The province of Ontario performed another set of immigration draws through its Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) which maintains its method of selecting skilled candidates. The province held six OINP draws on 18 March 2026 and issued 1243 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. The current round of invitations introduced the Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams which had not provided invitations during 2025 because it created missing pathways for international graduates in Ontario.
Highlights of New Express Entry Draw
● Draw Date – 18 March 2026
● Total Draws – 6
● Number of Invitations – 1,243
● Streams – Masters Graduate, PhD Graduate and REDI Pilot
Breakdown of 6 draws conducted by OINP
The Government of Ontario conducted a total of 6 specifically targeted draws from that point forward, each focusing on graduates, health professionals or regional/provincial labour needs.
OINP Draw – March 18, 2026
| Stream | Date Issued | Invitations | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Graduate | March 18, 2026 | 582 | 30+ |
| PhD Graduate | March 18, 2026 | 525 | 49+ |
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker (Physicians) | March 18, 2026 | 97 | 36+ |
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker (REDI) | March 18, 2026 | 11 | 47+ |
| Employer Job Offer: International Student (REDI) | March 18, 2026 | 17 | 61+ |
| Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills (REDI) | March 18, 2026 | 11 | 30+ |
Return of Masters and PhD Graduate Streams
The Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams now return as the most significant aspect of this draw.
● No invitations were issued under these streams in entire 2025
● Thousands of international graduates were waiting for this opportunity
● Ontario has now reopened these pathways before upcoming program changes
This announcement shows that Ontario has started to use these streams again but will likely stop their use when the OINP redesign process begins.
Focus on Targeted Occupations and Regional Needs
The March 18 draws also included targeted invitations under –
● Healthcare sector (physicians)
● Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot
● In-demand occupations across Ontario
Ontario uses these targeted draws to fill essential job openings while helping regional economies grow outside of major urban centers.
Application Deadlines and Next Steps
The invited candidates need to complete their application process within the designated time limits.
● Masters & PhD Streams – 14 days
● Employer Job Offer Streams – 17 days (Employer must act within 14 days)
Candidates use the OINP e-Filing Portal to submit their applications and successful nominees gain eligibility to apply for Canada PR through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) process.