The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is a provincial program aimed at helping foreign workers and international students come to Canada to work or learn. Through this system, the program issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) throughout the year to potential candidates who meet eligibility criteria.
Candidates can choose from multiple streams to apply, one being the Master’s Graduate (MG) Stream. The MG Stream is for international students who have completed their Master’s degree in an eligible university in Ontario and are looking for permanent residency in the province.
The MG Stream is not aligned with Express Entry (EE), meaning candidates cannot take advantage of EE’s 6-month average processing times. Instead, those who apply through MG Stream see processing times of 12 months since it is considered a program through a Provincial Nominee Program.
However, the MG Stream does not require a valid job offer or work experience in its criteria to apply. What is needed is providing proof of having enough liquid funds to support yourself and any family members.
What the system does share with EE is its point system. Candidates should strive for high scores, as only the highest-ranking candidates will receive invitations.
How does the MG Stream break down points?
The MG Stream point system assesses the Expressions of Interest (EOI) that candidates submit. Below is the breakdown of how points are gained.
Job Offer
- NOC Skills Level
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- 0NOC A – 10 points // NOC B – 8 points // NOC C or D – 0 points
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- Job Offer – NOC Type
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- NOC Type 0,1,2,3 and 9 – 10 points // NOC Type 4,5,6,7 and 8 – 5 points
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- Job Offer – Wage
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- $40 per hour or higher – 10 points // $20 to $39.99 per hour – 5 points // Less than $20 per hour – 0 points
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Canadian Work Experience
- Canadian Work Experience – Length
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- 12 Months or more – 4 points // Less than 12 months – 0 points
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- Canadian Work Experience – NOC Skill Level
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- NOC A – 3 points // NOC B, C, or D – 0 points
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- Canadian Work Experience – Earnings History
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- $40K or more earnings in a year – 3 points // Less than $40K earnings in a year – 0 points
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- Highest level of Education
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- 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
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Other Qualifications
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Field of study
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- 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
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Canadian education experience
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- More than one Canadian credential – 10 points // One Canadian credential – 5 points
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Official language ability
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- CLB 9 or higher – 10 points // CLB 8 – 6 points // CLB 7 – 4 points // CLB 6 or lower – 0 points
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Knowledge of official languages
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- 2 Official Languages – 10 points // 1 Official Language – 5 points
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Regional immigration: location of job Offer
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- Outside GTA – 10 points // Inside GTA – 6 points
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Regional immigration: location of study
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- Outside GTA – 10 points // Inside GTA – 6 points
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Strategic priorities (To address immediate labour market needs in the province or a province region.)
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- As determined by OINP on the expression of interest system invitation to apply webpage – 10 points (if in use).
Ontario released the number of invitations issued for the MG Stream on October 25, 2022, which was 535. Once a candidate receives their ITA, the next step for them is to apply for the MG Stream.
The average score for these invitations was 35 and above. If you think you’d be a good candidate for the MG Stream, and are considering applying for the program, here are the nine categories of eligibility requirements that applicants must meet.
1) Expression of interest and invitation to apply
You must have received an invitation to apply within the deadline identified. You must also demonstrate that you had the qualifications you claimed in the expression of interest you registered with the OINP and attested to.
2) Education
To qualify, you must have completed the requirements necessary to get a master’s degree. This means at least one academic year of full-time study (that is, at least 15 hours of instruction per week over the academic year, including any period of training in the workplace as part of your studies. Part-time studies may qualify if the program is equivalent to at least one full-time academic year)
In addition, the degree has to be from an eligible university in Ontario. You won’t be able to qualify if you are enrolled as a student when you are applying unless:
- It is to meet the requirements to be licensed in a regulated occupation in Ontario
- You are also working full-time in Ontario
In addition, applicants don’t qualify if they have received a bursary, grant or scholarship that requires them to return to their home country after they earn their master’s degree. The only time to apply is after you have fulfilled those commitments and can demonstrate an intention to live in Ontario.
3) Language
You must be able to understand, read, write and speak in English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher. To prove that you have the mandatory language skills, you must take an approved English or French test before submitting your application to this stream. The test must have been taken up to two years before you submit your application.
4) Residency in Ontario
You must have legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years before you apply. This one year of residency can be cumulative. This means that there can be gaps provided that all the residency periods in Ontario add up to 12 months within the past two years before you apply.
5) Settlement funds
As mentioned above, you must have enough money to support yourself and your dependent family when settling in Canada. Family members include your spouse, common-law partner and children under 22 including their children.
You can meet this requirement through one or a combination of any of the following:
- Proof of funds through bank statements or statements of accounts showing other investments such as non-locked-in, fixed-term deposits, mutual funds, etc.
- Annual earnings from ongoing employment in Ontario
- A job offer in Ontario
If you provide bank statements that include a one-time large deposit, the government may ask you to provide additional documentation to support that your funds are free of debt or liability.
6) Intention to live in Ontario
You must confirm your intention to live in Ontario after you’ve been granted permanent residence. This is done by working in Ontario, volunteering, leasing or owning property, or having professional networks and affiliations, family ties and personal relationships in the province.
7) Residency at the time of application
When you apply, you must be either living in Ontario with legal status (study permit, work permit, or visitor record) or outside Canada. Remember, you don’t qualify if you’re living in a province or territory in Canada other than Ontario at the time you apply.
8) Legal status in Canada (if applicable)
If you are applying from within Canada, you must have legal status (a visitor record, study permit, or work permit) at the time you apply and should maintain that status until the time of nomination.
You may apply if you are in implied status at the time of your application submission. This means you applied to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to renew/extend your temporary status document (a visitor record, work permit, or study permit) before its expiry date. You can remain working or studying in Canada under the same conditions as your existing permit until a decision is made on your pending IRCC application.
9) Application period
You must submit your application within two years of completing the requirements necessary to obtain your master’s degree. This means that the date on your degree must be within two years of your application submission date. It is not the date you received the invitation to apply.
If you don’t have your degree yet, use the date on the official letter from your university. It states the date your degree will be granted.
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We have helped over 1,000 newcomers work, study and do business in Canada through the years. Our firm offers free consultations to help you find the best pathway suited for you. You might even be eligible for the MG Stream. Talk to one of our immigration specialists today by clicking the link here to get started.
