Quebec Experience Program: Foreign workers

The PhD Graduate Stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) gives international graduates who have obtained a PhD degree from an Ontario university a chance to settle in Ontario permanently. To be eligible under the stream, the candidate must meet the following requirements.

1. Education

The candidate must have obtained a PhD degree from an eligible university in Ontario. At least two years of their PhD must have been completed while legally residing in Ontario. However, the international students who have received a bursary, grant or scholarship that requires them to return to their home country once they finish the studies are not eligible under this stream. But they can apply after fulfilling these commitments and demonstrating their intention to live in Ontario.

2. Residency in Ontario

The candidate must have lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years.

3. Settlement funds

The candidate must prove that they 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

4. 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.

5. 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.

The candidate must apply for provincial nomination within two years of obtaining the PhD. Upon successfully applying, the candidate would receive a Nomination Approval Letter and an OINP Certificate of Nomination. With these, they can apply for permanent residence in Canada with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), within six months.

Eligible universities under the OINP PhD Graduate Stream are:

• Brock University
• Carleton University
• Dominican University College
• Lakehead University
• Laurentian University
• McMaster University
• Nipissing 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

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