Maple News reports that on October 27, the province of Ontario conducted its largest Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw of 2021, issuing 1,406 invitations to Express Entry candidates working in technology-related occupations. These candidates were selected through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) under the Human Capital Priorities Stream, which targets skilled workers with highly sought-after experience in sectors critical to the province’s economy.
To be eligible, candidates needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score ranging between 455 and 467 and at least one year of full-time work experience in one of six key National Occupational Classification (NOC) roles. These include computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213), computer engineers (NOC 2147), database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172), software engineers and designers (NOC 2173), computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174), and web designers and developers (NOC 2175).
Those who received a Notification of Interest from the province now have 45 days to submit a complete application to the OINP. Successful nominees will receive an additional 600 CRS points on their Express Entry profile, virtually guaranteeing them an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence in a subsequent federal draw.
This marks Ontario’s second Tech Draw of the year. The province previously invited over 1,100 tech professionals in its first draw held earlier in 2021. According to data from the OINP, tech workers represent a significant percentage of nominees each year—nearly 20 percent of successful applicants in 2020 had work experience as software engineers, programmers, and other digital specialists.
Candidates with foreign education credentials must also submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to confirm that their education meets or exceeds the Canadian bachelor’s degree standard—a key eligibility requirement for the Human Capital Priorities Stream.
The Express Entry system is the federal government’s online portal for managing skilled immigration applications under three economic programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. By aligning with this system, Ontario is able to rapidly select high-scoring candidates who meet provincial labor market needs.
Ontario’s aggressive approach to tech talent attraction underscores the province’s ongoing commitment to bolstering its innovation economy. As demand for digital skills intensifies across Canada, provinces like Ontario are leveraging their PNP pathways to stay competitive in the global hunt for skilled immigrants.