Provincial Nominee Programs for international graduates (2026)

Provincial Nominee Programs for international graduates have shrunk sharply in 2026: Ontario closed its Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams in June 2026, Manitoba ended its Career Employment Pathway the same month, and British Columbia says it will not launch new student streams. Graduate routes that remain, such as Saskatchewan’s Students category, Alberta’s Opportunity Stream for PGWP holders, Newfoundland and Labrador’s International Graduate category and Nova Scotia’s Graduate stream, almost all need a job offer from an employer in that province.

Last checked: 19 October 2026. Status is taken from each province’s official page on this date. Streams can open, pause or close without notice.

How a provincial nomination helps

A province “nominates” you for permanent residence, then you apply to IRCC. IRCC’s provincial nominee page (modified 14 September 2026) describes two routes:

• Express Entry route: if you also qualify for a federal Express Entry program, a nomination gives you 600 extra points, which helps you get invited to apply for permanent residence.
• Non-Express Entry route: if you qualify for the provincial stream but not Express Entry, you apply to IRCC through the separate process.

Quebec and Nunavut don’t run PNPs. A nomination does not guarantee permanent residence. To see how 600 points changes your position, compare with our Express Entry CRS cut-off 2026 page.

Provincial Nominee Programs for international graduates: status table

Ontario: Masters and PhD streams closed

Ontario’s 2026 OINP updates page says that on 26 June 2026 the province announced phase 1 of a redesign. Eight streams were closed, including Masters Graduate, PhD Graduate and the Employer Job Offer: International Student stream. Expressions of interest that had not received an invitation were to be withdrawn automatically. Applications already submitted after an invitation are assessed under the old rules.

The replacement is the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. It needs a job offer, which the employer registers first. Points that help graduates:

• A “recent Ontario graduate” (graduated from an eligible Ontario institution within the last 3 years) needs 3 months of full-time paid work in the job offer position in the last 12 months, instead of 6.
• Holders of listed credentials don’t need a language test. Otherwise TEER 0–3 jobs need CLB 6.
• Points for Canadian credentials (5 for one, 10 for more than one) and for a valid work permit (10) or study permit (5).

Ontario calls this phase 1 of 2 and has not published phase 2.

British Columbia: no graduate stream

BC’s International Post-Graduate stream closed on 7 January 2025. In April 2025 the BC government said the launch of the previously announced student streams would stay on hold. On 23 April 2026 the BC PNP said it “will not be launching new student streams”, while studies completed in BC or Canada still earn extra registration points. The Skills Immigration guide effective 10 June 2026 lists only the Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams.

For Skilled Worker, you need a full-time, indeterminate job offer in TEER 0–3 and two years of skilled work in the last ten years. Work done on a study permit is not accepted, though paid, full-time skilled co-op work may count after you graduate. BC’s 2026 nomination allocation is 6,254.

Manitoba: Career Employment Pathway ended

Red River College Polytechnic, a public Manitoba college, reports that from 11 June 2026 the Career Employment Pathway under the MPNP International Education Stream was discontinued. Graduates on a PGWP are now directed to the Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway, which generally needs at least six months of continuous full-time work with the same Manitoba employer. Manitoba-educated candidates may still be targeted in Expression of Interest draws. Check Immigrate Manitoba for the status of the other International Education Stream pathways.

Saskatchewan: Students category

The SINP Students category requires:

• a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Saskatchewan DLI (graduates from other provinces on a PGWP can’t use it);
• at least six months or 780 hours of paid Saskatchewan work related to your field (co-op and PGWP work count);
• a permanent full-time job offer in your field, TEER 0–3 or a designated trade, with an approved Employer Position Assessment;
• a valid PGWP, study permit or CUAET open work permit. Study permit holders need a job offer in a priority sector such as healthcare, agriculture, skilled trades, energy, mining, manufacturing or technology.

Alberta: Opportunity Stream for PGWP holders

The Alberta Opportunity Stream accepts PGWP holders who graduated from an Alberta publicly funded institution with an approved credential. They need 6 months of full-time Alberta work in the last 18 months (others need 12), a full-time Alberta job offer, and CLB 5 for TEER 0–3 jobs. The occupation must relate to the field of study. Alberta charges a CAD 135 Worker EOI fee from 7 April 2026, and its 2026 allocation is 6,603. A Graduate Entrepreneur Stream exists for Alberta graduates starting or buying a business.

Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia

• NL International Graduate: a valid PGWP with at least four months left, a full-time job offer in an in-demand TEER 0–4 occupation, age 21–59 and settlement funds. Graduates of public institutions outside NL must work in NL for at least a year first. In 2026 NL temporarily cut its application submission period from 60 to 30 days.
• Nova Scotia Graduate: open only for paramedical occupations, pharmacy technicians, nurse aides and early childhood educators. You need a Nova Scotia job offer, CLB 5, age 19–55, and a Nova Scotia DLI program finished within 3 years. Nova Scotia started charging NSNP application fees on 1 September 2026.

What this means for Nepali students

• Don’t choose a program for a PNP stream that may close. Ontario’s Masters stream closed in the middle of 2026. Plan on Express Entry and employer-driven streams instead.
• The province you study in matters. Saskatchewan, Alberta, NL and Nova Scotia graduate routes favour local graduates who then work locally.
• Protect your PGWP. Most routes need one. Check our PGWP field of study guide, and if you are changing college, read changing schools on a study permit.
• Beware of anyone selling a “guaranteed nomination”. Provinces select candidates themselves. Use our consultancy red flag test.

Common mistakes

• Reading 2024 or 2025 blog posts that still describe Ontario’s Masters stream or BC’s graduate streams as open.
• Assuming a PNP works without a job offer. In 2026 nearly every graduate route needs one.
• Letting your PGWP run low. NL needs at least four months left on it.
• Counting study-permit work for BC’s Skilled Worker experience. BC does not accept it.

What to do next

1. Pick your target province before you graduate and read its official stream page.
2. Build skilled, full-time work experience in that province on your PGWP.
3. Take an English test early. CLB scores also count for Express Entry.
4. Create an Express Entry profile if eligible, and check the latest CRS cut-offs.
5. Re-check the province’s news page every month.

Frequently asked questions

Is the OINP Masters Graduate stream open in 2026?
No. Ontario closed the Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams as part of its June 2026 redesign. The last invitations were issued on 22 April 2026.

Which PNP is best for international students without a job offer?
As of 19 October 2026, we could not find an open graduate stream in these provinces that does not require a job offer. Ontario’s Masters and PhD streams have closed.

Is BC PNP International Post-Graduate still open?
No. It closed on 7 January 2025, and in April 2026 the BC PNP said it will not launch new student streams.

How many points does a provincial nomination add in Express Entry?
600 points, according to IRCC.

Did Manitoba close its international student stream?
Its Career Employment Pathway was discontinued on 11 June 2026. Graduates are directed to the Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway.

Related guides

• Canada study permit extension: how to extend inside Canada
• Canada spousal open work permit for students: 2026 rules
• Change school in Canada on a study permit: 2026 DLI rules
• Canada Study Permit Application from Nepal: 2026 Steps
• Canada GIC for Study Permit from Nepal: 2026 Guide

Sources

• Immigrate as a provincial nominee – IRCC
• 2026 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program updates – Ontario.ca
• Ontario Workforce Priority stream – Ontario.ca
• BC PNP news – WelcomeBC
• BC PNP Skills Immigration Program Guide – WelcomeBC
• BC government news release, 14 April 2025 – BC Gov News
• Manitoba immigration pathway changes – Red River College Polytechnic
• SINP Students category – Government of Saskatchewan
• Alberta Opportunity Stream eligibility – Alberta.ca
• AAIP updates – Alberta.ca
• NLPNP International Graduate category – Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nova Scotia Graduate stream – Government of Nova Scotia

Last checked: 19 October 2026. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Always confirm a stream’s status on the province’s own website before you apply.