The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has modified the International Student stream for permanent residency to increase eligibility for foreign students who have earned a one-year college graduate certificate.
These new OINP changes to the International Student Stream are now in effect beginning January 1st, 2024. Those who submitted an application prior to this date are unaffected by this change.
Previously, applicants with a one-year certificate from an approved institution could only apply through the OINP’s International Student stream if the program required the completion of a degree as a prerequisite for admission. This is no longer the case.
This new modification now applies to OINP eligibility for any one-year college program that grants an Ontario College Graduate Certificate.
Effective January 1, 2024 | Prior to January 1, 2024 | |
Program requirement | Students who completed a one-year certificate from an Ontario college resulting in an Ontario College Graduate Certificate are eligible. | Students who completed a one-year certificate from an Ontario college were only eligible if their program required a degree for admission. |
Program eligibility | Most one-year graduate certificate programs in Ontario will become eligible. | Most certificates were ineligible. |
This change increases the number of certificate programs that are now eligible for OINP.
The Expression of Interest (EOI) scoring method for the highest educational degree and additional Canadian credentials have been updated to reflect this change.
Canadian credential or educational credential assessment is required.
The work or study permit must confer legal status.
The work in the job offer position must have occurred within Ontario.
Based on a Notice of Assessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency in the last five years,
Points are awarded based on the field of study of the eligible education credential being used for the OINP application.
A credential must be a post-secondary education credential from an eligible institution that takes at least one year to complete on a full-time basis.
Yes, a full-time and permanent job offer is required for the OINP International Student Stream.