OINP Masters and PhD Draw 2026 Invites 918 (Major Changes May 30)
Executive Summary: The Final Graduate Draws?
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has just executed its second graduate selection round of 2026. On April 22, the OINP Masters and PhD draw 2026 invited 918 international graduates. However, RCIC Vineet notes that this draw brings a stark warning: cutoff scores have skyrocketed, and Ontario has officially announced a massive structural overhaul effective May 30, 2026, which will eliminate the Master's and PhD streams entirely.
- The April 22 Results: 674 Master's graduates (cutoff 61) and 244 PhD graduates (cutoff 56) received Invitations to Apply (ITAs).
- Skyrocketing Scores: Compared to the March 18 draw, the Master's cutoff jumped by a massive 31 points, signaling a highly competitive, saturated candidate pool.
- The May 30 Elimination: Recent amendments to the Ontario Immigration Act confirm that all 9 current OINP streams—including Master's and PhD—will be permanently closed and replaced by 4 new consolidated pathways on May 30, 2026.
- The 14-Day Deadline: If you received an ITA in this draw, you have exactly 14 calendar days to submit your complete application before the system locks you out.
BREAKING: OINP Masters and PhD Draw 2026 Invites 918 (Major Changes May 30)
International student graduates in Ontario just received a massive wave of Invitations to Apply (ITAs), but the underlying data suggests the golden era of easy graduate nominations is rapidly coming to an end. On April 22, the OINP Masters and PhD draw 2026 selected 918 candidates. However, the cutoff scores were drastically higher than the previous month.
RCIC Vineet advises that this draw is likely one of the last of its kind. The province of Ontario is on the brink of a historic immigration restructuring. Effective May 30, 2026, the OINP will completely eliminate its existing 9 streams—including the beloved Master's and PhD graduate categories—in favor of a consolidated, highly targeted 4-stream system.
If you were fortunate enough to receive an ITA in the April 22 OINP Masters and PhD draw 2026, you must act flawlessly within the next 14 days. If you missed out, you must urgently prepare for the incoming May 30 structural overhaul. Here is the complete breakdown of the draw results and what to expect next.
Received an ITA? Book Your 14-Day Application Audit Today1. Analyzing the April 22 Draw Results
This selection round comes just one week after the OINP’s April 15 draw, which aggressively targeted priority occupations and agriculture workers. For the April 22 OINP Masters and PhD draw 2026, the province shifted its focus back to international talent currently residing in Canada on valid work or study permits.
Unlike the previous March 18 draw, which specifically required experience in targeted National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes, the April 22 draw was general. It did not require experience in any specific NOC code to qualify, which explains the massive surge in the required cutoff scores.
| OINP Stream | Invitations Issued | Minimum Cutoff Score | Score Increase (Since March 18) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's Graduate Stream | 674 (~73.4% of total) | 61 points | + 31 points (up from 30) |
| PhD Graduate Stream | 244 | 56 points | + 7 points (up from 49) |
Eligibility Window: To be considered for this draw, candidates must have created their OINP Expression of Interest (EOI) profile between April 22, 2025, and April 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
RCIC Vineet points out that prior to the March 18 draw, the OINP had paused these streams for over a year (the last draw was September 17, 2024). The 31-point jump in the Master's stream clearly indicates that thousands of high-scoring candidates entered the pool immediately following the March 18 un-pausing, resulting in fierce competition.
2. You Received an ITA: The 14-Day Clock
If you were selected in the OINP Masters and PhD draw 2026, congratulations. However, the hardest part begins now. You must log into the OINP e-Filing Portal and click on your newly created file number (which will bear the prefix "NMAS" for Master's or "NPHD" for PhD).
You have exactly 14 calendar days from the date of ITA receipt to submit a 100% complete application for provincial nomination and pay the processing fee. The OINP does not grant extensions for missing documents or expired passports.
Per OINP regulations, there is a strict two-year eligibility window to submit your application for provincial nomination after completing your degree. This 2-year window is calculated from your degree completion date, not your ITA date. If your degree was officially granted more than two years prior to the exact day you submit your final application, you will be refused. If you fall outside this window, RCIC Vineet strongly advises that you decline the ITA to avoid losing the non-refundable processing fee.
3. May 30, 2026: The End of the OINP As We Know It
The urgency to submit your application flawlessly is compounded by massive impending legislative changes. Recent amendments to the Ontario Immigration Act detail a total restructuring of the provincial immigration system.
Effective May 30, 2026, Ontario will officially eliminate all 9 of its existing application categories:
The 4 New Proposed Pathways
In place of these 9 streams, the province has proposed four streamlined, highly consolidated pathways:
- Consolidated Employer: Job Offer Stream
- Priority Healthcare Stream
- Exceptional Talent Stream
- Entrepreneur Stream
While specific implementation details and EOI scoring rubrics for these 4 new streams have not yet been released, the writing is on the wall. The dedicated, job-offer-exempt "Master's Graduate" and "PhD Graduate" streams are being abolished. Future international graduates will likely have to compete in the "Exceptional Talent" or "Consolidated Job Offer" streams, severely altering the landscape for students arriving in Ontario.
Prepare for the May 30 Restructuring
If you did not receive an ITA in the April 22 draw, your current EOI profile may become obsolete on May 30. Our licensed RCIC team is monitoring the legislative changes daily. Book a strategy session to position yourself for the new 4-stream system.
Book an OINP Strategy ConsultationTop 20 FAQs: Navigating the OINP Masters and PhD Draw 2026 & Upcoming Changes
With scores skyrocketing and massive program closures looming on May 30, international students are panicking. Here are the 20 most frequently asked questions regarding the OINP Masters and PhD draw 2026 and the impending overhaul.
1. What were the cutoff scores for the April 22 OINP Masters and PhD draw 2026?
The Master's Graduate stream cutoff was 61 points, while the PhD Graduate stream cutoff was 56 points. Both saw significant increases compared to the March 18 draw.
2. Did the April 22 draw require experience in specific NOC codes?
No. Unlike the March 18 draw, the April 22 selection was a general draw. It did not require applicants to have experience in specific National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes to qualify.
3. How many people were invited in the April 22 draw?
A total of 918 invitations were issued: 674 for Master's graduates and 244 for PhD graduates.
4. How long do I have to apply after receiving an OINP ITA?
You have exactly 14 calendar days from the date you receive the Invitation to Apply (ITA) to submit a fully complete application and pay the required processing fee in the OINP e-Filing Portal.
5. What is the 2-year degree rule for the Master's and PhD streams?
You must submit your final OINP application within two years of officially completing your degree. If your degree was granted more than two years ago on the day you try to submit your post-ITA application, you are ineligible.
6. Will my ITA be extended if I am missing a document?
No. The OINP does not grant extensions to the 14-day deadline. If your application is incomplete or submitted late, the ITA expires, and you must re-enter the EOI pool.
7. What is happening to the OINP on May 30, 2026?
Ontario is undergoing a massive immigration restructuring. Effective May 30, 2026, the province will permanently eliminate all 9 of its current streams, including the dedicated Master's and PhD graduate categories.
8. What will replace the Master's and PhD streams after May 30?
Ontario has proposed 4 new consolidated pathways: Consolidated Employer Job Offer, Priority Healthcare, Exceptional Talent, and Entrepreneur streams. Master's and PhD grads will likely have to filter into the Exceptional Talent or Job Offer streams.
9. Why did the Master's cutoff score jump by 31 points?
Because the Master's stream was paused from September 2024 until March 2026, a massive backlog of highly qualified, high-scoring candidates accumulated. When the stream reopened in March, those candidates rushed to create profiles, driving up the competitive cutoff.
10. Do I need a job offer for the April 22 OINP Master's draw?
No. The legacy Master's and PhD Graduate streams do not fundamentally require an Ontario job offer to apply, which made them highly desirable. This may change with the new May 30 'Exceptional Talent' rules.
11. What prefixes do I look for in the OINP portal after getting an ITA?
When you log into the OINP e-Filing Portal, you must click on the newly generated file number containing the prefix 'NMAS' (for Master's) or 'NPHD' (for PhD) to begin your application.
12. Do I need to reside in Canada to be invited in this draw?
Yes. The April 22 draw specifically required invited candidates to be currently residing in Canada with a valid work permit or study permit at the time of selection.
13. Can I apply if my study permit expired last week?
If you do not hold valid legal status (or maintained/implied status) in Canada at the time of the draw and application, you are not eligible to claim residency points or fulfill the 'residing in Canada' mandate of the ITA.
14. What happens to my pending OINP application after the May 30 changes?
Historically, provincial governments 'grandfather' applications that have already been fully submitted and paid for before a legislative change. However, EOI profiles sitting in the pool uninvited are typically deleted or converted to the new system.
15. Is the Human Capital Priorities (HCP) stream also closing?
Yes. The highly popular Human Capital Priorities (HCP) category, which aligns with federal Express Entry, is among the 9 streams slated for elimination on May 30, 2026, to be replaced by the new consolidated streams.
16. What is the minimum language requirement for the OINP Master's stream?
To qualify for the Master's Graduate stream, you must have a valid language test proving a minimum of CLB 7 in either English or French across all four abilities.
17. Do I need proof of funds for the Master's Graduate stream?
Yes. You must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds or income to support yourself and your dependent family members in Ontario, based on the federal LICO cut-offs or your current Ontario salary.
18. Does completing a 1-year Master's degree qualify for OINP?
Under the legacy rules, the Master's degree must be completed at an eligible Ontario university and require at least one full-time academic year of study.
19. If I decline the ITA, can I apply under the new May 30 streams?
If you decline the ITA because your degree is past the 2-year window, you can re-enter the pool for the new May 30 streams, but you will be subject to entirely new—and likely much stricter—eligibility rules and scoring rubrics.
20. What is the processing time if my application is submitted within 14 days?
Once the full application is submitted to the OINP, the provincial processing time typically ranges from 90 to 120 days. Once nominated, you must then apply to IRCC federally, which takes additional time.
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