated when the Masters Graduate stream will reopen. Applicants are advised to monitor the OINP website regularly for updates.
This sudden closure underscores the high demand for provincial nomination opportunities among international graduates in Ontario, reflecting both the stream’s accessibility and its popularity.