Ontario's Masters Graduate Stream to reopen

Ontario's Masters Graduate Stream reopened briefly to new registrations on Tuesday, March 5, and closed again within two hours due to a "technical issue."

Ontario had announced the previous day that the popular stream would open to 1,000 registrations on a first-come, first-served basis. It is unclear, however, if this quota was met before the technical problem occurred.

Registration periods typically end quickly for the Masters Graduate Stream, which is a popular permanent residence pathway among international students because it does not require a job offer in order to be eligible.

The stream is open to international graduates with a master's degree obtained at an eligible university in Ontario and allows them to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence.

The stream met its quota and closed within an hour when it last opened in April 2018.

Registration is the first step for international graduates who would like to be considered for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence through the Masters Graduate Stream.

Those who register successfully then have 14 calendar days to submit a complete application for a provincial nomination.

In order to be eligible, graduates must be living in Ontario with legal status or living outside Canada, among other criteria.

Graduates living in a province or territory in Canada other than Ontario are not eligible to apply.

The Masters Graduate Stream is one of two immigration programs offered under the OINP’s International Student Category. The other stream is open to PhD graduates who have completed a degree from an eligible Ontario academic institution.

For more information on the eligibility requirements for the OINP's Masters Graduate Stream, visit this dedicated page.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs