Posted by: Dimple Verma, RCIC-IRB #R708308
VG Immigration Services Canada
Published: March 19, 2026
On March 18, 2026, Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program issued a combined 1,243 invitations to apply across 6 targeted draws — and the biggest news was the long-awaited return of two streams that had been silent for over a year.
The Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams are officially back. For the first time since 2024, Ontario issued invitations under both graduate streams — delivering a lifeline to thousands of international graduates who had been waiting, planning, and hoping for exactly this moment.
This blog breaks down every draw, every score cut-off, every qualifying occupation, and — critically — why time is now running out for anyone who wants to use these pathways before Ontario’s OINP redesign permanently eliminates them.
🗓️ 👉 Book an OINP Strategy Consultation — If you hold a Masters or PhD from an Ontario institution, or work in a targeted occupation, your window may be closing. Act now.
The Big Picture: March 18, 2026 OINP Draws at a Glance
Ontario ran 6 targeted draws on March 18, 2026, covering four program streams:
Total invitations: 1,243 across 6 draws on a single day.
All eligible profiles must have been created and attested to by March 16, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. The eligibility window starts from July 2, 2025, which aligns with the OINP intake system changes introduced in July 2025 when the new Employer Portal launched.
🎓 The Big Story: Masters and PhD Graduate Streams Return After More Than a Year
This is the moment thousands of Ontario international graduates have been waiting for.
The entire calendar year of 2025 passed without a single invitation under either the Masters Graduate or PhD Graduate stream. Many students had chosen Ontario specifically because of the well-established graduate-to-PR pathway these streams offered — and when draws stopped, their plans were left in limbo.
The March 18, 2026 draws mark the first return of these streams since 2024, and Ontario has made them count:
- Masters Graduate stream: 582 invitations at score 30+
- PhD Graduate stream: 525 invitations at score 49+
That is 1,107 graduate stream invitations on a single day. This is significant — but as we explain below, it may also be one of the last opportunities before these streams are redesigned out of existence.
Masters Graduate Stream — Full Details
Who Qualifies?
To be eligible for the Masters Graduate stream draw on March 18, 2026, you must:
- Have completed a masters-level program at an Ontario post-secondary institution
- Currently reside in Canada with a valid work or study permit
- Have Canadian work experience in one of the targeted NOC codes
- Have created and attested your profile between July 2, 2025 and March 16, 2026
Minimum Score: 30 | Invitations: 582
Key Targeted Occupations (Masters Graduate Stream)
Ontario targeted a broad range of NOC occupations in this draw, spanning management, health, engineering, IT, and trades:
Management & Business:
- NOC 00010 – Legislators
- NOC 00012 – Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services
- NOC 10011 – Human resources managers
- NOC 10021 – Banking, credit and other investment managers
- NOC 20010 – Engineering managers
- NOC 20012 – Computer and information systems managers
Healthcare:
- NOC 30010 – Managers in health care
- NOC 31112 – Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
- NOC 31120 – Pharmacists
- NOC 31121 – Dietitians and nutritionists
- NOC 31202 – Physiotherapists
- NOC 31203 – Occupational therapists
- NOC 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- NOC 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
Technology & Engineering:
- NOC 21100 – Physicists and astronomers
- NOC 21200 – Architects
- NOC 21222 – Information systems specialists
- NOC 21311 – Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
Construction & Trades:
- NOC 70010 – Construction managers
- NOC 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades
- NOC 73201 – General maintenance workers and building superintendents
Social & Community Services:
- NOC 40030 – Managers in social, community and correctional services
- NOC 41301 – Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies
For the complete NOC list, visit the official OINP Masters Graduate stream page.
How to Apply — Masters Graduate Stream
- Log in to the OINP e-Filing Portal
- Click the newly created file number with the prefix NMAS
- Submit your application and payment within 14 calendar days — no extensions
🔬 PhD Graduate Stream — Full Details
Who Qualifies?
To be eligible for the PhD Graduate stream draw, you must:
- Have completed a doctoral-level program at an Ontario post-secondary institution
- Currently reside in Canada with a valid work or study permit
- Have Canadian work experience in one of the targeted NOC codes
- Have created and attested your profile between July 2, 2025 and March 16, 2026
Minimum Score: 49 | Invitations: 525
Key Targeted Occupations (PhD Graduate Stream)
The PhD stream targeted a tighter, more research and STEM-focused NOC list:
Science & Research:
- NOC 21100 – Physicists and astronomers
- NOC 21101 – Chemists
- NOC 21102 – Geoscientists and oceanographers
- NOC 21110 – Biologists and related scientists
- NOC 21120 – Public and environmental health and safety professionals
- NOC 21210 – Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
- NOC 21211 – Data scientists
Technology & Cybersecurity:
- NOC 21220 – Cybersecurity specialists
- NOC 21222 – Information systems specialists
- NOC 21223 – Database analysts and data administrators
- NOC 21230 – Computer systems developers and programmers
- NOC 21231 – Software engineers and designers
- NOC 21232 – Software developers and programmers
Engineering:
- NOC 21300 – Civil engineers
- NOC 21301 – Mechanical engineers
- NOC 21310 – Electrical and electronics engineers
- NOC 21311 – Computer engineers
- NOC 21322 – Metallurgical and materials engineers
- NOC 21331 – Geological engineers
Academia & Policy Research:
- NOC 41200 – University professors and lecturers
- NOC 41401 – Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts
- NOC 41403 – Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers
- NOC 41404 – Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers
Healthcare:
- NOC 31100 – Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- NOC 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
For the complete NOC list, visit the official OINP PhD Graduate stream page.
How to Apply — PhD Graduate Stream
- Log in to the OINP e-Filing Portal
- Click the newly created file number with the prefix NPHD
- Submit your application and payment within 14 calendar days — no extensions
💬 👉 Book an OINP Graduate Stream Consultation — These streams may have limited draws remaining before the May 2026 OINP redesign. Don’t miss this window.
🏥 Physicians Draw: 97 Invitations Under Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker Stream
Ontario continued its relentless focus on physician recruitment with 97 invitations issued under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream, targeting physicians with a score of 36 and above.
This follows 129 physician-specific invitations issued on February 2, 2026, and confirms that Ontario is treating physician immigration as a sustained priority — not a one-off.
Why Ontario Keeps Prioritizing Physicians
Over 2.3 million Ontarians currently lack a family doctor according to provincial data. International physician recruitment through immigration is now an integrated healthcare workforce strategy — and Ontario has leaned into it hard in 2026.
At the federal level, IRCC launched a dedicated Express Entry physician category on February 19, 2026, inviting 391 doctors at a historic low CRS cut-off of just 169 points — making 2026 the most physician-focused immigration year in Canadian history.
Qualifying NOC Codes — Physician Draw
- NOC 31100 – Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- NOC 31101 – Specialists in surgery
- NOC 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians
How to Apply — Physician Draw
- Review the Employer Job Offer stream requirements
- Log in to the OINP e-Filing Portal using file prefix JOXX
- Submit application and payment within 17 calendar days
🌍 REDI Pilot Draws: 39 Invitations for Rural Ontario Regions
The Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot issued 39 invitations split across three streams, targeting candidates with job offers in Lanark or Leeds and Grenville — two rural Ontario counties facing acute labour shortages.
REDI has appeared in every single OINP draw round in 2026 so far, reflecting Ontario’s strategy to distribute immigration benefits beyond the Greater Toronto Area and into smaller communities.
REDI Draw Breakdown
Foreign Worker Stream (REDI): 11 invitations | Score 47+
- NOC 11100 – Financial auditors and accountants
- NOC 22302 – Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists
- NOC 32104 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
- NOC 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- NOC 72302 – Gas fitters
- NOC 72410 – Automotive service technicians
International Student Stream (REDI): 17 invitations | Score 61+
- NOC 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- NOC 42201 – Social and community service workers
- NOC 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
- NOC 70010 – Construction managers
- NOC 72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
- NOC 73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators
In-Demand Skills Stream (REDI): 11 invitations | Score 30+
- NOC 44101 – Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations
- NOC 94100 – Machine operators, mineral and metal processing
- NOC 94111 – Plastics processing machine operators
- NOC 94140 – Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing
- NOC 94201 – Electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers
- NOC 95106 – Labourers in food and beverage processing
How to Apply — REDI Streams
- Your employer must apply through the OINP Employer Portal within 14 calendar days
- Log in to the OINP e-Filing Portal using file prefix JOXX
- Candidate must submit application and payment within 17 calendar days
⚠️ Why These May Be Among the Last Graduate Stream Draws — OINP Redesign Explained
This section is the most important part of this entire blog — and every Masters and PhD graduate in Ontario needs to read it carefully.
Regulatory Changes Effective March 16, 2026
On March 16, 2026, Ontario made significant regulatory changes to Ontario Regulation 421/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015.
Under amendments passed through the Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025, the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development now has authority to create or remove OINP selection streams without requiring new legislation.
This is a structural shift. Previously, changing OINP streams required a legislative process. Now the Minister can redesign entire programs by regulation alone — quickly and with limited notice.
What Is Being Eliminated — The May 30, 2026 Deadline
The confirmed timeline includes the revocation of 9 categories of applicants on May 30, 2026.
The proposed OINP redesign for 2026 follows a phased approach:
- Phase 1: Merge the three Employer Job Offer streams (Foreign Worker, International Student, In-Demand Skills) into a single unified stream with TEER-based tracks
- Phase 2: Eliminate the Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams entirely
In their place, Ontario plans to introduce:
- Priority Healthcare Stream
- Exceptional Talent Stream
- Redesigned Entrepreneur Stream
What This Means For You
If you are an Ontario masters or PhD graduate and you have not yet registered an Expression of Interest — May 30, 2026 is your hard deadline.
The March 18 draws may represent one of the final windows of opportunity under the current streams. There is no guarantee that additional draws will occur before the redesign takes effect.
Every week you wait is a week closer to the door closing permanently on these pathways.
⏰ Application Deadlines — Act Fast
If you received an invitation on March 18, 2026, you must act immediately:
| Stream | File Prefix | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Masters Graduate | NMAS | 14 calendar days from invitation |
| PhD Graduate | NPHD | 14 calendar days from invitation |
| All Employer Job Offer streams | JOXX | 17 calendar days from invitation (employer: 14 days) |
There are no extensions. Missing the deadline means losing the invitation entirely.
For Employer Job Offer streams, employers must act first — they have 14 days to submit through the OINP Employer Portal before candidates can complete their own application.
2026 OINP in Context: Ontario Is Moving Fast
Ontario’s draw activity in early 2026 has been aggressive:
- February 2, 2026: 1,825 invitations — healthcare, ECE, REDI
- February 18, 2026: 1,404 invitations — skilled trades
- March 18, 2026: 1,243 invitations — graduate streams, physicians, REDI
That is 4,472 Ontario invitations in approximately 6 weeks, against a total 2026 OINP allocation of 14,119 nominations — a 31% increase from 2025’s allocation of 10,750.
Ontario is spending its allocation faster than any recent year, and with a major program redesign confirmed for May 2026, the pace is unlikely to slow.
What You Should Do Right Now
If you received an invitation:
- Log in immediately to the OINP e-Filing Portal
- Submit all required documents within your deadline window — 14 or 17 calendar days, no exceptions
- For Employer Job Offer streams — contact your employer immediately; they must apply first
If you did not receive an invitation but are eligible:
- Check that your Expression of Interest profile is active, complete, and attested
- Verify your score against the draw cut-offs (30+ Masters, 49+ PhD, 36+ Physicians)
- Monitor the OINP Program Updates page daily — future draws have no advance notice
- Act before May 30, 2026, when categories are confirmed to be revoked
If you are not yet registered:
- If you hold a masters or PhD from an Ontario institution and have Canadian work experience — register your Expression of Interest today
- The window is closing. Every week you wait reduces the number of remaining draws you could be invited in.
🗓️ 👉 Book an OINP Consultation — We review your graduate credentials, work experience NOC, and OINP Expression of Interest score and advise on your best remaining pathway before May 2026.
How VG Immigration Helps OINP Applicants
At VG Immigration Services, we have been tracking Ontario’s OINP program closely throughout the 2025 disruptions and the 2026 redesign rollout.
Our OINP service includes:
- ✅ Expression of Interest assessment — review your score, NOC eligibility, and Ontario program fit before you register
- ✅ Profile creation and optimization — ensure your OINP EOI is complete, accurate, and competitive for targeted draws
- ✅ Graduate stream preparation — Masters and PhD applicants: we prepare your complete OINP application package ready for immediate submission the moment an ITA is received
- ✅ Employer Job Offer guidance — coordinate with your employer on the OINP Employer Portal submission timeline and requirements
- ✅ REDI pilot eligibility review — if you have a job offer in rural Ontario, we assess REDI pilot eligibility and handle the full application
- ✅ May 2026 strategy — we help you understand which pathways survive the OINP redesign and how to position for Priority Healthcare, Exceptional Talent, or new streams
- ✅ Federal pathway integration — OINP nomination connects to Express Entry or direct federal PR; we manage your complete immigration strategy from OINP EOI to final PR landing
The OINP redesign is happening fast. The right advice now saves months of delay and missed opportunities later.
📌 This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Program details, draw schedules, and eligibility criteria can change without notice. Always verify current requirements at ontario.ca or consult a licensed RCIC or immigration lawyer for advice specific to your situation.
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Dimple Verma, RCIC-IRB #R708308