Ontario manages a Human Capital category to target foreign workers and international students who possess the education, work experience and skills required to successfully establish themselves in the province of Ontario.
Under this category, OINP operates three Express Entry-related streams: French-Speaking Skilled Worker, Human Capital Priorities and Skilled Trades.
All three streams are passive, meaning that Interested candidates do not apply directly to OINP for the nomination but must wait for the province to select them from the federal Express Entry pool and invite them to apply for nomination.
In order to be considered under any of these streams, interested candidates must first be qualified under one of the federal programs, either the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
OINP Draws
The OINP issues periodic Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to candidates in the Express Entry pool and invite them to apply for nomination under one of OINP’s Express Entry streams. The details and methodology used for each search are published after the draws are done.
Eligibility requirements
The OINP issues periodic Notifications of Interest (NOI) throughout the year.
This stream is designed for skilled workers who wish to live and work in Ontario, and who have proven skills and abilities to successfully establish themselves in the province.
To qualify under this stream, applicants must have:
- Ongoing profile under the Federal Express Entry system and be qualified for either the FSWP or the CEC.
- Hold a minimum of 1 year of full-time, or full-time equivalent work experience under NOC TEER Category 0, 1, 2 or 3 in the past five years if applying under the FSWP or in the past three years if applying under CEC.
- Hold the equivalent of a Canadian bachelor degree or higher.
- Show language proficiency of minimum CLB/NCLC level 7 in English or in French.
- Intention to reside in the province of Ontario.
- Residing with legal status in Canada, if applicable.
- Proof of required settlement funds.
- Minimum Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System score as determined by director under period draws.
Human Capital Priorities Tech Draws
Ontario targets nine specific technology sector occupations with tech draws from the Express Entry pool as part of the HCP stream.
As well as meeting the above requirements, candidates must have experience in one of the nine occupations to qualify.
HCP Tech Draws: Target Occupations
- Data Scientists (NOC 21211)
- Software engineers and designers (NOC 21231)
- Computer systems developers and programmers (NOC 21230)
- Software developers and programmers (NOC 21232)
- Web developers and programmers (NOC 21234)
- Web designers (NOC 21233)
- Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 21233)
- Computer and information systems managers (NOC 20012)
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers (NOC 21311)
Ontario Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
This stream targets French-speaking candidates who also have strong English language proficiency and who wish to live and work in the province of Ontario.
To qualify under this stream, applicants must have:
- Active profile under the Federal Express Entry system and be qualified for either the FSWP or the CEC.
- Hold a minimum of 1 year of full-time, or full-time equivalent work experience under NOC TEER Category 0, 1, 2 or 3, in the past five years if applying under the FSWP or in the past three years if applying under CEC.
- Hold the equivalent of a Canadian Bachelors degree or higher.
- Minimum language proficiency of NCLC level 7 in French and minimum CLB level 6 in English.
- Intention to reside in Ontario.
- Residing with legal status in Canada, if applicable.
- Proof of required settlement funds.
Ontario Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream
This stream targets skilled trades workers in eligible sectors, who live and work legally in Ontario at the time of their application.
To qualify applicants must have:
- Active profile under the Federal Express Entry system.
- At least 12 months, cumulative or continuous, of full-time paid work experience in Ontario, within the last two years prior to the Notification of Interest, in NOC major groups 72 (excluding occupations under transportation officers), 73, 82, 83, 93 (excluding aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors) or minor group 6320 (excluding cooks).
- Proof of Ontario license or certification if an occupational requirement.
- A valid work permit and residing in Ontario at the time of application.
- Minimum language CLB/NCLC level 5 or above in English or in French.
- Proof of required settlement funds.
Application process
Ontario will select eligible applicants from the Express Entry Pool. Candidates must:
- Meet the eligibility criteria for one of the streams above AND
- Meet the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score, as determined by the director.
Candidates who are selected will receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) from Ontario and may then submit an application for nomination under the Ontario Immigrant Nomination Program.
The application for nomination must be submitted within 45 calendar days from the NOI. An application fee of $1500 is due at this time.
If the application is approved, the candidate will receive a nomination certificate and 600 points under their Express Entry profile.
On the following Express Entry draw, they will receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The ITA must be submitted within 60 days from receipt.
