Two new Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) draws were conducted today, September 17, 2024, inviting a total of 1,443 candidates to apply for permanent residency (PR).

OINP issued a staggering 1,249 PR invites in a general draw for the Masters Graduate Stream to candidates with an Expression of Interest (EOI) score of 53 or above.

In comparison to the previous Masters Graduate Stream draw on July 9, this EOI cutoff score dropped by a mere 1 point.

Furthermore, the second OINP draw under the PhD graduate stream sent 110 invitations to apply to EOI profiles with a score of 45 or higher.

Compared to the previous PhD graduate stream on July 9, this EOI cutoff score dropped by 5 points.

OINP StreamNumber of invitations issuedDate profiles createdScore rangeNotes
Masters Graduate stream1,249September 17, 2023 – September 17, 202453 and aboveGeneral Draw
PhD Graduate stream194September 17, 2023 – September 17, 202445 and aboveGeneral Draw

An Excellent Choice for International Students in Canada

For international students seeking permanent residency (PR) in Canada, the OINP Masters Graduate Stream remains a viable option.

As Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores in Express Entry applications remain high, it is critical to investigate other options, such as the OINP, particularly for students.

Instead of focusing on getting Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) or managing payrolls, international students can profit from pursuing a master’s degree at a reputable Canadian university.

This technique provides various benefits:

  • Boosting academic credentials: Enrolling in a master’s program improves academic qualifications, which may lead to future work prospects in Canada.
  • Maintaining legal status: Studying in Canada enables students to legally stay in the country while enhancing their prospects of obtaining permanent residency.

The OINP Masters Graduate Stream stands out since it does not require employment offers, LMIAs, or payroll management.

As a result, students are encouraged to engage in their education and professional growth to improve their PR applications.

2024 OINP Draw Summary: Expression of Interest (EOI)

To date, the OINP has issued 20.296 invitations for permanent residency through its Expression of Interest (EOI) procedure for 2024.

Here’s an overview of the invitations by stream:

OINP Streams2024 Invitations2023 Invitations
Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream4,9674,032
Employer Job Offer: International Student stream8,3632,963
Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream914807
Masters Graduate stream5,5195,734
PhD Graduate stream533486

There were 8,363 invites for the International Student Stream and 5,519 for the Masters Graduate Stream.

All 2024 OINP Masters Graduate Stream Drawings

Date issuedNumber of invitations issuedDate profiles createdScore rangeNotes
September 17, 20241,249September 17, 2023 – September 17, 202453 and aboveGeneral Draw
July 9, 20241,556July 9, 2023 – July 9, 202454 and aboveGeneral Draw
March 19, 20241,370March 19, 2023 – March 19, 202452 and aboveGeneral Draw
January 24, 20241,344January 24, 2023 – January 24, 202450 and aboveGeneral Draw

The 2024 OINP PhD Graduate Stream Draws

Date issuedNumber of invitations issuedDate profiles createdScore rangeNotes
September 17, 2024194September 17, 2023 – September 17, 202445 and aboveGeneral Draw
July 9, 2024110July 9, 2023 – July 9, 202450 and aboveGeneral Draw
March 19, 2024104March 19, 2023 – March 19, 202442 and aboveGeneral Draw
January 24, 2024125January 24, 2023 – January 24, 202445 and aboveGeneral Draw

Overview of the 2024 Ontario Express Entry draws

How can I qualify for OINP Express Entry draws?

Generally, to be considered for OINP express entry draws, you need to have a valid express entry profile with the intention of immigrating to Ontario.

A separate profile with OINP is not needed to be considered for these draws since Ontario PNP reviews valid express entry profiles and sends notification of interest directly to the express entry system of intended candidates.

However, OINP clearly states, as we quote, “Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria are not guaranteed a notification of interest and receiving a notification of interest does not guarantee that you meet stream criteria or that your application will be approved.”

So reviewing program eligibility criteria is important when responding to a notification of interest.