Ontario Targeting New Religious Worker Immigrants

Ontario Targeting New Religious Worker Immigrants

In a surprising update, the government of Ontario has announced that over the next week it will be issuing targeted Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to Express Entry candidates who work in one of many religious occupations. The province states that the move aims 'to improve the responsiveness of the program to labour market demands.'

These NOIs will be issued under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Human Capital Priorities stream, a passive Express Entry-aligned stream that seeks out potential newcomers to Canada from the federal Express Entry pool. Among other criteria, potential applicants must be in the pool and have at least 400 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points.

The targeted professions include Professional occupations in religion (National Occupational Classification code 4154) and Other religious occupations (4217).

Professional occupations in religion include the following job titles:

archbishop
bishop
cardinal
chaplain
evangelist
granthi
imam
minister
moderator – religion
pastor
priest
rabbi
Other religious occupations include the following job titles:

brother/sister – religion
Christian science practitioner
deacon
missionary
monk
nun
pastoral animator
religious education worker
Salvation Army field worker
The above lists are not exhaustive, and job titles similar to those listed may be applicable under the relevant NOC code