Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities Stream
Ontario’s Express Entry-aligned Human Capital Priorities Stream is a unique, dynamic way of bringing people to Canada’s most populated province.
Since being introduced in 2015, the Human Capital Priorities Stream has been an undeniable success. In many ways, it has become the centrepiece of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), through which Ontario welcomes newcomers from around the world.
This stream requires candidates to have an active Express Entry profile in order to be considered. Ontario periodically invites candidates from the Express Entry pool to submit an application for provincial nomination. Although the province announces the CRS score range for each round of invitations and sometimes restricts invitations to candidates with experience in certain occupations, the exact selection criteria for each draw is not released to the public.
Successful applicants to the Ontario Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream receive 600 additional CRS points, followed by an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
A job offer is not required in order to qualify under this stream, though candidates with a job offer have been prioritized for invitation in the past.
How is it unique?
Ontario searches the Express Entry pool for candidates who meet the criteria, who may then receive a Notification of Interest (NOI, effectively an invitation) from the OINP. This makes the program passive, because not only can candidates not apply directly, they also can’t make an ‘Expression of Interest’ in eventually applying. This offers hope to eligible candidates that Ontario may issue them a NOI.
How is it dynamic?
Ontario has issued NOIs to eligible candidates on an intermittent basis. However, the province has also on occasion tweaked its own eligibility criteria in order to select certain candidates.
Most notably, in July 2019, Ontario announced that it was introducing tech-specific draws to the Human Capital Priorities stream. These draws target tech workers with experience in one of the following occupations:
Occupations eligible for Ontario's Tech Draws | |
---|---|
Occupation Title | NOC Code |
Software engineers and designers | NOC 2173 |
Computer programmers and interactive media developers | NOC 2174 |
Computer engineers | NOC 2147 |
Web designers and developers | NOC 2175 |
Database analysts and data administrators | NOC 2172 |
Computer and information systems managers | NOC 0213 |
In addition to these tech-specific draws, there have been other instances when Ontario has prioritized candidates with experience in certain priority occupations.
How can Express Entry candidates benefit?
Ontario can only search what is already in the pool, so it is important to have an up-to-date Express Entry profile. The potential pay-off is huge — successful applicants receive 600 additional CRS points, followed by an ITA for permanent residence.
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