Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream

Overview

The Ontario Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream is part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
  It allows skilled foreign workers with relevant work experience, education, and language proficiency to apply for permanent residency in Ontario.

✅ No job offer required
✅ Must have an active Express Entry profile
✅ Receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) from Ontario before applying

If you are nominated through this stream, you can apply for permanent residency through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which makes the final decision on your application.

Draw Requirements

Check Your Draw Details

If you received a Notification of Interest (NOI), check the OINP Program Updates page to find details of the draw. Ensure you meet both the specific draw requirements and the stream requirements listed below before applying.

Stream Requirements

Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream follows the rules in Ontario Regulation 422/17, which outlines eligibility criteria for work experience, education, and language proficiency.

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1. Work Experience

You must meet the criteria of one of these federal programs:

✅ Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) 

• At least one year of continuous, full-time paid work experience (or part-time equivalent).
• Must be in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations under Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC).
• Work must have been gained within the last five years before applying.
• Experience must be in the same primary NOC listed in your Express Entry profile.
• Can be inside or outside Canada.
• Self-employment may qualify if verifiable through third-party documentation, such as client references and payment records.

✅ Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

• At least one year of cumulative, full-time paid work experience (or part-time equivalent) in Canada.
• Must be in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 NOC occupations.
• Work must have been gained within the last three years before applying.
• If selected in a targeted draw, at least six months of work must be in your primary NOC occupation.
• Experience must be obtained legally while maintaining valid status in Canada.

2. General Work Experience Rules (Both FSWP & CEC)

• Work must total at least 1,560 hours over a minimum one-year period.
• Part-time work can qualify if hours add up correctly (e.g., 15 hours/week for two years).
• Work in regulated occupations in Ontario is only counted after proper licensing.
• Unpaid work, internships, and volunteer roles do not count.
• Self-employed work does not qualify under CEC, except for physicians in certain NOC categories.
• Work during full-time studies is not eligible.
• Regular sick leave and vacation time do not break the continuity of employment, but extended leaves do.

Make sure your Express Entry profile is accurate and up to date to avoid disqualification.

2. Education Requirements

To qualify, you must have a Canadian bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degree or an equivalent foreign credential.

Exceptions for Nurses

If you are a registered nurse in Ontario, you do not need to prove your education if:
✔️ You are registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) in the General, Extended, or Temporary class.
✔️ Your primary NOC is one of the following:

• NOC 31300 – Nursing Coordinators and Supervisors
• NOC 31301 – Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses
• NOC 31302 – Nurse Practitioners
• NOC 32101 – Licensed Practical Nurses

Foreign Education – Credential Assessment

If you earned your degree outside Canada, you must get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to confirm equivalency to a Canadian credential.

🔹 Designated ECA Providers:

• Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)
• International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)
• International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
• Medical Council of Canada (for doctors)
• Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (for pharmacists)
• World Education Services (WES)

💰 Fees and processing times vary by provider, so check their websites for details.

Submitting Your ECA Report

• Your ECA report must be less than 5 years old when applying.
• You must authorize OINP to verify your report directly with the issuing organization.

How to Share Your ECA Report with OINP:

• Comparative Education Service (CES): Submit an online request form.
• Medical Council of Canada: Log into your physiciansapply.ca account, select “Other service requests,” and request a file transfer to on************@*****io.ca.
• World Education Services (WES): Order a report and select “Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program” as the recipient.
• Other providers: No additional steps are required.

🚨 Important: Authorizing your ECA results for IRCC is not enough—you must specifically authorize OINP to access your assessment.

3. Language Requirements

You must demonstrate proficiency in English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher in all four skills:
✔️ Listening
✔️ Reading
✔️ Writing
✔️ Speaking

Approved Language Tests

You must take an approved test before submitting your application. The test must be taken within the last 2 years from your application submission date.

✅ Accepted English Tests:

• IELTS General Training (Academic version and One Skill Retake are not accepted)
• CELPIP General Test
• PTE Core Test (PTE Academic is not accepted)

✅ Accepted French Tests:

• TEF Canada (Test d’évaluation de français)
• TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français)

For more details, visit the official English and French language test websites.

4. Settlement Funds

You must show that you have enough financial resources to support yourself and your dependent family members when settling in Canada.

Who is Considered a Family Member?

• Spouse or common-law partner
• Children under 22 years old (including their children)

How to Meet This Requirement

You can prove your financial ability using one or a combination of:
✔️ Bank statements showing sufficient funds or investments (e.g., fixed deposits, mutual funds)
✔️ Annual earnings from a current job in Ontario
✔️ A valid job offer from an employer in Ontario

💡 Example:
If your required settlement funds amount to $29,000, but you have:

• A job offer in Ontario with an annual salary of $25,000
• $5,000 in savings

Your total available funds would be $30,000, meeting the requirement.

📌 Note:
If your bank statement includes a large one-time deposit, you may be asked to provide proof that the funds are not borrowed or under any financial obligation.

5. Intention to Live in Ontario

You must show a genuine intention to settle in Ontario after becoming a permanent resident. This can be demonstrated through:
✔️ Current or past employment in Ontario
✔️ Job applications, interviews, or offers from Ontario employers
✔️ Education history in Ontario
✔️ Volunteering experience in Ontario
✔️ Owning or renting property in Ontario
✔️ Previous visits to Ontario
✔️ Professional networks, affiliations, or family ties in Ontario

Your ties to Ontario will be evaluated to confirm your commitment to living in the province.

6. Legal Status in Canada (If Applicable)

If you are applying from within Canada, you must have valid legal status at the time of your application and maintain it until you receive a nomination.

What Qualifies as Legal Status?

✔️ Visitor Record
✔️ Study Permit
✔️ Work Permit

You can also apply if you have maintained status (previously known as implied status). This means:

• You submitted an application to renew or extend your status before it expired.
• You can legally stay in Canada and continue working or studying under the same conditions while waiting for a decision from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

7. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) Criteria

If you opt for assessment under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), you must score at least 67 points based on six selection factors:

1️⃣ Education
2️⃣ Language Proficiency (English or French)
3️⃣ Work Experience
4️⃣ Age
5️⃣ Arranged Employment in Canada
6️⃣ Adaptability (e.g., past work or study experience in Canada, family ties)

Your eligibility will be based on this points-based system.

Check Your Eligibility For Free

Document Checklist

You must provide a scanned copy of the Notification of Interest (NOI) letter you received through your IRCC online account.

✔️ A screenshot of the letter is acceptable.
✔️ The copy must clearly show the date it was sent to your IRCC account.

Applicant Consent Form

You must complete, sign, and upload the Applicant Consent Form in the “Required Documents” section after:

✅ Receiving an invitation to apply.
✅ Reviewing your application for accuracy in the e-filing portal.

Identity Documents

1. Photograph

You must upload a clear, high-quality photo that meets passport or visa photo requirements.

✔️ The photo can be a scanned copy of a physical photo or a digital image.

❌ Not accepted:

• A photo of your passport’s personal details page.
• Blurry, unclear, or low-quality images.

2. Passport

You must upload scanned copies of:
✅ Your personal details page (the page with your name, photo, and passport number).
✅ All pages containing Canadian visas and entry stamps.

Status Documents in Canada (If Applicable)

You must scan and upload copies of current and previous status documents issued by IRCC or CBSA, including:

✔️ Work permits
✔️ Study permits
✔️ Temporary resident visas
✔️ Any other Canadian immigration documents

If you have “Maintained Status”

Upload one of the following:
✅ Letter from IRCC acknowledging receipt of your application to extend status
✅ IRCC fee receipt
✅ Post office mailing receipt (if applicable)

Education Documents

For a Canadian Degree

Upload:
📌 A copy of your degree certificate from a Canadian academic institution
📌 A copy of your official transcripts from the same institution

For a Foreign Degree

You must obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to prove your education is equivalent to a Canadian degree.

🔹 ECA Report Requirements:
✔️ Must be less than 5 years old at the time of application
✔️ OINP must be able to verify your ECA results directly with the issuing organization
✔️ You must authorize the ECA organization to share your results with OINP electronically

How to Authorize OINP to Access Your ECA

🔹 For CES (University of Toronto): Submit an online request form.
🔹 For MCC (Medical Council of Canada): Log in to physiciansapply.ca, go to Other service requests, and enter on************@*****io.ca as the recipient email.
🔹 For WES (World Education Services): Order a copy of your ECA report online and select Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program as the recipient.
🔹 For ICAS, IQAS, ICES, and PEBC: No extra steps are required.

📌 Do not mail a duplicate paper copy to OINP. If you have questions

Nurses – Exemption from Education Requirement

If your primary NOC falls under one of the following, you do not need to demonstrate that you meet the education requirement, provided you are registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) in the General, Extended, or Temporary class:

🔹 NOC 31300 – Nursing Coordinators and Supervisors
🔹 NOC 31301 – Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses
🔹 NOC 31302 – Nurse Practitioners
🔹 NOC 32101 – Licensed Practical Nurses

What to Upload

📌 A printout of your CNO registration certificate from the “Find a Nurse” registry.

📌 If you are being assessed under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and claiming education points, you must also upload:
✅ Your Canadian credential OR
✅ Your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report

Language Test Results

To prove your English or French language proficiency, scan and upload a copy of your test results.

✅ The test must be taken within 2 years before submitting your application.
✅ You must score CLB 7 or above in all language abilities.
✅ Make sure no text is cut off in the scanned document.

Accepted English Tests

✔️ IELTS (General Training only)
✔️ CELPIP (General test only)
✔️ Pearson Test of English (PTE Core) (Note: PTE Academic is not accepted.)

Accepted French Tests

✔️ TEF Canada
✔️ TCF Canada

Documents to Prove Employment in Ontario

1. Job Offer
   If applicable, upload a scanned copy of your full-time job offer from an Ontario employer.
2. Work Permit
   If you’re currently working in Ontario for the same employer who offered you a job, upload a scanned copy of your work permit.
3. Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
   If applicable, upload a scanned copy of your LMIA for the work permit.

Work History Documents

1. Employment Reference Letters
   Upload scanned copies of reference letters from all your employers, both foreign and Canadian, covering all work periods. The letters should:

• Be on company letterhead with contact details
• Include your job title, responsibilities, and employment dates
• State your salary, working hours, and any leave periods

You may also submit supporting documents like job descriptions or performance reviews.

1. Proof of Compensation
   Upload proof of compensation for your work experience. This may include:

• Pay slips or bank statements
• Income tax documents
• Employer letters confirming salary details

1. Canada Revenue Agency Documents
   If you worked in Canada, upload your T4 Statements or Notice of Assessment (NOA) for the relevant years.
2. Regulated Occupation
   If applicable, upload a copy of your professional license or authorization.
3. Self-Employment Documents
   If self-employed, upload documents like:

• Business registration or ownership proof
• Income tax returns and T4A (if self-employed in Canada)
• Client references or invoices

1. Work Contracts (Optional)
   You may upload your work contracts, if applicable.
2. Other Work-Related Documents (Optional)
   Include any other relevant documents to support your work experience.

Documents to Prove Settlement Funds

• Upload your most recent bank statements showing the last three months of activity, confirming your available funds.
• You may also submit statements for investments (e.g., fixed deposits or mutual funds) with confirmation letters from the financial institution.

For ongoing employment in Ontario, upload:

• Your two most recent pay slips
• A signed job offer detailing your occupation, duties, wage, and start date

Intention to Reside in Ontario

To show your intention to live in Ontario, list your ties to the province, including:

• Employment or job offers in Ontario
• Education, volunteer work, or professional networks in Ontario
• Family ties or property ownership

If no ties are available, submit a statement of intent to reside in Ontario.

Family Documents

1. Passports
   Upload a copy of the personal details page from the passport of each dependent family member.
2. Status Documents (If Applicable)
   Upload any current or previous status documents (e.g., work permits or study permits) for your spouse or common-law partner.
3. Canadian Education Documents
   If your spouse or partner studied in Canada, upload copies of relevant documents from the Canadian institution.
4. Canadian Work Experience Documents
   Upload reference letters from Canadian employers detailing the job duties, salary, and benefits. Also, include proof of compensation such as T4 statements.

Language Test Results for Spouse/Partner (If Applicable)

If required, upload your spouse’s or partner’s language test results (CLB 4 or above).

Accepted tests include:

• IELTS (General Training)
• CELPIP (General)
• PTE Core

For French, we accept:

• TEF Canada
• TCF Canada

Documents for Relatives in Canada

If you or your spouse/partner has a relative who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, upload:

• Relative’s birth certificate and citizenship/permanent resident documents
• Proof of the relative’s residency in Canada (e.g., property or employment documents)

Relatives include parents, siblings, children, and more.

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Frequently Asked Questions