Quebec Skilled Worker Program

Under the Masters Graduate Stream of Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), international graduates with an Ontario master’s degree can apply for provincial nomination from Ontario. In order to be eligible under the Stream, the candidate must meet certain requirements:

1. Education

The candidate must have fulfilled the requirements necessary to get a master’s degree. These include full-time study with a duration of at least one academic year and the degree must be obtained from an eligible university in Ontario. Those who are currently enrolled as a student do not qualify to apply under the stream. But those who are studying to meet the requirements to obtain a job license and those who work full-time in Ontario are exempted from this condition.

International students who have received a bursary, grant or scholarship that requires them to return to their home country after completing the studies are also not eligible to apply under the Stream.

2. Language

The candidate must have proficiency in the official languages of Canada– English or French– at a level equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or higher. The language proficiency must be demonstrated with the results of an approved language test.

Approved English language tests

• International English Language Testing (IELTS) (General)
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) (General)

Approved French language tests

• Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF)
• Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF)

The candidate must have appeared for the test within two years before submitting the application.

3. Residency in Ontario

The candidate must have lived in Ontario for at least one year within the past two years in order to be eligible.

4. Settlement funds

The candidate must have enough funds to support themselves and their family members when they settle in Ontario. The funds can be demonstrated with:

• Bank statements or statements of accounts showing other investments such as non-locked in, fixed term deposits, mutual funds, etc.
• Annual earnings from the current employment in Ontario
• A job offer from an Ontario employer

5. Intention to settle in Ontario

The candidate must intend to settle in Ontario once they receive permanent residence status in Canada. The OINP officials determine the candidate’s intention to reside in Ontario by examining the following:

• Work experience or current employment in Ontario
• Job offer from Ontario employer or applying to or interviewing for jobs in Ontario.
• Studying in Ontario
• Volunteering
• Leasing or owning property in the province
• Visiting the province
• Professional networks and affiliations, family ties and personal relationships in the province.

6. Residency at the time of application

At the time of submitting the application, the candidate must be either residing legally in Ontario or in another country. If the candidate is living in any province or territory other than Ontario, they do not qualify to apply under this stream.

7. Legal status

If the candidate is applying from within Canada, they must be legally residing in the country. This can be demonstrated with a visitor record, study permit, or work permit. The candidate needs to maintain the legal status till receiving nomination.

8. Application period

The candidate needs to submit the application for provincial nomination within two years of obtaining the master’s degree.

9. Eligible universities

The candidate must have obtained the master’s degree from one of the following universities:

• 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)
• 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

The candidate, upon successfully submitting the application, would receive a Nomination Approval Letter and an OINP certificate of nomination. Within six months, they can apply for permanent residence in Canada with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Provincial Nominee Programs open up vast opportunities for qualified immigrants to start a new life in Canada. Choose the right immigration pathway for you with the help of experienced immigration lawyers and consultants to ensure maximum success for your immigration application. Contact us for more information