Last Updated On 3 January 2024, 9:33 AM EST (Toronto Time)

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has modified the International Student stream for permanent residency to increase eligibility for foreign students who have earned a one-year college graduate certificate.

These new OINP changes to the International Student Stream are now in effect beginning January 1st, 2024. Those who submitted an application prior to this date are unaffected by this change.

Previously, applicants with a one-year certificate from an approved institution could only apply through the OINP’s International Student stream if the program required the completion of a degree as a prerequisite for admission. This is no longer the case.

This new modification now applies to OINP eligibility for any one-year college program that grants an Ontario College Graduate Certificate.

Effective January 1, 2024Prior to January 1, 2024Program requirementStudents who completed a one-year certificate from an Ontario college resulting in an Ontario College Graduate Certificate are eligible.Students who completed a one-year certificate from an Ontario college were only eligible if their program required a degree for admission.Program eligibilityMost one-year graduate certificate programs in Ontario will become eligible.Most certificates were ineligible.New OINP International Student Stream Requirement Changes

This change increases the number of certificate programs that are now eligible for OINP.