On March 18, 2026, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held six targeted draws and issued a total of 1,243 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across the Master’s Graduate Stream, PhD Graduate Stream, and several Employer Job Offer pathways. Of these, 1,107 invitations were issued under the Master’s and PhD Graduate streams, marking the first time these two streams have issued invitations since September 17, 2024. To be considered in these draws, candidate profiles had to be created between July 2, 2025, and March 16, 2026, and had to be attested by 11:59 p.m. on March 16, 2026.

This was Ontario’s third round of invitations in 2026, following two earlier rounds in February. The draws focused on international student graduates and foreign workers already in Canada who held valid work or study permits and had work experience in specific occupations.

Master’s and PhD Graduate Streams Resume Invitations

The most closely watched development in this round was the reopening of the Master’s Graduate Stream and the PhD Graduate Stream. Through these two streams, the OINP issued a combined 1,107 invitations, all through targeted draws that prioritized candidates with Canadian work experience in specific NOC occupations.

Results for the Master’s and PhD Graduate Streams

According to the published details, candidates under both streams were required to be residing in Canada and to hold a valid work permit or study permit.

These draws drew particular attention because they represent Ontario’s first invitations under the Master’s and PhD Graduate streams in more than a year. The previous draw for both streams was held on September 17, 2024.

Employer Job Offer Streams Also Issued 136 Invitations

In addition to the streams for international student graduates, Ontario also issued 136 invitations through its Employer Job Offer-related streams on the same day.

Of these, 39 invitations were issued under the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot. The REDI pilot does not operate as a standalone stream, but rather within the existing Employer Job Offer framework. To qualify, candidates needed a job offer in Lanark, Leeds, or Grenville, and had to be residing in Canada with valid status.

Breakdown of REDI Targeted Draws

The structure of this round shows that Ontario continues to use targeted invitations to direct part of its nomination allocation toward specific regions and occupations, in response to labour market needs and regional economic development priorities.

Scope and Key Features of This Round

The OINP stated that this round considered profiles created between July 2, 2025, and March 16, 2026, and that all profiles had to be attested by 11:59 p.m. on March 16, 2026. This means that even candidates who met the basic eligibility requirements may not have been included if they failed to complete the attestation requirement by the deadline.

Several features of this round are especially noteworthy:

• The draws covered a broad range of pathways, with six rounds conducted on the same day;
• The resumption of invitations under the Master’s and PhD Graduate streams signals renewed provincial attention to highly educated international graduates;
• Multiple pathways used targeted selection, highlighting Ontario’s growing emphasis on occupational fit and labour market demand;
• The continued use of the REDI pilot suggests that smaller communities and regional economic development remain an important part of Ontario’s nomination strategy.

Major Changes Are Coming to the OINP

These draws took place as Ontario prepares for significant changes to its provincial nominee system. Recent amendments to the Ontario Immigration Act outline the revocation of several existing application categories, with the changes scheduled to take effect on May 30, 2026.

The categories set to be revoked include:

• Foreign worker category;
• International student with a job offer category;
• In-demand skills category;
• Master’s Graduate category;
• PhD Graduate category;
• Human Capital Priorities category;
• French-speaking skilled worker category;
• Skilled trades category;
• Entrepreneur category.

At the same time, the provincial government has proposed replacing the current structure with four new streams:

• A consolidated Employer: Job Offer stream;
• A priority healthcare stream;
• An entrepreneur stream;
• An exceptional talent stream.

However, as of now, Ontario has not announced detailed implementation rules, launch timelines, or transition arrangements for these proposed streams.

What This Means for Applicants

For international students and skilled workers watching Ontario’s provincial immigration pathways, this round of invitations carries significance on two fronts. On one hand, the return of invitations under the Master’s and PhD Graduate streams shows that highly educated candidates still have a pathway to gain provincial nomination and strengthen their prospects for permanent residence. On the other hand, the broader restructuring of the OINP after late May 2026 means that application windows and program requirements could soon change significantly.

During this transition period, applicants should pay particularly close attention to the following:

1. Whether existing streams will continue to issue invitations;
2. The eligibility thresholds and targeted industry requirements of the new streams;
3. Key timing requirements such as profile creation, attestation, and valid immigration status;
4. Whether their occupation falls within Ontario’s priority selection areas.

Overall, the March 18 draws not only marked the return of invitations for Master’s and PhD graduates, but also signaled that Ontario’s provincial immigration system is entering a new phase of structural reform. For candidates hoping to immigrate through the OINP, the coming months are likely to be a critical period for both monitoring developments and preparing applications.