Ontario Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream (Closed)
The Human Capital Priorities Stream was a former Express Entry pathway under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) for skilled workers with the education, language ability and work experience needed to contribute to Ontario’s labour market. Applicants needed a valid Express Entry profile and had to qualify under either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class. A job offer was not required, making the stream available to eligible candidates both inside and outside Canada. As part of Ontario’s 2026 OINP redesign, the Human Capital Priorities Stream was permanently closed on June 25, 2026, together with the other former OINP streams, and is no longer available for new Notifications of Interest or applications.
Former Stream Requirements
Before it closed, the Human Capital Priorities Stream was available to eligible Express Entry candidates who received a Notification of Interest from Ontario.
Applicants generally needed:
- a valid Express Entry profile
- eligibility under either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class
- a Notification of Interest from Ontario
- qualifying work experience based on the federal program under which they were assessed
- language proficiency of at least CLB 7 in English or French
- a Canadian bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, or an equivalent foreign credential supported by an Educational Credential Assessment, unless a specific exemption applied
- sufficient settlement funds
- legal status in Canada when applying from inside Canada
- an intention to live in Ontario
A job offer was not required.
Ontario selected candidates from the Express Entry pool and could issue general or targeted Notifications of Interest based on CRS scores and other selection factors identified for a particular round. Candidates could apply to the OINP only after receiving a Notification of Interest.
Because the stream was aligned with Express Entry, candidates who received an Ontario nomination could accept it through their Express Entry account. An accepted provincial nomination added 600 CRS points to their Express Entry score.
Human Capital Priorities Stream Closure and Current Options
Ontario closed the Human Capital Priorities Stream as part of the 2026 OINP redesign, which replaced the former stream structure with a new system designed to streamline immigration pathways, place greater emphasis on employer-supported immigration and labour market needs, strengthen program integrity, and better support employers across Ontario, including in rural and northern communities.
Applications submitted before the redesign continue to be assessed under the eligibility requirements that applied when they were received. Candidates who had not submitted an application before the stream closed can no longer receive a new Notification of Interest or apply through the former Human Capital Priorities Stream.
Skilled workers who previously considered the Human Capital Priorities Stream should now review the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream and federal Express Entry programs for which they may qualify. There is no direct one-for-one replacement for the former Human Capital Priorities Stream. The closure of the former stream does not prevent eligible candidates from creating or maintaining an Express Entry profile or qualifying through an applicable federal Express Entry program.
The current Ontario Workforce Priority Stream has different eligibility requirements and is primarily based on a qualifying Ontario job offer. It should therefore be assessed separately rather than treated as a direct replacement for the former Human Capital Priorities Stream.
