A total of 918 permanent residency invites were issued by Ontario today using the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, focusing on foreign-educated students with masters or doctoral programs from designated institutions of higher learning in Ontario.
In the OINP draw held on April 22, 2026, which was conducted in two categories, 674 invites were issued for the OINP Masters Graduate category and 244 invites were issued for the OINP PhD Graduate category.
It is the second time in 2026 that Ontario has issued invitations using its education-based categories after the historic March 18 draws that saw the return of these pathways after one year of inactivity in 2025.
Applicants must be residing in Canada and have a work/study permit to be eligible for today’s Ontario immigration draw.
Ontario PNP Draw April 22, 2026 Details
The following details summarize every aspect of today’s OINP draw:
| Detail | Masters Graduate | PhD Graduate |
| Invitations Issued | 674 | 244 |
| Minimum EOI Score | 61 | 56 |
| Profile Creation Window | Apr 22, 2025 – Apr 20, 2026 | Apr 22, 2025 – Apr 20, 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 14 calendar days | 14 calendar days |
| File Prefix | NMAS | NPHD |
Breakdown Of Masters vs. PhD Streams
The Masters Graduate category of the OINP attracted more invitations, with a total of 674 invitations issued, which is in line with the previous trend that the majority of Education Category invitations have been extended to masters graduate candidates historically.
The minimum score required from candidates in the Masters Graduate stream was set at 61 points, equal to the threshold Ontario established for the draw on March 18, 2026, under the Masters Graduate stream.
The number of PhD Graduate candidates invited totaled 244, and the minimum score was set at 56 points, which is lower than the minimum threshold set for the Masters Graduate stream.
Ontario recognizes that the small number of PhD candidates in Ontario’s Expression of Interest system qualifies them to have more research experience.
The OINP PhD Graduate and Masters Graduate streams do not align with Express Entry, meaning that candidates receiving invitations through these streams apply for permanent residence through the Ontario Nominee Program (OINP).
Upon being nominated by Ontario, they can submit an application for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada via Express Entry or outside of the program.
Key Eligibility Conditions
To qualify for today’s Ontario PNP draw, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Must currently reside in Canada at the time of receiving the invitation
- Must hold a valid work permit or study permit conferring legal status in Canada
- Must have an active Expression of Interest profile created between April 22, 2025, and April 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. in the OINP e-Filing Portal
- Must meet all eligibility requirements specific to the Masters Graduate stream or PhD Graduate stream, including having graduated from an eligible Ontario university
- Must have completed the required program duration at an eligible Ontario institution
What Candidates Should Do Next
Candidates who received an invitation in today’s draw must act immediately because the application deadline is firm and cannot be extended.
- Log in to the OINP e-Filing Portal and locate the newly created file number with the prefix NMAS for the Masters Graduate stream or NPHD for PhD Graduate stream
- Review the Masters Graduate stream or PhD Graduate stream requirements page on the Ontario government website to confirm eligibility
- Gather all mandatory documents listed on the relevant stream page before beginning the application
- Submit the complete application and payment within 14 calendar days of receiving the invitation
- Do not confuse the new application file number with the original EOI file number, as the EOI profile will appear greyed out in the portal once an invitation has been issued
Why This Draw Matters
This draw holds immense importance since both the Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams were inactive for the entire year of 2025, leaving many international students without a chance to apply for permanent residence through these channels based on their education.
These two streams were reinstated by the province of Ontario on March 18, 2026, and this draw confirms that the province continues to issue invitations through these two streams before the expected revamp of the OINP system.
The province has officially announced that nine categories of individuals who are eligible for nomination in the province will have their nomination revoked as of May 30, 2026, implying that the Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams might get abolished under the revamped immigration system.
International graduates who lack the required high CRS score in the Express Entry system and cannot compete with other applicants through federal Express Entry draws can use these OINP pathways for immigration to Canada and obtaining PR status.
Express Entry CRS scores have risen to 515 points recently in the Canadian Experience Class draws, making the OINP Masters and PhD Graduate streams some of the easiest immigration options available for international graduates in Ontario.
A Total of 5,800 PR Invitations In April 2026 So Far
The issuance of these latest invitations in April 2026 brings the total OINP invitations in April to more than 5,800 invitations.
Ontario has issued invitations on April 1 in the mining occupation category; April 8 for healthcare and regional development; April 15 for the In-Demand Skills stream category; and finally on April 22 for the Masters and PhD Graduate streams.
This trend clearly shows that April 2026 is one of the most active months for OINP, as Ontario tries to make use of its 14,119 nominations allocation for the current year.
Key Takeaways
- Ontario issued 918 invitations on April 22, 2026, across the Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams
- The Masters Graduate stream sent 674 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 61
- The PhD Graduate stream sent 244 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 56
- Candidates must reside in Canada with a valid work or study permit
- Eligible profiles must have been created between April 22, 2025, and April 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
- Invited candidates must submit their application and payment within 14 calendar days
- These streams may be eliminated after May 30, 2026, under the upcoming OINP program redesign
The applicants who have been invited by today’s draw must consider the 14-day deadline for applications as final, and start working on the necessary documentation without any delay.
Given the expected changes in the OINP program that will result in the abolition of all nine existing selection streams on May 30, 2026, today’s invitation may be considered among the last chances for getting a provincial nomination under either the Masters Graduate or PhD Graduate streams.
Ontario is actively issuing invites from different streams, and the interested individuals should be ready to receive a notification about a new invitation every day.
In the recent PNP draw from Ontario, it is quite evident that the province is proceeding at a rapid pace in issuing nominations through various categories as long as it still has clarity within the current system.
The Masters and PhD Graduates stream of the PNP of Ontario continues to present itself as an important channel for achieving permanent residency status without requiring a job offer, but the time left for applying may be running out.
As the complete redesigning of the PNP program in Ontario is scheduled for May 30, 2026, it becomes imperative for individuals receiving invitations now to gain their nomination while others still in the running must continue to prepare themselves for further invitation rounds.